The biggest are the 16th and 17th century imperial complexes, but 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.
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 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.
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned this mosque, by carefully choosing its location. He knew what he was doing but, to do that, he demolished the Eski Palace. In a way, is a pity that he did that as Istanbul would’ve had one more imperial palace now. The Eski Palace was for women of the Ottoman dynasty. Views of the Golden Horn from the mosque are stunning.

Mimar Sinan designed it and constructed it in 1557. By that time, he had already built the Haseki Sultan and Sehzade Mosques for members of the Ottoman dynasty. Having sufficiently impressed Sultan Suleiman, Mimar Sinan received his commission to work on what would became one of the biggest and most famous Islamic religious temples in the city.

Importantly, the monumental Suleymaniye Mosque asserts Suleiman’s historical significance as one of the greatest sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The empire reached its peak precisely during his reign.

The Suleymaniye Mosque was actually a big complex (külliye), designed and constructed to serve religious, cultural and social needs of the local population.

The complex consisted of a hospital, a primary school, a public bath, a caravanserai, four madrasas, a specialised school for the hadith learning, a medical college and also a public kitchen that served food to the poor.

On the occasion of my latest visit to Istanbul in June 2024, they were restoring almost all structures of the complex that surrounds the mosque. Hopefully it means that, by the time of my next visit, I’ll be able to see all buildings in their full glory provided that they open them to the public. In the past years, apart from the restaurant, I couldn’t see any of these structures as they were occupied by some type of institutions or businesses.
SULEYMANIYE HAMMAM
In the photo below, you can see the still functional Suleymaniye Hammam, also constructed in 1557 by Mimar Sianan.

SALIS MADRASA
In the next photo, you can see one of four madrasas built around the mosque. This one is the Salis Madrasa housing the Alliance of Civilizations Institute (MEDIT) that aims to be one of the most respected thought and research organizations within the region and the world in the field of Civilization Studies.

MIMAR SINAN MAUSOLEUM
Finally, you can also see the mausoleum of the famous imperial architect Mimar Sinan. Unfortunately, they were doing some restoration work in this part of the complex, so I couldn’t see the inside of the Sinan’s tomb.
Sinan died in 1588 and is buried in this small mausoleum that he designed and constructed for himself next to the mosque.

SULTAN SULEIMAN I, SULTAN SULEIMAN II & SULTAN AHMED II
In a mausoleum behind the mosque, you can see coffins of three Ottoman sultans. I’m not sure if the Ottomans followed some sort of rule when they mixed sultans from various eras in the same tomb.
Thus, Suleiman the Magnificent, Suleiman II and Ahmed II rest next to each other in this imperial mausoleum.
Suleiman the Magnificent ruled for 46 years, until his death in 1566. The Ottoman state reached its economic, military and political peak under his leadership. He conquered Belgrade, Rhodes and most of Hungary.

Sultan Suleiman II ruled the Ottoman state for only four years, between 1687 and 1691. At the time of his birth, the fratricide policy no longer existed. It means that new sultans no longer killed their brothers like it happened in the previous era of the Ottoman state. Rather, they confined all throne claimants to the cage (kafe), a luxury room within the Topkapi Palace that they couldn’t leave.
His father was Sultan Ibrahim and his mother Saliha Dilaşub Sultan.
Sultan Suleiman II lived in the cage for 36 years, until he took the throne in 1687. Can you imagine such existence and disparity between being a prisoner for such a long time and then becoming the ruler of one of the most powerful empires?
The same as Suleiman II, Sultan Ahmed II spent 43 years confined in the cage. He took the throne in 1691 after Sultan Suleiman II’s death, and ruled for only 4 years until 1695.
Sultan Ibrahim was also the father of Ahmed II, his mother was Hatice Muazzez Sultan.
Should you wish to study these members of the Ottoman Empire, you can find a lot of information on the internet. However, I believe that this is enough information for the purpose of this post. If you visit this imperial mausoleum, you will have a basic understanding of personalities that you’ll see resting next to each other.

HURREM SULTAN
There is one more imperial mausoleum behind the mosque. It belongs to Hurrem Sultan who died in 1558.

Interestingly, she is not next Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent like some other powerful women from the Sultanate of Women period that were buried next to their husbands. That’s probably because she died before Suleiman and had a completely separate imperial tomb constructed as her resting place.

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Certainly, this mosque doesn’t leave anyone indifferent. Perhaps, that was Suleiman’s intention when he commissioned such a monumental religious temple.
Also, it’s only after you’ve seen it that you really comprehend Suleiman’s historical significance as a ruler of a vast empire at its peak during his reign.
An architectural marvel and beautifully decorated inside, it also underlines Mimar Sinan’s genius as one of the most prolific Ottoman architects.
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