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102-683: Sammezzano , or the Castle of Sammezzano , is an Italian palazzo in Tuscany featuring Moorish Revival architectural style. It is located in Leccio , a hamlet of Reggello , in the Province of Florence . The original palazzo was erected in about 1605 by the Spanish nobleman Ximenes of Aragon . In the 19th century, Ferdinand Panciatichi Ximenes inherited the property and, between 1853 and 1889, remodeled it into one of

204-544: A curia in the East, offices in the North and South, and a projecting part ( Westbau ) and an atrium with exedrae in the West. But the center piece was the chapel, covered with a 16,54 meters wide and 31 meters high octagonal cupola . Eight massive pillars receive the thrust of large arcades . The nave on the first floor, located under the cupola, is surrounded by an aisle ; here stood

306-507: A gynaeceum , barracks , a hospice , a hunting park and a menagerie in which lived the elephant Abul-Abbas , given by Baghdad Caliph Harun al-Rashid . Ermoldus Nigellus describes the place in his Poems on Louis the Pious (first half of the 9th century). The place was frequented everyday by crowds of people: courtiers, scholars, aristocrats, merchants but also beggars and poor people that came to ask for charity . Internal affairs were

408-654: A North-South axis (the stone gallery) and an East-West axis (the former Roman road , the decumanus ). To the north of this square lay the council hall, to the south the Palatine Chapel. The architect drew a triangle toward the East to connect the thermae to the palace complex. The two best-known buildings are the council hall (today disappeared) and the Palatine Chapel, included into the Cathedral . The other buildings are hardly identified. Often built in timber framing , made of wood and brick , they have been destroyed. Lastly,

510-540: A desirable residential area . Roman emperor Caesar Augustus lived there in a purposely modest house only set apart from his neighbours by the two laurel trees planted to flank the front door as a sign of triumph granted by the Senate . His descendants, especially Nero with his " Domus Aurea " (the Golden House), enlarged the building and its grounds over and over until it took up the hilltop. The word Palātium came to mean

612-473: A grand royal palace constructed in 782 B.C. by King Argisthi . The palace at Erebuni is one of the earliest examples of an Urartian palace. During the Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity) , many palaces were constructed for the successive kings. Ruins of a royal palace can be found in the early Armenian capital of Yervandashat , which was built to serve as the seat of Orontid Armenian Kings by Orontes IV . During

714-723: A member of the House of Habsburg and his consort, Empress Carlota of Mexico , daughter of Leopold I of Belgium . The palace features many objets d'art ranging from gifts of Napoleon III to paintings by Franz Xaver Winterhalter and Mexican painter Santiago Rebull. Palaces in the United States include the White House , the official residence of the president , and the official residences of many governors and Roman Catholic bishops . Some palaces of former heads of state or their representatives, such as English and Spanish royal governors and

816-619: A palace does not. The word palace comes from Old French palais (imperial residence), from Latin Palātium , the name of one of the seven hills of Rome . The original "palaces" on the Palatine Hill were the seat of the imperial power. At the same time, the "capitol" on the Capitoline Hill was the religious nucleus of Rome. Long after the city grew to the seven hills, the Palatine remained

918-627: A palace worthy of the name. He left Rome to the Pope . The rivalry with the Byzantine Empire led Charlemagne to build a magnificent palace. The fire that destroyed his palace in Worms in 793 also encouraged him to follow such a plan. Historians know almost nothing about the architect of the Palace of Aachen, Odo of Metz . His name appears in the works of Eginhard (c. 775–840), Charlemagne's biographer . He

1020-631: A palace, and have been used as residences. Hearst Castle and the Biltmore Estate are examples. The Palacio Legislativo (Legislative Palace) is the house of the Uruguayan Parliament . The Palacio de Miraflores is the setting for the offices of the president of the country. Located in Addis Ababa, the Menelik Palace is a palatial compound that is currently serving as the residence of

1122-420: A troop of his retinue or body guard, so that a hundred or more persons sometimes bathed with him. The other buildings are not easy to identify because of the lack of detailed enough written accounts. Charlemagne's and his family's apartments seem to have been located in the north-eastern part of the palace complex; his room may have been on the second floor. Some of the servants of the palace must have lived in

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1224-482: A version of the term ( palats , palais , palazzo , palacio , etc.) and many use it to describe a broader range of buildings than English. In many parts of Europe, the equivalent term is also applied to large private houses in cities, especially of the aristocracy . It is also used for some large official buildings that have never had a residential function; for example in French-speaking countries Palais de Justice

1326-660: A view on the three altars : that of the Savior right in front of him, that of the Virgin Mary on the first floor and that of Saint Peter in the far end of the Western choir. Charlemagne wanted his chapel to be magnificently decorated, so he had massive bronze doors made in a foundry near Aachen. The walls were covered with marble and polychrome stone. The columns, still visible today, were taken from buildings in Ravenna and Rome , with

1428-607: Is a historic building in the center of Baku, Azerbaijan, built in Neo-Gothic style in the early 19th century. Shahbulag Castle Palace (Azerbaijani: Şahbulaq qalası "Spring of the Shah") is an 18th-century fortress near Aghdam . After the death of Turkic ruler Nadir Shah , the territory that is today Azerbaijan split into several Caucasian khanates, one of which was the Karabakh Khanate founded by Panah Ali Khan . The first capital of

1530-562: Is considered a masterpiece of Carolingian architecture and a characteristic example of architecture from the Carolingian Renaissance . In ancient times , the Romans chose the site of Aachen for its thermal springs and its forward position towards Germania . The site, called Aquae Granni , was equipped with 50 acres (20 ha) of thermae that remained in use from the 1st to the 4th century. The Roman city grew in connection with

1632-642: Is probably the best prominent example, essentially a creation of 1252 to 1379, and little has changed since 1433, which marked the end of the Avignon Papacy and subsequent schisms. Very little of the medieval Louvre Palace , one of the most magnificent, has survived above ground. Similar fates befell the main palaces of the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople : the Great Palace of Constantinople , Boukoleon Palace , and Palace of Blachernae . The Palace of

1734-749: Is relatively unobtrusive within Ottawa, giving it more of the character of a private home. Along with Rideau Hall, the Citadelle of Quebec , also known as La Citadelle, is an active military installation and official residence of the Canadian monarch and the governor general. It is located atop Cap Diamant , adjoining the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City , Quebec . The citadel is the oldest military building in Canada and forms part of

1836-409: Is supposed to have been an educated cleric, familiar with liberal arts , especially quadrivia . He had probably read Vitruvius ' treatise on architecture, De Architectura . The decision to build the palace was taken in the late 780s or the early 790s, before Charlemagne held the title of emperor. Works began in 794 and went on for several years. Aachen quickly became the favourite residence of

1938-639: Is the overall name given to the complex of palaces that were the primary residence in Rome of the Roman emperors from the late 1st century to the 5th. Some sculptures and decorative elements have been excavated. The Domus Aurea was a different palace, begun by Nero , where excavations from the Renaissance onwards have discovered remarkably well-preserved paintings in levels now below ground. Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia

2040-559: Is the traditional ruler of the Edo people, alongside some other royals. The current palace is a reconstruction by Eweka II after the original was destroyed in 1897 by the British. Rwanda is host to three palaces, although one of them is currently repurposed. In Nyanza , the former royal capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda, are two existing palaces. The first, the traditional King's Palace, is constructed in

2142-420: Is the usual name of important courthouses. Many historic palaces such as parliaments, museums, hotels, or office buildings are now put to other uses. The word is also sometimes used to describe an elaborate building used for public entertainment or exhibitions such as a movie palace . A palace is typically distinguished from a castle in that the latter is fortified or has the style of a fortification, whereas

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2244-559: The Arsacid dynasty of Armenia . After the fall of the Arsacids, Armenia was ruled by a succession of aristocratic families who held the title Nakharar . One of these Nakharar princes, Grigor Mamikonian , built a palace in the citadel of Aruch near the Aruchavank cathedral; some walls of this palace and a unique Armenian throne made of tufa still survive today. The medieval capital of

2346-505: The Bagratid kingdom of Armenia , Ani , also hosted many palaces. The first palace of Ani, constructed by the princely Armenian Kamsarakan dynasty in the seventh century, served as the most important structure of the city. Located in the main citadel, the Kamsarakan palace was used by the successive Bagratid kingdom as their headquarters. In addition, Ani hosted several other palaces such as

2448-603: The Christian symbolism for figures and numbers. The building was conceived as a representation of the heavenly Jerusalem , the Kingdom of God, as described in the Apocalypse . The outer perimeter of the cupola measures exactly 144 Carolingian feet whereas that of the heavenly Jerusalem, ideal city drawn by angels , is of 144 cubits . The mosaic of the cupola, hidden today behind a 19th-century restoration, showed Christ in Majesty with

2550-711: The Hawaiian royal family , still exist. Examples include: ʻIolani Palace and Hānaiakamalama , the former homes of the Hawaiian monarchs in Honolulu ; Hulihee Palace in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii ; The Governor's Palace in Williamsburg , a modern reconstruction of the official residence of the royal governors of the Colony of Virginia ; Tryon Palace in New Bern , a modern reconstruction of

2652-654: The Plaza de la Constitución (El Zócalo), first built in 1563, is in the heart of the Mexican capital. In 1821, the palace was given its current name, and the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government were housed in the palace; the latter two branches would eventually reside elsewhere. During the Second Mexican Empire , its name was changed, for a time, to the Imperial Palace. The National Palace continues to be

2754-850: The Timurid Empire , Armenia was governed by several local principalities known as Melikdoms . Each Melik had their own princely palace. The most notable of which is the Palace of the Dizak Melikdom constructed by Melik Yeganyan in Togh (1737). Other notable melik palaces are the Melik Ahnazar palace in Khnatsakh (16th century), the Melik Haykaz Palace in Melikashen (15th century), the Melik Kasu palace,

2856-499: The prime minister of Ethiopia . The compound, while containing palaces and residences also contains a few churches, tombs and monasteries. Previously, it served as the seat of the emperors of Ethiopia . After a 2018 renovation, the compound opened to the public in 2019 as a part of Unity Park . The Palace of the Olowo , ruler of the Yoruba Owo clan of Nigeria , is acknowledged to be

2958-646: The thermae according to a classical grid plan similar to that of Roman legionary camps . A palace was used to accommodate the governor of the province or the Emperor. In the 4th century, the city and the palace were destroyed during the Barbarian invasions . Clovis made Paris the capital of the Frankish Kingdom , and Aachen Palace was abandoned until the advent of the Carolingian dynasty. The Pippinid Mayors of

3060-557: The 1130s. Baku Khans' Palace is a complex of several houses that belonged to members of ruling family of the Baku Khanate in the 17th century. The palace complex was in ruins but has now been reconstructed as of 2018. Official Administration of State Historical-Architectural Reserve Icheri Sheher has opened the complex as a palace-museum. The Palace of Happiness (Azerbaijani: Səadət Sarayı), currently also called Palace of Marriage Registrations and previously called Mukhtarov Palace,

3162-523: The 13th century. The palace also housed the literary activities of the Palace Academy. This circle of scholars did not gather in a definite building: Charlemagne liked to listen to poems while he was swimming and eating. The Palace school provided education to the ruler's children and the "nourished ones" ( nutriti in Latin), aristocrat sons that were to serve the king. Outside of the palace complex were also

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3264-471: The 24 elders of the Apocalypse. Other mosaics, on the vaults of the aisle, takes up this subject by representing the heavenly Jerusalem. Charlemagne's throne, located in the West of the second floor, was placed on the seventh step of a platform. The treasury and archives of the palace were located in a tower tied to the great hall, in the North of the complex. The chamberman was the officer liable for

3366-587: The 38 minute long video Beyond the Shores (on Death and Dying) by the band Shores of Null . Palazzo A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop . The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which housed the Imperial residences. Most European languages have

3468-519: The 6th century. Other experts point to similarities with the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus , Constantinople's Chrysotriklinos and the main throne room in the Great Palace of Constantinople . During religious offices, Charlemagne stood in the second floor gallery, as did the Emperor in Constantinople . Odo of Metz was also likely inspired by the 8th-century Lombard Palace of Pavia where

3570-511: The 790s, he decided to settle down in order to govern first his kingdom, then his empire, more efficiently. The site of Aachen was chosen by Charlemagne after careful consideration in a key moment of his reign. Since his advent as King of the Franks, Charlemagne had led numerous military expeditions that had both filled his treasury and enlarged his realm, most notably towards the East. He conquered pagan Saxony in 772–780, but this area resisted and

3672-511: The Aachen chancellery , summed up the decisions taken. In this building also took place official ceremonies and the reception of embassies . Describing the coronation of Louis, son of Charlemagne, Ermold the Black states that there Charlemagne "spoke down from his golden seat." The dimensions of the hall (1,000 m ) were suitable to the reception of several hundreds of people at the same time: although

3774-503: The Abbey church of Essen ). Charlemagne was buried in the chapel in 814. His son and successor, Emperor Louis the Pious , used the palace of Aachen without making it his exclusive residence. He used to stay there from winter until Easter . Several important Councils were held in Aix in the early 9th century. Those of 817 and 836 took place in the buildings adjacent to the chapel. In 817, Louis

3876-486: The Bronze Age Greece palace are seen in the excavations at Mycenae , Tiryns and Pylos . The fact that these were administrative centers is shown by the records found there. They were ranged around a group of courtyards, each opening upon several rooms of different dimensions, such as storerooms and workshops, as well as reception halls and living quarters, each opening upon several rooms of different dimensions, such as storerooms, workshops, and reception halls. The heart of

3978-406: The Carolingian heartlands of Austrasia , the cradle of his family, East of the Meuse river, at a crossroads of land roads and on a tributary of the Rur , called the Wurm . From then, Charlemagne left the administration of the Southern regions to his son Louis , named King of Aquitaine , which enabled him to reside in the North. Besides, settling down in Aachen enabled Charlemagne to control

4080-461: The East. The Germans had turned it towards the West to show that their cavalry could beat the French whenever they wanted [...]. In 881, a Viking raid damaged the palace and the chapel. In 1000, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III had Charlemagne's tomb opened. According to two 11th-century chroniclers, he would have been found sitting on his throne, wearing his crown and holding his sceptre . However, Eginhard does not mention this in his biography of

4182-507: The Emperor and Quirinus . Eginhard mentions a swimming pool that could accommodate one hundred swimmers at a time: [...] [Charlemagne] enjoyed the exhalations from natural warm springs, and often practised swimming, in which he was such an adept that none could surpass him; and hence it was that he built his palace at Aix-la-Chapelle, and lived there constantly during his latter years until his death. He used not only to invite his sons to his bath, but his nobles and friends, and now and then

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4284-442: The Emperor. At the same time the veneration of Charlemagne began to attract pilgrims to the chapel. In the 12th century, Frederick Barbarossa placed the body of the Carolingian Emperor into a reliquary and interceded with the Pope for his canonization ; the relics were scattered across the empire. The treasure of Aachen began to grow with numerous gifts from French and German kings and princes. Between 1355 and 1414, an apse

4386-480: The Kingdom of Buganda and is a known landmark of the present capital Kampala . Afghanistan 's capital Kabul is well known for its sheer number of palaces. Many had been built in the 19th century but perhaps the most famous is the Darul Aman Palace . Many palaces were damaged by the civil war, including Darul Aman, but others have survived or have been rebuilt. Armenia has many palaces from its various historical periods. The Erebuni fortress in Yerevan has

4488-403: The Merchant's(Tigran Honents) Palace, one of the best surviving examples of secular Armenian architecture of that time, the Seljuk palace, and the Manuchir Mosque , which is said by some historians to have been a residence of Bagratid kings before being converted to a mosque. After the Bagratid state was conquered by the Byzantines and then the Seljuks , Armenia was once again liberated by

4590-462: The North. Both of these were linked by the gallery. Since Pepin the Short , Charlemagne's father, Carolingian kings were sacred and received their power from God. Charlemagne himself wanted to influence religious matters through his reforms and the numerous ecumenical council and synods held in Aachen. By establishing the seat of the power and the court in Aachen, Charlemagne knew he would be able to more easily supervise those close to him. The palace

4692-464: The Palace carried out some restoration works, but it was at the time only one residence among others. The Frankish court was itinerant and the rulers moved according to the circumstances. Around 765, Pepin the Short had a palace erected over the remains of the old Roman building; he had the thermae restored and removed its pagan idols . As soon as he came to power in 768, Charlemagne spent time in Aachen as well as in other villas in Austrasia . In

4794-444: The Palace servants. The two additional floors ( tribunes ) open on the central space through semicircular arches supported by columns. The inner side takes the shape of an octagon whereas the outer side develops into a sixteen-sided polygon . The chapel had two choirs located in the East and West. The king sat on a throne made of white marble plates, in the West of the second floor, surrounded by his closer courtiers. Thus he had

4896-417: The Pious had his elder son Lothair in the presence of the Frankish people. Following the Treaty of Verdun in 843, the Carolingian Empire was split into three kingdoms. Aachen was then incorporated into Middle Francia . Lothair I (840–855) and Lothair II (855–869) lived in the palace. When he died, the palace lost its political and cultural significance. Lotharingia became a field of rivalry between

4998-429: The Pope's permission. The walls and cupola were covered with mosaic , enhanced by both artificial lights and exterior light coming in through the windows. Eginhard provides a description of the inside in his Life of Charlemagne (c. 825–826): [...] Hence it was that he [Charlemagne] built the beautiful basilica at Aachen, which he adorned with gold and silver and lamps, and with rails and doors of solid brass. He had

5100-448: The Porphyrogenitus , a part of the Palace of Blachernae, has significant remains and now houses a museum. The Brazilian new capital, Brasília , hosts modern palaces, most designed by the city's architect Oscar Niemeyer . The Alvorada Palace is the official residence of Brazil's president . The Planalto Palace is the official workplace. The Jaburu Palace is the official residence of Brazil's vice-president . Also Rio de Janeiro ,

5202-414: The Roman expression in his " palace " at Aachen , of which only his chapel remains. In the 9th century, the "palace" indicated the government's housing too, and Charlemagne constantly traveled, building fourteen. In the early Middle Ages, the palas was usually that part of an imperial palace (or Kaiserpfalz ) that housed the Great Hall , where affairs of state were conducted; continued to be used as

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5304-482: The building has been destroyed, it is known it was 47,42 metres long, 20,76 metres large and 21 metres high. The plan seems to be based upon the Roman aula palatina of Trier . The structure was made of brick, and the shape was that of a civil basilica with three apses : the largest one (17,2 m), located to the West, was dedicated to the king and his suite. The two other apses, to the North and South, were smaller. Light entered through two rows of windows. The inside

5406-434: The case of the largest, there are fifty steps leading up to the main part of it, and the most important of these towers is higher than that of the cathedral of Seville..." In the Yucatan , a well-preserved Mayan palace with a unique four-storey observation tower stands at the Palenque site, from where Pakal reigned over the city-state. The National Palace , or Palacio Nacional , located in Mexico City's main square,

5508-424: The chapel was decorated with mosaics and paintings. Although he may have travelled to Italy, it is unlikely that he visited Constantinople. Although many references to Roman and Byzantine models are visible in Aachen's buildings, Odo of Metz expressed his talent for Frankish architect and brought undeniably different elements. The palace is also distinguishable from Merovingian architecture by its large scale and

5610-428: The columns and marbles for this structure brought from Rome and Ravenna, for he could not find such as were suitable elsewhere. [...] He provided it with a great number of sacred vessels of gold and silver and with such a quantity of clerical robes that not even the doorkeepers who fill the humblest office in the church were obliged to wear their everyday clothes when in the exercise of their duties. Odo of Metz applied

5712-445: The courtyard (election by the dukes ), then in the chapel (handing of the insignia of the Kingdom), finally in the palace (banquet). During the ceremony, Otto sat on Charlemagne's throne. Afterwards, and until the 16th century, all the German Emperors were crowned firstly in Aachen and then in Rome, which highlights the attachment to Charlemagne's political legacy. The Golden Bull of 1356 confirmed that coronations were to take place in

5814-623: The feeling of living a dream ". In Central Mexico, the Aztec emperors built many palaces in the capital of their empire, Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City), some of which may still be seen. On observing the great city Hernán Cortés wrote, "There are, in all districts of this great city, many temples or palaces... They are all magnificent buildings. Amongst these temples is one, the principal one, whose great size and magnificence no human tongue could describe,... All around this wall are exquisite quarters with huge rooms and corridors. There are as many as forty towers, all of which are so high that in

5916-421: The former capital of the Portuguese Empire and the Empire of Brazil , houses numerous royal and imperial palaces as the Imperial Palace of São Cristóvão , former official residence of the Brazil's emperors , the Paço Imperial , its official workplace and the Guanabara Palace , former residence of Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil besides palaces of the nobility and aristocracy. The city of Petropolis , in

6018-418: The fortifications of Quebec City, which is one of only two cities in North America still surrounded by fortifications. The fortress is located within the historic district of Old Québec , designated a World Heritage Site in 1985. In addition to the federal residences, most provinces maintain a place for the Canadian monarch and their provincial viceroys and lieutenant governors. There is no government house for

6120-432: The governor general of Canada, and has been described as "Canada's house". It stands in Canada's capital on a 36-hectare (89-acre) estate at 1 Sussex Drive , with the main building consisting of approximately 175 rooms across 9,500 m (102,000 sq ft), and 27 outbuildings around the grounds. While the equivalent structure in many countries has a prominent, central place in the national capital, Rideau Hall's site

6222-403: The historical colonial governors' palace of the Province of North Carolina ; and the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe, New Mexico as well as the Spanish Governor's Palace in San Antonio , Texas, which were residences of both Spanish and Mexican governors. There are many private buildings or mansions in the United States, which, though not called "palaces", have the grandeur typical of

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6324-439: The khanate was the Bayat Castle , built in 1748 Haji Gayib's Palace is an ancient fortress construction near a coastal side of Icheri Sheher . It is located in the Baku quarter of Icheri Sheher , opposite the Maiden Tower . The history of the palace dates back to the 15th century. The Intake portal of the bathhouse is rectangular shaped The Palace of Shaki Khans (Azerbaijani: Şəki xanlarının sarayı) in Shaki, Azerbaijan ,

6426-415: The kings of West and East Francia . It was split several times and finally fell under the control of Germany under Henry I the Fowler (876–936). Yet the memory of Charlemagne's Empire remained fresh and became a symbol of German power. In the 10th century, Otto I (912–973) was crowned King of Germany in Aachen (936). The three-part ceremony took place in several locations within the palace: first in

6528-489: The largest examples of Moorish Revival architecture . Umberto I , king of Italy, visited Ximenes at Sammezzano in 1878. The palazzo served as a luxury hotel in the post World War II era; then was vacated and closed. A committee called FPXA 1813–2013, abbreviation for Ferdinand Panciatichi Ximenes d’Aragon, was organized in 2012 to attempt to restore and preserve the palazzo , which has 365 rooms, each with unique, Moorish decoration. The Castle of Sammezzano can be seen in

6630-407: The largest palace in all of Africa. It consists of more than 100 courtyards, each with a unique traditional usage. In the Kano State of Nigeria, the Gidan Rumfa acts as the seat of the Emir of Kano since the late 15th century when it was constructed. In Benin City , the capital of the Edo State , lies the current Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin . It currently houses the Oba of Benin , who

6732-523: The lieutenant governors of Ontario ( repurposed in 1937 and demolished in 1961 ), Quebec ( destroyed by fire in 1966 ), or Alberta ( closed in 1938 and repurchased and repurposed in 1964 ). The capital of Mexico , Mexico City , is traditionally nicknamed the "City of Palaces"; a nickname usually attributed to Alexander von Humboldt after he visited the city in the late 18th century and early 19th century, but initially coined by Charles Latrobe, an English traveler who visited Mexico City in 1834 and "got

6834-430: The multiplicity of volumes. The vaulting of the chapel illustrates an original Carolingian expertise, especially in the ambulatory topped with a groin vault . Whereas Byzantine emperors sat in the east to watch offices, Charlemagne sat in the west. Lastly, wooden buildings and half-timbering techniques were typical of Northern Europe. Charlemagne's palace was thus more than a copy of Classical and Byzantine models: it

6936-416: The official seat of the executive authority, though it is no longer the president's official residence. Also in Mexico City is the Castillo de Chapultepec , or Chapultepec Castle , located in the middle of Chapultepec Park , which currently houses the Mexican National Museum of History . It is the only castle, or palace, in North America that was occupied by sovereigns – Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico ,

7038-402: The operations in Saxony from a closer position. Charlemagne also considered other advantages of the place: surrounded with forest abounding in game, he intended to abandon himself to hunting in the area. The ageing emperor could also benefit from Aachen's hot springs. The scholars of the Carolingian era presented Charlemagne as the "New Constantine "; in this context, he needed a capital and

7140-454: The palace complex was surrounded with a wall. The arrival of the court in Aachen and the construction work stimulated the activity in the city that experienced growth in the late 8th century and the early 9th century, as craftsmen, traders and shopkeepers had settled near the court. Some important ones lived in houses inside the city. The members of the Palace Academy and Charlemagne's advisors such as Eginhard and Angilbert owned houses near

7242-401: The palace of the Melik-Barkhudaryans in Tegh (1783) and Halidzor Fortress (17th century), which served as a palace for the Melik Parsadanian family. Azerbaijan has a number of palaces which belong to different ages. For example, there are palaces from the BC era and from the 12th century, like the "Goyalp" Palace of Eldiguzids Empire Atabeg — located in Nakhchivan city and built in

7344-464: The palace was the megaron . This was the throne room, laid around a circular hearth surrounded by four columns, the throne generally found on the right-hand side upon entering the room. The staircases in the palace of Pylos indicate palaces had two stories. Located on the top floor were the private quarters of the royal family and some storerooms. These palaces have yielded a wealth of artifacts and fragmentary frescoes. The Palace of Domitian in Rome

7446-627: The palace. Located at the North of the Palace complex, the great Council Hall ( aula regia or aula palatina in Latin) was used to house the speeches delivered by the Emperor once a year. This occasion gathered the highest officials in the Carolingian Empire, dignitaries and the hierarchy of the power: counts , vassals of the king, bishops and abbots . The general assembly was usually held in May. Participants discussed important political and legal affairs. Capitularies , written by amanuenses of

7548-485: The palatine chapel. Otto II (955–983) lived in Aachen with his wife Theophanu . In the summer of 978 Lothair of France led a raid on Aachen but the Imperial family avoided capture. Relating these events, Richer of Reims states the existence of a bronze eagle, the exact location of which is unknown: [...] The bronze eagle, that Charlemagne had put on top of the palace in a flight attitude, has been turned back towards

7650-612: The period of the Artaxiad dynasty of Armenia, emperor king Tigranes the great constructed a grand persianate palace in the newly built city of Tigranocerta . The purpose of the Armenian Temple of Garni is still up for debate, however, certain scholars attest that following the Christianization of Armenia in the 4th century BC, the temple was converted into a summer palace for Khosrovidukht (sister of Tiridates III of Armenia) by

7752-449: The residence of the emperor rather than the neighbourhood on top of the hill. Palace , meaning "government", can be recognized in a remark of Paul the Deacon , writing c.  790 AD and describing events of the 660s: "When Grimuald set out for Beneventum, he entrusted his palace to Lupus" ( Historia Langobardorum , V.xvii). At the same time, Charlemagne was consciously reviving

7854-566: The royal Zakarian family under Georgian Queen Tamar . This period of Zakarid Armenia brought forth many palaces as well, the most notable of which being Amberd Fortress and the 12th-century palace in Dashtadem Fortress . The Zakarids became vassals of the Mongols , however, following their collapse, a succession of nomadic Turkic empires came to rule the region. During the various periods of Ottoman and Iranian occupation following

7956-421: The rulers' treasury and wardrobe. Finance administration fell on the archichaplain , assisted by a treasurer . The treasury gathered gifts brought by the kingdom's important people during the general assemblies or by foreign envoys. This made up an heterogeneous collection of objects ranging from precious books to weapons and clothing. The king would also buy items from merchants visiting Aachen. The chancellor

8058-572: The same kind: The octagonal oratory of Germigny-des-Prés , built in the early 9th century for Theodulf of Orléans seems to have been directly related. The Collegiate church of Liège was built in the 10th century following the plan of the palatine chapel. Ottmarsheim church in Alsace also adopts a centered plan but was built later (11th century). The influence of Aachen's chapel is also found in Compiègne and in other German religious buildings (such as

8160-614: The seat of government in some German cities. In the Holy Roman Empire , the powerful independent Electors came to be housed in palaces ( Paläste ). This has been used as evidence that power was widely distributed in the Empire; as in more centralized monarchies , only the monarch's residence would be a palace . In modern times, archaeologists and historians have applied the term to large structures that housed combined rulers, courts, and bureaucracy in "palace cultures." In informal usage,

8262-568: The seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on a leafy sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River , a few kilometres south of Bandar Seri Begawan , Brunei's capital. Palace of Aachen The Palace of Aachen was a group of buildings with residential, political, and religious purposes chosen by Charlemagne to be the center of power of the Carolingian Empire . The palace

8364-906: The single building palaces of Medieval Western Europe. Palaces were also built by post-classical African kingdoms such as the Ashanti Empire . Before its destruction during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War , the Ashanti royal palace at Kumasi , Ghana was described by English explorers Thomas Edward Bowdich and Winwood Reade as "an immense building of a variety of oblong courts and regular squares." European palaces belonging to rulers were often large and grand, however, very few have survived to represent anything like their original medieval condition; many having been abandoned, burned down, demolished, or rebuilt. The Palais des Papes in Avignon , France,

8466-517: The sovereign's and governor general's principal residence in Ottawa is known as Government House only in formal contexts, being more generally referred to as Rideau Hall . Government House is an inherited custom from the British Empire, where there were and are many government houses. Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and his or her representative,

8568-500: The sovereign. After 807, he almost did not leave it any more. In the absence of sufficient documentation, it is impossible to know the number of workers employed, but the dimensions of the building make it probable that there were many of them. The geometry of the plan chosen was very simple: Odo of Metz decided to keep the layout of the Roman roads and inscribe the square in 360 Carolingian feet , or 120 metres-side square. The square enclosed an area of 50 acres divided in four parts by

8670-591: The state of Rio de Janeiro, is mainly known for its palaces of the imperial period, such as the Petrópolis Palace and the Grão-Pará Palace . In Canada , Government House is a title given to the official residences of the Canadian monarchy and various viceroys (the governors general and the lieutenant governors ). Though not universal, in most cases, the title is also the building's sole name; for example,

8772-427: The task of officers such as butler , le seneschal , the chamberman . The palace borrows several elements of Roman civilization. The Aula Palatina follows a basilical plan. Basilicas in ancient times were public buildings where the city's affairs were discussed. The chapel follows models from ancient Rome: grids exhibit antique decorations ( acanthus ) and columns are topped by Corinthian capitals . The Emperor

8874-522: The term "palace" can be extended to a grand residence. Early ancient palaces include the Assyrian palaces at Nimrud and Nineveh and the Persian palaces at Persepolis and Susa . The Minoans built complexes referred to in modern times as Minoan palaces , though scholars now generally do not think they functioned as royal residences (or that there was royalty for them to house). The best examples of

8976-693: The vernacular style and housed the traditional ruler of Rwanda , the Mwami. A second palace for the king exists in Nyanza, although it is constructed in the Art Deco style as opposed to the local construction style. A third palace, the Rwesero Palace, was originally constructed for Mutara III , but he died before its completion, and the building was converted into the Rwesero Art Museum . The Kabakas Palace belonged to

9078-554: The war with the Saxons lasted for about thirty years. Charlemagne ended the Germanic custom of an itinerant court moving from place to place and established a permanent capital. As he was ageing, he decreased the frequency of military expeditions and, after 806, virtually did not leave Aachen. Aachen's geographic location was a decisive factor in Charlemagne's choice: the site was situated in

9180-422: The western part, and some in the city. The Emperor is said to have owned a library but its exact location is hard to assess. The palace also housed other areas dedicated to artistic creation: a scriptorium that saw the writing of several precious manuscripts ( Drogo Sacramentary , Godescalc Evangelistary …), a goldsmith workshop and an ivory workshop. There was also a mint that was still operational in

9282-478: Was a summer residence of Shaki Khans. It was built in 1797 by Muhammed Hasan Khan. Along with its pool and plane trees, the summer residence is the only remaining structure from the larger palatial complex inside the Sheki Khans' Fortress, which once included a winter palace, residences for the khan's family and servants' quarters. It features decorative tiles, fountains and several stained-glass windows. The exterior

9384-568: Was added to the east end of the chapel. The City Hall was built from 1267 on the site of the Council Hall. During the French Revolution , the French occupied Aachen and looted its treasure. Before choosing Notre-Dame de Paris , Napoleon I had considered for a time holding his Imperial Coronation in Aachen. The chapel was restored in 1884. In 1978 the cathedral, including the chapel, was listed as

9486-567: Was buried in the Palatine Chapel within a 2nd-century marble sarcophagus decorated with a depiction of the abduction of Proserpina . Scholars of Charlemagne's time nicknamed Aachen «the Second Rome». Charlemagne wished to compete with another Emperor of his time: Basileus of Constantinople . The cupola and mosaics of the chapel are Byzantine elements. The plan itself is inspired by the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna , built by Justinian I in

9588-413: Was decorated with dark blue, turquoise and ochre tiles in geometric patterns and the murals were coloured with tempera and were inspired by the works of Nizami Ganjavi . These are located in various regions and capital of Azerbaijan – the palace of government: Istana Nurul Iman is the world's largest residential palace and is the official residence of the sultan of Brunei , Hassanal Bolkiah , and

9690-400: Was liable for the archives. The chancellery employed several scribes and notaries who wrote down diplomas , capitularies and royal correspondence. Agents of the king's offices were mostly clergymen of the chapel. The covered gallery was a hundred meters long. It linked the council hall to the chapel; a monumental porch in its middle was used as the main entrance. A room for legal hearing

9792-457: Was located at the other side of the palace complex, at the South. A stone gallery linked it to the aula regia . It symbolized another aspect of Charlemagne's power, religious power. Legend has it that the building was consecrated in 805 by Pope Leo III , in honour of the Virgin Mary , Mother of Christ. Several buildings used by the clerics of the chapel were arranged in the shape of a latin cross :

9894-535: Was located north of the current city of Aachen , today in the German Land (or state) of North Rhine-Westphalia . Most of the Carolingian palace was built in the 790s but the works went on until Charlemagne's death in 814. The plans, drawn by Odo of Metz , were part of the program of renovation of the kingdom decided by the ruler. Today much of the palace is ruined, but the Palatine Chapel has been preserved and

9996-460: Was located on the second floor. The king dispensed justice in this place, although affairs in which important people were involved were handled in the aula regia . When the king was away, this task fell on the count of the Palace . The building was also probably used as a garrison . The thermal complex , located in the Southeast, measured 50 acres and included several buildings near the sources of

10098-471: Was probably decorated with paintings depicting heroes both from the Ancient times and contemporary. A wooden gallery girdled the building between the two rows of windows. From this gallery could be seen the market that was held North of the Palace. A gallery with porticos on the southern side of the hall gave access to the building. The southern apse cut through the middle of this entrance. The Palatine Chapel

10200-407: Was rather a synthesis of various influences, as a reflection of the Carolingian Empire . Just like Carolingian Renaissance , the palace was a product of the assimilation of several cultures and legacies. The layout of the palatine complex perfectly implemented the alliance between two powers: the spiritual power was represented by the chapel in the South and the temporal power by the Council Hall in

10302-587: Was ready for occupation in 305 AD and is much the most significant ancient survival, having been turned in the Middle Ages into a fortified town; it still houses many people and businesses. Palaces in East Asia, such as the imperial palaces of Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, and large wooden structures in China's Forbidden City , consist of many low pavilions surrounded by vast, walled gardens in contrast to

10404-474: Was the heart of the capital city, gathering dignitaries from all over the Empire. It is difficult to know whether other Carolingian palaces did imitate that of Aachen, as most of them have been destroyed. However, the constructions of Aachen were not the only ones undertaken under Charlemagne: 16 cathedrals , 232 monasteries and 65 royal palaces were built between 768 and 814. The Palatine Chapel of Aachen seems to have been imitated by several other buildings of

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