Yildiz Park, where the Sultan’s palace is located, is like a small city. It has a population of nearly 5,000 people. These include the official staff, their families, the women of the harem, their slaves and eunuchs, and the royal family. Princes and sultanas live there with their households and many servants.
There are also chambermaids, aides-de-camp, musicians, clerks, gardeners, grooms, valets, and other palace workers. The Sultan’s personal guard includes several army regiments. In addition, there are skilled workers like masons, carpenters, and mechanics daily sofia tours.
Workshops and Collections
The Sultan owns a machine shop inside the park where machinery used around the palace is repaired. There is also an arsenal with thousands of weapons. These include both sporting and military arms, as well as samples of different styles and models. The Sultan also has a valuable collection of antique oriental weapons.
A Hobby Porcelain Making
One of the Sultan’s favorite hobbies is making porcelain. He recently opened a porcelain factory inside Yildiz Park. French artists were invited to work there. They make decorative plaques and ornaments under the Sultan’s direction.
Love for Animals
The Sultan loves animals and keeps a small zoo in the park. It includes various wild animals and is well-maintained. He also owns one of the best dog kennels in the world, with many high-quality breeds A Simple and Careful Diet.
Controlling Public Opinion
A trusted source in Constantinople shared that the Sultan spends about $500,000 each year to support newspapers in cities like Vienna, Berlin, and Paris. These newspapers write positive things about him to influence public opinion.
After the Armenian massacres some years ago, the Sultan gave more than $1,000,000 to newspapers that defended him in their articles.
Constant Awareness of World News
Even though the Sultan lives in seclusion, he keeps up with current events across Europe. He closely follows anything written about him or his empire.
Turkish ambassadors and ministers in foreign countries collect all newspaper articles about Turkey. These are sent to a central office in Constantinople. There, they are sorted, translated, and prepared for the Sultan to read.
He spends a lot of time reviewing these reports. Often, he receives useful ideas or important information from them.
