Sultan Mosques
22.08.2024 10:30
The term Selatin Mosque refers to the large mosques built by sultans, valide sultans and other members of the dynasty during the Ottoman Empire. The word "Selatin" is the plural of the Arabic word "sultan", meaning "sultans". These mosques were built especially in the capital city of Istanbul, to show the power and magnificence of the Ottoman Empire.
Selatin mosques were usually built after a sultan won a significant military victory, financed by the spoils he won. No money was used from the state treasury in the construction of these mosques, only the sultan's personal wealth.
Sultan Mosques See On Map
1. Suleymaniye Mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque, which Mimar Sinan called "my journeyman's work", is one of the most solid structures in Istanbul. The mosque, whose construction began in 1550 on the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent, is part of the Suleymaniye Complex. It is notable for its resistance to earthquakes. The mosque also houses the tombs of important Ottoman statesmen.
2. Sultanahmet Mosque
The Sultanahmet Mosque is one of the important cultural and spiritual centers of Istanbul. It is known as the "Blue Mosque" because of its blue Iznik tiles. Built by Ahmet I between 1606 and 1616, the mosque is notable for its six minarets. It has a spacious, bright interior with pillars and more than 250 windows.
3. Prince Mosque
Şehzade Mosque is one of the important Ottoman works of Istanbul. It is located in Fatih, opposite the Metropolitan Municipality building. Suleiman the Magnificent had it built by Mimar Sinan in the name of his son Şehzade Mehmed. Completed in 1548, the mosque is the structure that Sinan called "my apprenticeship work". The spaciousness, elegant minarets and tombs attract attention in the interior.
4. Nuruosmaniye Mosque
Located near the Grand Bazaar in the Fatih district, the Nuruosmaniye Mosque was begun by Mahmut I and completed by Osman III. Built in 1748, the mosque is one of the first examples of the baroque style in the Ottoman Empire. It stands out with its square-planned structure, large dome and striking arches.
6. Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque
Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque is located on a hill close to the Golden Horn in the Fatih district of Istanbul. The mosque is notable for its octagonal domed fountain, courtyard decorated with Iznik tiles, and square-plan interior. Its interior features elegant tiles, an imam's pulpit, trellises, and original woodwork. His son, Suleiman the Magnificent, who completed the mosque, also built his father's tomb nearby.
7. Eyupsultan Mosque
Eyüpsultan Mosque is located in the Eyüpsultan district of Istanbul, on the shores of the Golden Horn. The mosque has a rectangular plan and is notable for its fountain and old plane tree in its courtyard. It has been restored many times since the 15th century. The minarets were raised in the 1800s and there is a 9-line inscription above the main gate. There are 13 domes in the courtyard and a single dome in the tomb.
8. New Mosque
The New Mosque is located in Eminönü Bahçekapı and its foundations were laid in 1597 by the order of Safiye Sultan and completed by Turhan Hatice Sultan in 1665. It is the mosque that took the longest time to be completed during the Ottoman period and contributes to the city's silhouette. It was built on the seaside and its dome rises in a pyramid-like manner.
9. Beyazit Mosque
Beyazıt Mosque is the oldest imperial mosque in Istanbul and was built by Sultan Bayezid II between 1501-1506. The architect of the mosque, which bears traces of classical Ottoman architecture, is not known for sure. The mosque, which draws attention with its 16.78-meter diameter main dome and arcaded courtyard, was repaired by Mimar Sinan after the 1509 earthquake. The columns and red porphyry marbles in the mosque are eye-catching.
10. Great Selimiye Mosque
The Great Selimiye Mosque was built in Üsküdar by the Ottoman Sultan Selim III. Built between 1801-1805, the mosque reflects the baroque and Ottoman architectural styles. Its square-planned prayer room is covered with a dome measuring 14.60 meters in diameter and four smaller domes. The mosque is notable for its wood and marble workmanship.
11. Laleli Mosque
Laleli Mosque was built by the architect Mehmet Tahir Ağa in Fatih district by the Ottoman Sultan Mustafa III. The mosque has an octagonal plan and is made of brick and stone. Yellow, red, blue marbles and semi-precious stones such as jade were used in the interior. Its marble altar and wooden Quran pulpit with mother-of-pearl inlay are noteworthy.
12. Hamid-i Evvel (Beylerbeyi) Mosque
Emirgan Hamid-i Evvel Mosque was built on the shores of the Bosphorus in 1781 by Abdulhamid I in memory of Prince Mehmed and his mother Humashah Hatun. The square-planned mosque made of cut stone attracts attention with its wooden roof, large windows and single-balcony cylindrical minaret. The mosque is located in a large courtyard and the plant decorations make the minaret aesthetic.
13. Great Mecidiye Mosque (Ortaköy Mosque)
The Great Mecidiye Mosque was built by the architect Nigoğos Balyan in 1853 by Sultan Abdülmecid. The mosque, which draws attention with its neo-baroque style, is located on the shores of the Bosphorus in the Ortaköy district. It stands out with its walls made of white cut stone, large windows, two minarets with a single balcony and a marble mihrab.
14. Dolmabahce Mosque
Dolmabahçe Mosque was built by Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan, the wife of Sultan Mahmut II, in the 19th century. The mosque, whose architect was Nikogos Balyan, is a mixture of baroque, empire and rococo styles. The square-planned main area consists of a domed and high mass, while the imperial section is lower and rectangular.
15. Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque
Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque was built by Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II between 1885-1886 on the Yıldız Palace Road in Beşiktaş. The rectangular planned mosque combines Neo-Gothic, Greek and Roman architectural styles. The cedar lattices of the imperial gallery are the work of Abdulhamid II.
16. Uskudar Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
Üsküdar Mihrimah Sultan Mosque was built by Mimar Sinan for Mihrimah Sultan between 1547-1548. The dome is supported by half domes on the sides and in the direction of the qibla. There are 16 windows in the dome. The mihrab and pulpit are made of solid marble. The mosque has two minarets with a single balcony and a 20-sided marble fountain in its courtyard. The mosque, which has remained intact for 5 centuries, is one of the symbols of Üsküdar.
17. Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque
Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque is located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, across from Aksaray Square. Completed in 1871, the mosque was commissioned by Pertevniyal Valide Sultan, the mother of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz, to Harkop and Sarkis Balyan. The mosque, which combines the Moorish and Turkish styles with Gothic, Empire and Rococo styles, is covered with a small but high dome.
18. New Valide Mosque
The New Valide Mosque was built between 1708-1710 by Gülnuş Emetullah Valide Sultan, the mother of Ottoman Sultan Ahmet III. The two-balconied minarets at the ends of the narthex and the wide arcaded courtyard are prominent. The mosque is located within a complex and is surrounded by a fountain, soup kitchen, fountain and various buildings. It has an important place in the silhouette of Üsküdar with its baroque decorations.
19. Old Atik Valide Mosque
Atik Valide Mosque was built in Üsküdar by Afife Nur Banu Valide Sultan in 1583 by Mimar Sinan. The complex includes structures such as a mosque, hospital, hospital, bathhouse, caravanserai and madrasah. The mosque attracts attention with its dome standing on six supports and Iznik tiles. It is the last work of Mimar Sinan.
20. Ayazma Mosque
Ayazma Mosque was built in the 17th century during the Ottoman period. The elegant architecture of the mosque reflects Ottoman aesthetic and technical details. The minaret decorations attract attention with their colored glass mosaics and wood carvings. The domes and fountain are important elements in the mosque's architecture and symbolize that worship is associated with spiritual and physical cleanliness.
21. Buyukada Hamidiye Mosque
The minaret is adorned with elegant carvings and tile decorations. The interior features large mihrabs, windows decorated with colored glass and carved wooden details. Its circular courtyard and simply designed fountain are noteworthy.
22. Nusretiye Mosque
Built by Sultan Abdulmecid in the 19th century, the Nusretiye Mosque represents the pinnacle of the late Ottoman Empire's architecture. The mosque's impressive minaret, large domes and elegant columns reflect the aesthetics of classical Ottoman architecture. The interior decorations and calligraphy emphasize the mosque's historical and artistic significance.
23. Edirnekapi Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
Located in the Edirnekapı district of Fatih, Istanbul, the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque was built by Mimar Sinan between 1562 and 1565. The rectangular-plan mosque has a dome with a diameter of 20 meters and a total of 204 windows. It was damaged in the earthquakes of 1766, 1894 and 1999, and was restored in 2009.
