From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Birûn, from the Persian word for "outside", was the term used in the Ottoman Empire to refer to the Outer Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, as opposed to the Inner ones (Enderûn), which were only accessible to the Ottoman Sultan and his servants and family members. By extension, it was also applied to the Outer Service of the palace, including also the administrative, military, and religious elite of the empire, as opposed to the Inner Service clustered around the Sultan's person.