OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
These historic structures were commissioned 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 currently existent complexes in Istanbul. The master architect of the Ottoman empire for 50 years, he set the pattern for other külliye architects.
We will have a look at the 16th and 17th century Ottoman imperial mosques in Istanbul in this post. Fatih Sultan Mehmed constructed two big mosque complexes in the 15th century, after the conquest of Constantinople. But these two original structures were destroyed by earthquakes or fires and were rebuilt at a later date. I will list them in their proper chronological order.
This is by no means a complete list, because I know that I haven’t seen them all. I’ll try to do so next time when I go to Istanbul. Keep in mind that the city is full of imperial mosques, as almost every sultan wanted to leave his mark on the city.
Also, many Ottoman imperial mosques are in other cities in Turkey. Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman empire and some historically important mosques are there. Other Ottoman imperial mosques are in Edirne, Konya, Amasya, Manisa and even in Damascus.
BAYEZID MOSQUE (1506)
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 and the second Fatih Mosque. These two complexes were destroyed and rebuilt at a later date.
Therefore, the Bayezid Mosque has a significant historical and architectural importance as the oldest of all monumental Ottoman imperial mosques in the city.
What’s also 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 seen it inside, until now.
YAVUZ SULTAN SELIM MOSQUE (1527/1528)
What’s interesting about the Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque is that, when you are on the Galata Bridge and you look at the Istanbul’s skyline, you can see two mosques in the distance. One of them is this and the other one is the Fatih Mosque.
The Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque is in a splendid location, on top of the Istanbul’s 5th hill and overlooks the Golden Horn.
It is the second oldest Ottoman imperial mosque in the city. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned this mosque in memory of his father Sultan Selim I, who died in 1520. The architect Alaüddin completed it in 1527-1528.
In the garden behind the mosque, there is a türbe of Sultan Selim I, but also of his wife Hafsa Sultan and Sultan Abdülmecid I.
HASEKI SULTAN MOSQUE (1539)
One major historic site in Hurrem Sultan’s name is the Haseki Sultan Complex, consisting of a mosque, a madrasa, a hospital (darüşşifa), an elementary school (mektep) and a soup kitchen (imaret).
Hurrem commissioned and financed construction of this complex soon after her marriage to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, by using her dowry.
What’s very special about this complex is that it was the first of Mimar Sinan’s many imperial projects. He completed the works in stages. So, the mosque was finished in 1539, the madrasa in 1540, the soup-kitchen in 1541. Finally, the hospital opened in 1551.
ŞEHZADE MOSQUE (1548)
The Şehzade Mosque is on the way to the Fatih and Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosques. Basically, great Ottoman imperial mosques are literally lined one after the other. In fact, if you decide to visit these three mosques, you can see all three of them in one day.
This mosque is on the 3rd hill of Istanbul. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned this complex as a memorial to his son Şehzade Mehmed who died in 1543.
Mehmed was Suleiman’s favourite son. Interestingly, he was born in 1521, the year in which Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent conquered Belgrade. Şehzade Mehmed died while he was on the way back to Istanbul, after the victorious military campaign in Hungary.
This mosque complex was Mimar Sinan’s first important imperial commission. It was also one of his most ambitious architectural works, despite the fact that he did it early in his very successful career.
MIHRIMAH SULTAN MOSQUE (1548)
When you cross from the European to the Asian part of Istanbul, the first historic structure that you see when you arrive to Uskudar is the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque.
The chief imperial architect Mimar Sinan built this mosque in 1548. In fact, it was a complex that also had a madrasa, a soup kitchen, a primary school and a hospital.
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE (1557)
Of all Ottoman imperial mosques in Istanbul, the Suleymaniye Mosque is easily the most recognisable historic landmark. With its size and location, it dominates the city’s skyline. Also, together with the Blue Mosque, it’s one of the most visited Ottoman historic structures.
Masses of tourists invade these two mosques. I visited this mosque almost every time when I was in Istanbul in the past. I suspect that most other people do the same, in addition to Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned this mosque, to be built on the 3rd hill of Istanbul. The imperial architect, Mimar Sinan, designed and constructed it in 1557. It is the second largest Ottoman era mosque in the city.
The Suleymaniye Mosque was actually a big complex. It contained a hospital, a primary school, public baths, caravanserai, four madrasas, a specialised school for the hadith learning, a medical college and also a public kitchen that served food to the poor.
MIHRIMAH SULTAN MOSQUE (c. 1570)
The second mosque in Mihrimah Sultan’s name is in the old part of Istanbul, near Edirne Gate. Mimar Sinan constructed this mosque around 1570, together with a madrasa and a hammam.
The mosque is near the Chora Church and Tekfur Palace, next to the Theodosian Walls. It’s much bigger than the mosque in Uskudar. In fact, it is a monumental imperial mosque.
ATIK VALIDE MOSQUE (1586)
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 Uskudar, 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. The final 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.
BLUE MOSQUE (1616)
Without any doubt, the magnificent Sultan Ahmed or Blue Mosque is the most famous of all Ottoman imperial mosques. Positioned directly opposite Hagia Sophia, it’s a spectacular image and a breath taking historic structure, in the most central part of old Istanbul.
Sultan Ahmed I commissioned its construction to reassert Ottoman power after the Peace of Zsitvatorok and the crushing loss in the 1603-1618 Ottoman – Safavid war.
ÇINILI MOSQUE (1640)
Kosem Sultan commissioned construction of the Çinili Mosque. The mosque was completed and opened for prayers in 1640. Considering Kosem’s status and power, you would expect to see a monumental structure rather than this small mosque in a residential part of Üsküdar.
This mosque is famous for its superb interior decoration with Kütahya tiles. I can tell you that no photo conveys the beauty of the mosque, it’s one of those places that you have to see in its entirety to understand the effort invested in its embellishment.
YENI MOSQUE (1665)
The Yeni or New Mosque has a very interesting history. It is also one of the most recognisable Istanbul’s landmarks located in Eminönü.
Safiye Sultan started its construction in 1597. By constructing a mosque in that part of the city, she wanted to impose the Islamic dominance on what was mainly a Jewish neighbourhood.
But Safiye’s son Sultan Mehmed III died in 1603 and she lost all power. The new sultan, Ahmed I, abandoned the project and redirected the energy and funds on what will become the biggest and most famous Ottoman imperial mosque in Istanbul – the Blue Mosque.
After these events, the construction site turned into ruins which were further severely damaged by the 1660 Great Fire.
In that same year, the imperial architect Mustafa Ağa proposed to Turhan Hatice Sultan to complete the mosque. She accepted and also instructed that the Spice Bazaar is built as part of the imperial complex. The new mosque opened for prayers in 1665. Its initial name was Yeni Valide Sultan Mosque but, over time, it became Yeni Mosque.
In my next post, we will have a look at the 18th and 19th century imperial mosques in the city. These structures are only one part of the vast Ottoman heritage in Istanbul and it takes a lot of time and interest in order to see everything.
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