TRENDEFRAtlas of the Sultans · Glossary

Term · Sovereignty and central government

Sublime Porte

Also known as: Bâbıâli, Paşakapısı

“The high gate”: the office of the grand vizier and, over time, the name used for the Ottoman government itself.

For the Ottomans a “gate” also meant a government office: the sultan's palace was the Bâb-ı Hümâyun, the office of the şeyhülislam the Bâb-ı Meşîhat. From the 18th century the name Bâbıâli settled on the grand vizier's office, and in European languages the Sublime Porte became the name of the Ottoman government.

Related terms

• Grand vizier
• Imperial Council

Events where this term appears

• 1479 · Treaty of Constantinople with Venice
• 1808 · Alemdar Incident
• 1812 · Treaty of Bucharest
• 1838 · Treaty of Balta Liman

Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, article “BÂBIÂLİ” (in Turkish); text condensed for the atlas.