OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
Ottoman sultans or other members of the dynasty commissioned these historic monuments. They were usually built as a külliye, a complex of buildings with a mosque in the centre, surrounded with madrasas, kitchens and other buildings for various charitable services for the poor.
The biggest are the 16th and 17th century complexes, although mosques built in the 18th and 19th century are equally significant. Fatih Sultan Mehmed constructed two big mosques in the 15th century, right after he conquered Constantinople. But these two original structures were destroyed by earthquakes or fires and were rebuilt at a later date.
The chief imperial architect Mimar Sinan constructed most of the existent complexes in Istanbul. The master architect of the Ottoman Empire for 50 years, he set the pattern for other külliye architects.
Many Ottoman imperial mosques are in other cities in Turkey. Bursa was the first proper capital of the Ottoman Empire and some historically very important religious temples are there. Other Ottoman imperial mosques are in Edirne, Konya, Amasya, Manisa and even in Damascus.
ATIK VALIDE MOSQUE
Chief imperial architect Mimar Sinan constructed the Atik Valide Mosque and the surrounding complex in Nurbanu Sultan’s name. You’ll find this mosque in Üsküdar, on the Asian side of Istanbul.
He built it in three stages. He constructed the first version of the mosque between 1571 and 1574.
The second version was done between 1577 and 1578, when Sinan enlarged the initial mosque to reflect Nurbanu’s elevated Valide Sultan status.
Finally, the last stage of construction took place between 1584 and 1586, after Nurbanu’s death.
In addition to the mosque, there was also a madrasa, a hadith college, a school for Quran recitation, an elementary school, a dervish convent, a hospital and a hospice that included a guest-house and a double caravanserai.
The Atik Valide Complex was one of the biggest in Istanbul at the time. Initially, they called it Valide Camii or Valide Mosque.
However, when Sultan Ahmet III built the Yeni Valide Mosque in Iskele Square in Üsküdar, opposite the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, people started to call it Eski Valide, Atik Valide or valide-I Atik Mosque. Like that, they could distinguish between these two structures.
HAMMAM
Not far from the mosque, you’ll find the functioning hammam, built in 1579. In fact, the mosque and hammam are the only two buildings of the former complex still in use.
SHOULD YOU GO TO SEE ATIK VALIDE MOSQUE?
Admittedly, this mosque is not the prime tourist attraction. Located in a residential area in Üsküdar and secluded by walls from all sides, it’s less well known. Also, you’d have to make a bit of an effort in order to see it. However, I think that it must be of great interest to people studying Ottoman architecture and history. After all, it’s a monument dedicated to one of the most powerful women from the Sultanate of Women era, Nurbanu Sultan.
So, if you go to Üsküdar, make an effort and go to see this magnificent structure. At the same time, you’ll see one more interesting part of Istanbul.
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