Selimiye Military Barracks and Selimiye settlement district in Ottoman modernisation project

The Selimiye Military Barracks and the Selimiye settlement district in Istanbul were constructed as components of a simultaneous imperial building campaign, and form a complex of buildings that stand to this present day. This study presents a reading of the complex, as regards its architectural history; in an attempt to draw together its individual components in a unified whole. Drawing its material from Ottoman documents recording the details of its original construction (i.e. 19th century historic texts; vakfiyes and archival records) the study aims to cast light on all historically significant issues related to the complex. The Selimiye building complex has been examined under two inter-related headings: The barracks and the settlement district. The history of the barracks and its ancillary buildings is reconstructed in two successive peroids, beginning with the initial barracks building constructed during the reign of Sultan Selim III (which was burned down in 1808) and the latter building constructed during the reign of Sultan Mahmut II (the present-day barracks). The conclusion of the study presents evaluations on both the constructional history of the complex and its iconological meaning. The architectural characteristics of the individual buildings in the settlement district and the features of the complex as a whole have been presented in light of archival evidence. On the other hand, the historical material at reach has enabled a detailed architectural account of the original qualities of both barracks buildings. The fact that the study rests on original documents and archive records has given ground to introduce new historical data on the subject and also to modify the body of existing knowledge. The discussion pertaining to the meaning of the complex concludes that the construction of this imperial complex may be conceived as a reflection of the Ottoman modernisation project. The Selimiye complex may be addressed to mark the beginning of the transition from a traditional system to a modern one. Keywords: Selimiye; Selimiye settlement district; Ottoman modernisation; barracks; military. Xll