Names of the Ottoman Empire

The state of the Ottomans which began as part of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate and became an independent Empire, has been known historically by different names at different periods and in various languages. This page surveys the history of these names and their usage.

Beylik Phase

Modern Turkish: Osmanlı Beyliği;

State Phase, 1299

The first declaration of statehood happened under Osman I.

• “Âl-i Osman”

Empire Phase, 1453

With the conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, the Ottoman State officially became an Empire.

• Medieval Latin: Turchia
• Medieval Latin: Imperium Turcicum
• English: Turkey (derived from Medieval Latin). Current use of Turkey refers to Republic of Turkey which succeeded the Ottoman Empire in 1923.
• English: Turkish Empire
• Ottoman Turkish/ Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye (The Sublime Ottoman State),
• Ottoman Turkish/Persian: Devlet-i Âliye (The Sublime State),
• Ottoman Turkish/Persian: Devlet-i Ebed-Müddet (The Eternal State),
• Ottoman Turkish/Persian: Memâlik-i Mahrûse (The Well-Protected Domains),
• Ottoman Turkish/Persian: Memâlik-i Mahrûse-i Osmanî (The Well-Protected Domains of the Ottomans),
• Modern Turkish: Osmanlı İmparatorluğu (Ottoman Empire),
• Arabic: Dawlat-e Ālīa-ē 'Usmānīah (The Sublime Ottoman State),
• Bulgarian: Османска империя,

In diplomatic circles, the Ottoman government was often referred to as the "Sublime Porte", a literal translation of the Ottoman Turkish Bâb-ı Âlî, which was the only gate of the imperial Topkapı Palace that was open to foreigners, and where the Sultan, Grand Vizier or Viziers greeted the ambassadors.