PORTE

:''For the Italian'' comune, ''see Porte, Italy.''


'Ottoman Porte', ('Sublime Porte', 'High Porte', Ottoman Turkish 'Bab-ı Ali') used to refer to the Divan (court) of the Ottoman Empire where government policies were established.

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Terminology

Terminology

The particular term was used in the context of diplomacy by the western states, as their diplomats were received at "porte" (meaning gate). During the constitution period (see Young Turk Revolution) the functions of the Divan were replaced by the imperial government, and "porte" came to refer to the Foreign Ministry. During this period Grand vizier came to refer to the position of a president and viziers became the Ottoman Senate.
The 'Sublime Porte' was the name of the open court of the sultan, led by the Grand Vizier. It got its name from the gate to the headquarters of the Grand Vizier in Topkapı Palace, where the sultan held the greeting ceremony for foreign ambassadors. It was an ancient Oriental practice to make the gates of cities and kings' palaces places of assembly. ''Sublime Porte'' is French for "Lofty Gate" and a literal translation of ''Bab-ı Ali''. French was the language of European diplomacy.
Later the name came to refer to the Foreign Ministry and in contemporary times the office of the governor (''Vali'') of Istanbul Province. This name has also been interpreted as referring to the Empire's position as gateway between Europe and Asia.
The 'High Porte', in contrast, referred to the private court of the sultan. 'Porte' is French for "gate"; therefore, the term ''High Porte'' is a bilingual combination of English ''High'' and French ''Porte'' that is equivalent to ''Bab-ı Ali''.