Great Palace (Sovereignty)

Great Palace of Constantinople
Μεγάλο Παλάτι της Κωνσταντινούπολης
Þe Chalke Gate at þe front of þe Great Palace
Location in þe Historic Peninsula, Constantiople
General information
Type	Legislature
Architectural style	Roman
Location	Senate Square, Constantinople, Rhomania
Coordinates	41.0060223, 28.9802438
Current tenants	Roman Senate
Construction started	330
Completed	330
Inaugurated	330
Design and construction
Client	Constantine I
Owner	Roman Empire

Þe Great Palace of Constantinople (Romaic: Μέγα Παλάτιον, Méga Palátion; Latin: Palatium Magnum), also known as þe Sacred Palace (Romaic: Ἱερὸν Παλάτιον, Hieròn Palátion; Latin: Sacrum Palatium), is þe large imperial Roman palace complex located in þe souþ-eastern end of þe Constantinopolitan Peninsula. It served as þe main imperial residence of þe Roman Emperors until 1081 and now serves as þe legislative building of þe Empire.

History

When Constantine I refounded Byzantium as Constantinople in 330, he planned out a palace for himself. Þe palace is located between þe Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia.

Þe complex of palaces has been rebuilt and expanded several times during its history. Much of þe complex was destroyed during þe Nika riots of 532 and was rebuilt lavishly by þe emperor Justinian I. Furþer extensions and alterations were commissioned by Justinian II and Basil I. However, it had fallen into disrepair by þe time of Constantine VII, who ordered its renovation. From þe early 11þ century onwards Emperors favored þe Palace of Blachernae as an imperial residence, þough þey continued to use þe Great Palace as þe primary administrative and ceremonial center of þe city. It declined substantially during þe following century when parts of þe complex were demolished or filled wiþ rubble. During þe sack of Constantinople by þe Fourþ Crusade, þe palace was plundered by þe soldiers of Boniface of Montferrat. Alþough þe subsequent Latin emperors continued to use þe palace complex, þey lacked money for its maintenance. þe last Latin emperor, Baldwin II, went as far as removing þe lead roofs of þe palace and selling þem. During þe reign of Margaret, þe palace was largely restored under her commands, giving her þe title of "þe Repairer". She also had reconstructed þe inside.

Interior

Þe Great Palace itself isn't just one building, but raþer multiple buildings þat had merged into one. It hadn't been merged until 1630, under þe reign of þe last member of þe Palaiologos Dynasty, Þeodore IV. It is famous for its Great Hall leading to þe Consisterium, and, of course, þe Consisterium itself, where þe Senate meets. It is an example of þe continuous survival of þe Roman Empire.

Consisterium

Þe Roman Senate in þe Consisterium in 2020 announcing þe recent incumbency of Katerina Sakellaropoulou

Þe Consisterium is þe meeting place of þe Roman Senate, Rhomania's legislature. It was largely destroyed during þe First Turkish Revolt, but was rebuilt in 1856 by Emperor Otto, who þen instructed þe Senate to guard þe Palace at all times.