Documentary Evidence
The oldest document mentioning the Yedikule Treasury is the Treasury Book dated back to the 15th of Cemaziyulahir (sixth month of the Arabian lunar year) in the year 881 of the Muslim Calendar and 1476 A.D. In this book from Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror’s period, there are expressions such as “exist in the Treasury of Tower of Istanbul, four thousand eight hundred thirteen barrels.” Again, taken from the contents of this register book, the barrels contained Efrengi (European), Eşrefiye, and Sultani gold coins. The date 1476 given in this Yedikule Treasury register is quite close to the construction date of Topkapi Palace in 1478 Turkey Private Round Tour.
Additional Treasury Registers
There appear to be two more Treasury books (registers) directly related to the Castle of the Seven Towers (Yedikule). One is dated the 2nd of Zilhicce (12th month of the Arabian year) in the year 892 (1487), and the other is the first day of the lunar month of Zilhicce (around the 15th) of the same year. Both registers have mentioned chests filled with gold and other items adorned with jewels. Especially in the second book, the phraseology clearly declares: “all existing things (assets) in State Treasury in the tower of Istanbul are hereby declared in great detail Enlarging the Treasury.”
Descriptions by M. Baudier
M. Baudier, who visited Istanbul in 1624, provided detailed explanations about the Castle of Seven Towers (Yedikule) Treasury: “Following the Conquest, the initial rulers had placed their treasuries in the towers here. One of the towers had been spared for gold and coins; the second tower was for silver ingots and coins; still another tower for various weapons, war equipment, harnesses adorned with jewels; in the fifth tower were old armors, medallions, valuable things from ancient times; the sixth tower contained various war equipment, and in a gallery next to the seventh tower were valuable booties brought by Yavuz Sultan Selim from Tabriz upon his voyage to Iran.”
