Why did the Tower of Justice remind palace officials of the sultan’s authority?

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Topkapı Palace Museum Topkapı Palace Museum, Istanbul.

The Tower of Justice served as a constant reminder of the sultan’s authority because it was the palace’s tallest structure, providing him with a vantage point to oversee the entire complex.1

Within the administrative center of the second courtyard, the tower housed a small room from which the sultan could listen to state meetings in the Domed Chamber through a grilled window. Although council members could not see him, his potential presence ensured they remained aware of his oversight. Furthermore, the tower’s Neoclassical lantern allowed the sultan to observe the daily life of the palace, reinforcing the perception of his omnipresence throughout the imperial grounds.1