What does Bâb-ı Âli refer to in Turkish?

zbeckabee

Ottoman Porte, (Sublime Porte, High Porte, Ottoman Turkish Bab-ý Ali) used to refer to the Divan (court) of the Ottoman Empire where government policies were established. Bâb-ı Âli Gate (Gate of State) where the grand vizier executes government works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porte http://www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr/eng/alaymeydani.html Apr 06 08, 4:37 PM

author

This is correct. Quote: Residence/office of the Ottoman sultan. In the Ottoman Empire, the sultan would appoint a grand vizier to head the government. Just as the prime minister of Great Britain resides at 10 Downing Street, the grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire lived and worked in the Sublime Porte. This term is a French translation of al-Bab al-Ali, which means literally "the High Door." In the nineteenth century, it became common to refer to the entire Ottoman government as "the Sublime Porte," as it is common today to refer to the U.S. government as "the White House." http://www.answers.com/topic/sublime-porte The Sublime Porte - a French translation from the Turkish 'Bâbiâli' and also commonly known simply as 'Porte' - comprised the government of the Ottoman Empire. The title, which was used chiefly by Europeans, comprised the name of the gate which provided entry to the Sultan's palace in Constantinople (now Istanbul), where justice was formerly administered in ancient times and where latterly the principal departments of state were located. The term came to be used to refer to the Ottoman government in its entirety or else to the Ottoman court. http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/sublimeporte.htm Apr 06 08, 6:02 PM