Chamber of Sacred Relics

This room is called the Privy Chamber, or Has Oda. It was built in the 15th century, in the time of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. He was also called Fatih Sultan Mehmet. It was made when Topkapı Palace itself was being built.

At first, this was the sultan’s private place. It was not a public room. It belonged to the ruler and to the most trusted people around him.

Before it became the place for the sacred relics, the sultan lived in these chambers. The highest-ranking men from the devshirme system also lived here. The devshirme system brought boys into palace service and trained them for high duty. Some rose to very important positions in the Ottoman state.

The sultan’s throne was also kept here. Later, this chamber was used for rich gifts and war booty sent to the palace. These objects showed the power and wealth of the Ottoman ruler.

In time, the room became known for something even more special. It was used to keep the sacred relics. These were holy objects linked with Islam and the early Muslim world. For the Ottoman sultans, they were deeply important.

Later, the Ottoman dynasty moved to newly built palaces by the Bosphorus. After that, this chamber still kept its special place in palace life. Every year, on the 15th day of the holy month of Ramadan, a ceremony was held here. Ramadan is the month of fasting in Islam. So this room was not only a private chamber. It became a place of memory, faith, and royal tradition.