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The History of the Kerko Porta
The Kerko Porta has an interesting history. When Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was on his way to the Holy Land as part of the Third...
The Suburb Near Cosmidion
The suburb in question was near Cosmidion, which made it easy for the Bulgarians under Crum to attack St. Mamas from their camp near...
The Sixth Military Gate and the Wooden Circus
The next Theodosian gate is located between the last tower of the Outer Wall to the north of the Gate of Charisius and the...
Strict Palace Security
In addition to the regular guards, one officer sits at each corner of the corridor around the Sultan’s room. From their positions, they can...
The Sultan’s Sleeping Habits
The Sultan sleeps only two or three hours each day. He can only fall asleep when someone is reading to him or when music...
The Sultan’s Wealth and Mental Health
Power, Money, and Madness
The Sultan's Generous Treatment of His Family
Sultan Abdul Hamid II was known for being very generous to his family members. Unlike...
A Possible Answer
Maybe I couldn't say for sure, but I suggested that since the Turks had gained this land by force, they might lose it in...
The Medrasa and Its Students
On a rocky hill, there is a medrasa, or monastery, where 300 men are training to become Muslim priests. They come here when they...
Smuggling in Kavala
A lot of smuggling happens in Kavala. The interesting part of the situation is that many local officials are involved in smuggling themselves. ...
The Magnificent Era of Suleyman
During the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566), the Ottoman Empire witnessed the pinnacle of its treasury’s prosperity. Historian Hammer chronicled the influx and...
