OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
These historic structures were commissioned either by Ottoman sultans or other members of the dynasty. They were usually built as 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 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 capital of the Ottoman empire and some historically very important temples are there. Other Ottoman imperial mosques are in Edirne, Konya, Amasya, Manisa and even in Damascus.
BAYEZID MOSQUE
Sultan Bayezid II commissioned construction of the Bayezid Mosque as the third largest imperial mosque complex after the conquest of Constantinople. The first one was the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and the second one was the Fatih Mosque. These two complexes were destroyed and rebuilt at a later date.
Thus, the Bayezid Mosque has a significant historical and architectural importance as the oldest of all monumental Ottoman imperial mosques in the city.
The mosque was constructed in 1506. They added külliye a bit later. The religious and charitable complex consisted of a theological college (madrasa), a bathouse (hammam), a soup kitchen (imaret) and a caravanserai.
What’s interesting about this mosque is that it’s right next to the Grand Bazaar. I’ve seen this mosque many times in the past, basically every time when I went to the Grand Bazaar during my previous visits to Istanbul. But, I’ve never been inside until now.
I remember looking at this mosque, not properly understanding what it was and its historic significance. But that was at the time when I knew very little about Istanbul’s Ottoman history.
BAYEZID TOWER
Directly opposite the Bayezid Mosque, you can see the Bayezid Tower in the courtyard of Istanbul’s university. The 85-metre-tall tower doesn’t have anything to do with Sultan Bayezid. Rather, its name comes from the fact that it stands in the Bayezid Square.
Sultan Mahmud II ordered its construction in 1828, to replace the original wooden tower that got destroyed in a fire.
The tower is still in use today as a watch-tower for signalling maritime navigation information to the ships on the Golden Horn at night. They also have firefighters stationed in the tower for guarding purposes.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to visit the tower unless you obtain a special permission. Plus, as it is within the university campus, it’s also not possible for tourists to get close to the tower.
SULTAN BAYEZID II
Sultan Bayezid II ruled the Ottoman Empire between 1481 and 1512. His main achievement as the 8th Ottoman sultan was consolidation of the Ottoman state. Also, he defeated a pro-Safavid rebellion.
In January 1492, the last ruler of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada – Muhammad XII – surrendered Granada to the Christians after the decade long war. That event marked the end of the Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula.
Ferninand II of Aragon and Isabela I of Castile issued the Alhambra Decree at the end of March 1492. The edict ordered expulsion of practicing Jews from Castile and Aragon by the end of July 1492.
Sultan Bayezid II evacuated, settled and protected the expelled Jews within the Ottoman territories. He openly ridiculed Spanish rulers for removing a class of people that immensely contributed to the rising power of the Ottoman Empire with their ideas, methods and craftsmanship.
Sultan Bayezid II defeated his brother Cem Sultan who also claimed the throne. Cem fled to Rhodes, from where the Knights of St. John handed him to Pope Innocent VIII. Cem died in Naples, although he is buried within the Muradiye Complex in Bursa.
Bayezid II also had to deal with the succession battle between his sons Selim and Ahmed. In April 1512, Selim forced his father to abdicate the throne and became a new sultan. Sultan Bayezid II died a month later and is buried behind his mosque in Istanbul.
Interestingly, there were no foreign tourist visiting the mosque when I was there, despite the fact that it’s in a touristic area, next to the Grand Bazaar. I suspect that, the same as me many years before, foreign tourists don’t really know much about it and don’t understand its historic importance as the oldest Ottoman imperial mosque in the city.
But if you are in Istanbul, make sure that you see this temple. Beautifully restored, it’s the real Ottoman gem.
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