OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
These mosques were commissioned by Ottoman sultans or members of the royal family and were typically built as külliye, complexes centred around a mosque and surrounded by madrasas, kitchens and other charitable institutions.
The great imperial architect Mimar Sinan, who served for 50 years, designed many of Istanbul’s most enduring külliye, setting the standard for later architects.
Imperial mosques are not limited to Istanbul. Significant examples can also be found in Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, as well as in Edirne, Konya, Amasya, Manisa and even Damascus.
YAVUZ SULTAN SELIM MOSQUE
The Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in memory of his father, Sultan Selim I, who died in 1520.
Completed by architect Alaüddin in 1527–1528, it was the fourth imperial complex built in Istanbul after the conquest of Constantinople.
The first was the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, the second the Fatih Mosque and the third the Bayezid Mosque. Since the first two were later rebuilt, Bayezid Mosque is considered the oldest surviving imperial mosque and Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque the second.
As one of the city’s earliest Islamic religious structures, its interior decoration differs noticeably from that of later mosques.
This feature gives it a unique beauty and provides valuable insight into the evolution of Ottoman interior design.
SULTAN SELIM I
Although Sultan Selim I reigned for only eight years (1512–1520), his legacy was immense. His greatest achievement was the conquest of the Mamluk Sultanate in 1517. This victory expanded the empire by 70 percent and brought the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina under Ottoman control.
With this conquest, the Ottoman state assumed leadership of the Muslim world. Selim became the first Ottoman Caliph, a title that remained in the dynasty until the caliphate’s abolition in 1924.
To secure the throne, however, Selim deposed his father, Bayezid II, and eliminated his brothers and nephews.
He died in 1520 and was buried in a türbe (mausoleum) behind the mosque that bears his name.
HAFSA SULTAN
Next to him rests Ayşe Hafsa Sultan, Selim’s consort and the mother of Suleiman the Magnificent. She was the first woman to hold the title of Valide Sultan, from her son’s accession in 1520 until her death in 1534.
While highly influential, she lived just before the Sultanate of Women period, which began around 1533 with Suleiman’s marriage to Hürrem Sultan.
Hafsa Sultan also commissioned a mosque complex in Manisa that surpassed all previous projects sponsored by royal women.
ŞEHZADES MAUSOLEUM
One more türbe behind the mosque belongs to the Ottoman princes. Built in 1522-1523 by the architect Mimar Acem Ali, it contains the remains of three sons of Suleiman the Magnificent: Şehzade Abdullah, Şehzade Murad and Şehzade Mahmud.
Hatice Sultan and Hafize Hafsa Sultan, two daughters of Yavuz Sultan Selim, are also buried in this mausoleum.
SULTAN ABDÜLMECID I
Another notable türbe behind the mosque belongs to Sultan Abdülmecid I (r. 1839–1861). His reign was marked by the rise of nationalist movements and the proclamation of the Tanzimat Edict (1839), which sought to modernize the empire and integrate non-Muslims and non-Turks into Ottoman society.
Despite these efforts, the reforms largely failed. Abdülmecid also abandoned Topkapı Palace in favour of the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace (1856). He died in 1861, at the age of 38.
WHY VISIT YAVUZ SULTAN SELIM MOSQUE
This mosque is located not far from the Fatih Mosque, in a historic district somewhat removed from central Istanbul. As a result, it receives fewer tourists and remains a peaceful site, frequented mostly by worshippers and locals.
For those interested in Ottoman history, this nearly 500-year-old mosque is of great significance. Beyond its history, its hilltop location offers spectacular views over Istanbul, an experience worth the visit in itself.
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