EDİRNE SARÂY-I CEDÎD-İ ÂMİRE’NİN CİHÂNNÜMÂ KASRI VE 1171 / 1757-58 YILI TAMİRAT KAYITLARI

This essay discusses the Belvedere Pavilion “Cihânnümâ Kasrı”of the New Imperial Palace “Sarây-ı Cedîd-i Âmire” in Edirne. According to the inscription over the door of the Cihânnümâ Kasrı which is one of the important structures of the Palace, the building was constructed in H 855-56 / M 1451-52 by the Sultan Mehmet-II. There was a seven-storey tower in the center of Kasr, located in the Sand Court (Kum Meydanı) of the Palace, and units with different functions on the lower floors. Unfortunately, only a small part of Kasr, which was used by the Sultan for many years, has survived until now. The focus of this essay is on the repairs and restorations performed at Cihânnümâ Kasrı in the middle of 18th Century. In this essay, the records for the era of Sultan Mustafa III in H 1171 / M 1757-58 have been studied for the first time. Within the present framework, primarily a general depiction and description of the structure has been made and then the present situation and condition of the Pavilion have been specified in the light of the information provided by the historical records. The repairs which are dated to the years of reign of Mustafa-III included the inside and outside of the kiosk. During the restoration, lead of the roof was changed, the gate, entry hall, Imperial Throne (taht-ı hümâyûn) water fountain (şadırvan), Entrance Hall (Dîvânhâne), Belvedere (Cihânnümâ), and the stairs were repaired The restoration was not fulfilled as a comprehensive act, although certain parts of the building were described as “entirely collapsed” (bi'l-külliyye fenâ) in the documants.