Events Leading Up To the Tekfur Sarayi
The city of Constantinople (what is now Istanbul) was the capital of the Byzantine empire from the year 330 all the way to 1453 and was, for much of that time, considered one of the greatest cities on earth. From the 5th century to the early 13th century, Istanbul was the largest and richest city in all of Europe (1). The Byzantines had decided to make their capital an image of their prosperity, mainly through elaborate architecture, and thus the urban landscape blossomed with grandiose mosques and other unique Byzantine designs (1).
"One of the most extraordinary aspects of the Byzantine Empire was its longevity: It was the only organized state west of China to survive without interruption from ancient times until the beginning of the modern age." - The History Channel
Beyond just Constantinople, The Byzantine Empire marks an era of extreme economic and technological prosperity but this golden era is coming to an end right when our landmark being constructed. Just under a century prior to the Tekfur Sarayi being built, Constantinople was ransacked by Latin Crusaders (1). As a result, much of the city was damaged or even burned to the ground. The Tekfur Sarayi was meant to be an image of strength and rebuilding after the century of turmoil that the crusade had brought upon the great city.