Topkapı Palace hosts Sultan Selim

Sultan Selim III is among the important pioneers of the reform movements of the Ottoman Empire, which continued until the beginning of the 20th century. He ruled during a period when the Ottoman Empire was weakened due to the wars. His first reform movement was at military system. He formed an army in 1794 to modernize the Ottoman army and opened schools to train soldiers with the assistance of foreign technical teachers. Naval docks and a fleet also kept pace of these reforms. New print houses were opened for technical books. In addition Sultan Selim III supported the innovations in textile and glass industry. The most important political change at his period is the appointment of permanent ambassadors in Europe for the first time.

Sultan Selim III was also known as a poet and musician and developments in culture and arts were realized during his reign. Baroque and rococo styles added new concepts in architecture, painting and decoration.

"Sultan Selim III: A Reformist, Poet and Musician" exhibition has 150 objects that belonged to Selim III (1789-1807), the 28th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and to his period. Sultan’s reform movements and political correspondences, reforms in art and culture, manuscripts and seals, and textiles, weapons, paintings and watches selected from Selim III’s personal belongings are on display.

The exhibition can be visited at the Imperial Stallions section of Topkapı Palace Museum until March 24.