Philopation Palace

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Philopation Palace is an imperial palace located some 12 miles (19.3) from the Mesogeian capital Alexandropolis. Construction on the palace began in 1506 for PLACEHOLDER, a favourite of Manuel V. In 1520 PLACEHOLDER fell from favor and the Emperor confiscated the palace.

Nearly two centuries later Emperor Constantine XV began a massive rebuilding and expansion project on the palace, destroying a significant portion of the old structure. Work on the palace was halted when the Emperor's first wife died in 1691 and was never finished, leaving the palace a contrast of new and old with a portion of the old medieval structure surviving to clash with the baroque style dominant in the rest of the palace.

Today the palace is open to the public as a tourist attraction, with its grounds housing the Imperial Porcelain factory.

History

Within months of confiscating the palace, Emperor Manuel V began rebuilding and expanding the structure to accommodate the entire court. At the time the Emperor possessed several palaces and houses but few were large enough to accommodate the assembled court besides the Great Sacred Palace. The palace's great hall, the first expansion project was completed in 1525.

The apartments for the Empress consort PLACEHOLDER were completed the following year, and by 1530 the palace could accommodate the emperor's harem. Manuel V died in 1539, but his successors continued expanding and building onto the palace.

By the time Constantine XV assumed control over the empire in the 1660s, the palace's structure was considered outdated and old fashion. Construction on the palace would continue for the next twenty years, with work halting at the death of Constantine XV. The state rooms and private apartments of Manuel V were demolished and replaced with lavish baroque state rooms, and private apartments for the Emperor, Empress, with the palace's Gynaikeion being expanded to house the Emperor's large harem.

After the death of his wife, Empress PLACEHOLDER, Emperor Constantine XV halted construction on the palace. The state apartments were completed during the reign of Irene IV The palace served as the principal country residence of Michael XIII during his joint rule with his mother. Emperor Constantine XVII was the last monarch to reside in the palace regularly until he was assassinated there in 1762 by an opponent of his policies. Constantine XVIII having associated the palace with bad memories such as the murder of his father, and the death of his grandmother refused to live there.

Grace and favour residences

From 1767 with the accession the palace has been used to house grace and favor residents. A large portion of the palace has been used for the last two centuries as rent-free apartments for courtiers, and favoured personages. A total of sixty-nine apartments exist for use as grace and favor residences in the palace.