Bayezid Mosque – Istanbul

Among all Ottoman heritage sites in Istanbul, the monumental imperial mosques are the most important and certainly the most visible. The largest mosque complexes were built in the 16th and 17th centuries. But those from the 18th and 19th centuries are equally significant. Fatih Sultan Mehmed, immediately after conquering Constantinople in the 15th century, commissioned two grand mosque complexes. However, both were later destroyed by earthquakes and fires, and rebuilt. This makes the Bayezid Mosque the oldest surviving imperial mosque in Istanbul.

 

 

OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES

 

Ottoman sultans or members of the imperial dynasty commissioned these monumental complexes. They were usually constructed as külliye, multi-functional complexes centered on a mosque, surrounded by madrasas (theological schools), kitchens, baths and other charitable institutions serving the community.

The great imperial architect Mimar Sinan, master architect of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 50 years, designed many of the still-standing külliye in Istanbul. He set the standard for mosque and complex architecture.

Imperial mosques were also built in other Ottoman cities, including Bursa, Edirne, Konya, Amasya, Manisa and even Damascus.

 

 

BAYEZID MOSQUE

 

Commissioned by Sultan Bayezid II, the Bayezid Mosque became the third imperial mosque complex built after the conquest of Constantinople. The first two were the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and the Fatih Mosque, both of which were later reconstructed.

 

 

 

The külliye was added soon after, including a madrasa, hammam, soup kitchen and caravanserai.

Interestingly, the mosque stands right next to the Grand Bazaar. Although I had passed by it many times on earlier visits, I only entered it in 2024, previously unaware of its historic significance.

 

 

Unfortunately, the walls that once enclosed the complex no longer exist and its surviving buildings are scattered without a clear order. The madrasa and hammam are separated from the mosque, while the soup kitchen, Qur’anic school, caravanserai and imperial mausoleums still encircle it.

Today, the Bayezid Madrasa houses the Museum of Turkish Calligraphy Art.

 

 

The hammam, commissioned by Bayezid II’s wife Gülbahar Hatun, was one of the largest in the city. Its monumental size and towering entrance earned it the name Hamam-ı Kebir (Grand Bathhouse).

Later, it became known as the Patrona Hammam, after rumors that Patrona Halil, a bath attendant involved in the rebellion that toppled Sultan Ahmed III, once worked there.

Today, the hammam houses the Bayezid II Turkish Hammam Culture Museum.

 

 

 

BAYEZID TOWER

 

Directly opposite the mosque stands the Bayezid Tower, within Istanbul University’s courtyard. Rising 85 meters, it has no direct connection to Sultan Bayezid II. The name derives simply from its location in Bayezid Square.

Commissioned by Sultan Mahmud II in 1828, it replaced a wooden tower destroyed by fire.

 

 

The tower is still in use today, serving both as a watchtower for maritime navigation signals and as a fire lookout post.

Unfortunately, visitors cannot enter the tower without special permission and, as it is located within the university campus, tourists cannot approach it closely.

 

 

 

SULTAN BAYEZID II

 

Sultan Bayezid II ruled the Ottoman Empire between 1481 and 1512. He consolidated the state and supressed a pro-Safavid rebellion.

In January 1492, the centuries-long struggle between Christians and Muslims in Iberia ended when Muhammad XII, the final ruler of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, surrendered Granada to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. With Granada’s capitulation, the last Islamic stronghold in Western Europe disappeared, forever altering the cultural and religious landscape of the region.

In March 1942, the monarchs issued the Alhambra Decree, ordering Jews in Castile and Aragon to convert to Christianity or leave by July 1492. For communities rooted in Iberia for over a millennium, this led to one of Europe’s most significant expulsions.

Bayezid welcomed the expelled Jews. He organised fleets to evacuate them and offered settlement in Ottoman lands such as Istanbul, Salonica and Smyrna. He even mocked Ferdinand and Isabella, reportedly remarking that they had impoverished their own kingdom while enriching his by expelling talented and industrious people.

The Jews brought with them expertise in trade, medicine, finance and craftsmanship, all of which contributed significantly to the prosperity and intellectual vitality of the Ottoman Empire in the centuries that followed.

 

 

Sultan Bayezid II also overcame challenges from within his own family. He defeated his brother Cem Sultan, who had fled to Rhodes and was later handed to the Pope. Cem eventually died in Naples, but was buried in the Muradiye Complex in Bursa.

Bayezid faced succession struggles between his sons Selim and Ahmed. In 1512, Selim forced his father to abdicate and soon after took the throne. Bayezid II died a month later and was buried in the courtyard behind his mosque in Istanbul.

 

 

 

SELÇUK HATUN

 

His daughter, Selçuk Hatun, was buried beside him. She had built her tomb during the mosque’s construction and died in 1508.

 

 

Such tombs remind us how lesser-known figures of Ottoman history remain tied to the monumental legacies they left behind.

 

 

Despite its central location next to the Grand Bazaar, the Bayezid Mosque remains relatively unknown. Many foreign visitors, like myself before, pass by without realizing its historical importance. Beautifully restored, the mosque is not just a place of worship, but a living testimony to the Ottoman past.

If you find yourself in Istanbul, make sure to step inside. The Bayezid Mosque is a true Ottoman gem.

 

 

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