Ottoman History
Halal Travel Guide: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage (Part 1)
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Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum. view all
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum.
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum.
Halal Travel Guide: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage (Part 2)
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 3 views • 3 hours ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source. view all
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Halal Travel Guide: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage (Part 1)
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 4 views • 3 hours ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum. view all
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum.
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Turkey Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
This is the third part of my journey through the ancient capitals of Turkey. In the first part, "Konya: The Last Capital of the Seljuk Dynasty," I introduced how the Seljuk Turks, deeply influenced by Persian culture, established the Sultanate of Rum with Konya as their capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the second part, "Bursa: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire," I explained how the Ottomans broke away from the Sultanate of Rum at the end of the 13th century and officially made Bursa their capital in 1326. In this part, the Ottomans turn their eyes toward Europe and officially move toward becoming an empire.
Edirne is located in the far northwest of Turkey.
Moving the capital to Europe
In the mid-14th century, the Ottomans crossed the straits to invade the southern Balkan Peninsula, gradually advancing toward Adrianople, the third-largest city of the Byzantine Empire, ranking only behind Constantinople and Thessaloniki. In 1369, the third Ottoman Sultan, Murad I (reigned 1362–1389), captured Adrianople and renamed the city Edirne. From then on, Edirne became the Ottoman center in Europe.
In 1402, the fourth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid I (reigned 1389–1402), was defeated and captured by the great conqueror Timur in the Battle of Ankara and died shortly after. His four sons fought for the throne, triggering the Ottoman Interregnum, the largest civil war in early Ottoman history, and Edirne rose to become the capital during this conflict.
In 1403, Prince Süleyman Çelebi declared himself Emir in Edirne and controlled Rumeli, the European part of the Ottoman lands. The following year, he crossed the straits to occupy Bursa and Ankara in the Asian part, becoming the most powerful prince at the time. However, after taking power, Süleyman became increasingly extravagant and indifferent to state affairs. In 1411, abandoned by his followers, Süleyman was defeated by Prince Musa in Edirne and executed, and Edirne became Prince Musa's capital.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed defeated Musa, occupied Edirne, and finally won the civil war. On June 5, 1413, Mehmed was officially crowned in Edirne as the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I (reigned 1413–1421). The capital of the Ottoman dynasty officially moved from Bursa in Asia to Edirne in Europe, where it remained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
City construction
During the period when Bursa was the capital, the Ottoman dynasty developed a new form of urban construction: building social complexes known as Külliye in the commercial districts outside the city walls. After moving the capital to Edirne, the Ottomans continued to use this form. After Prince Süleyman made Edirne his capital in 1403, he immediately began building the first complex in Edirne, the Old Mosque (Eski Cami) complex, east of the Roman-era Hadrianopolis fortress. During the reign of Sultan Murad II (reigned 1421–1444, 1446–1451), the second complex, the Muradiye complex, and the third, the Three-Balcony (Üç Şerefeli) complex, were built in Edirne, along with a royal palace in the north.
Contents
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
2. Palace composition
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
1. Mosque
2. Medical school
3. Hospital
1. Old Mosque complex: construction started in 1403
1. Old Mosque (Eski Cami): 1414
After the Ottoman Interregnum began in 1403, Prince Suleiman, who declared himself Emir in Edirne, started building his own mosque. However, the mosque was still unfinished when Suleiman died in 1411.
In 1413, Prince Mehmed was crowned Sultan Mehmed I in Edirne, and he officially completed the construction of the mosque the following year. This mosque is the oldest surviving one in Edirne, so it is called the Old Mosque (Eski Cami).
The Old Mosque is among the last of the multi-domed mosques to use the early Ottoman Seljuk style, featuring a total of nine central domes. Compared to earlier Seljuk multi-domed mosques, the dome diameters of the Old Mosque are noticeably larger, showing that the Ottomans were beginning to move past their early architectural phase.
The coronation ceremonies for the 21st Ottoman Sultan, Ahmed II (reigned 1691-1695), and the 22nd Sultan, Mustafa II (reigned 1695-1703), were both held here. The Old Mosque suffered massive damage in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Mahmud I (reigned 1696-1754). The Old Mosque was renovated again between 1924 and 1934.
Inside the main hall
Dome
Old murals
Mihrab
Minbar
When I visited, I happened to catch a group of aunties listening to the imam's chanting in the mosque, so I sat down and listened for a while too. As soon as I sat down, aunties kept handing out pastries and candies to everyone. Other aunties were busy squeezing hand sanitizer and passing out napkins, so I received all kinds of pastries and candies while listening to the melodic chanting. Even though we could not speak the same language, I felt very warm inside.
2. Covered market (Bedesten): 1418
The covered market (Bedesten) is right next to the Old Mosque. It was built in 1418 by the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, primarily to support the operations of the Old Mosque.
This building is a classic example of an early Ottoman covered market and has been in use ever since. The building is a rectangle 78 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 14 domes on top and 54 shops along the four sides. It underwent a major renovation in 2007.
3. Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı): 1561
The Rustem Pasha Caravanserai (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı) was ordered to be built in 1561 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (Rüstem Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The caravanserai has two floors, with 102 guest rooms inside and 21 shops on the outside. Today, the interior is a hotel, and the shops on the outside are still operating.
4. Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı): 1569
The Ali Pasha Bazaar (Ali Paşa Çarşısı) was ordered to be built in 1569 by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ali Pasha (Ali Paşa) and designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.
The bazaar includes 130 shops and 6 gates. The bazaar caught fire in 1991 and was later rebuilt.
2. Muradiye Mosque: 1436
The Muradiye Mosque (Muradiye Camii) is a small T-shaped mosque on a hill in the north of Edirne, ordered to be built in 1436 by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421-1444). It was originally part of a Sufi Mevlevi order complex before being converted into a mosque.
The Muradiye Mosque was once a complex that included a public kitchen (imaret) and a primary school (mekteb), but today only the mosque remains. It was severely damaged by earthquakes, and the minaret has been rebuilt several times; its current appearance dates from a major renovation in 1957.
The interior of the mosque is famous for its beautiful tiles. Before they were stolen in 2001, there were 479 tiles in the main hall with 54 different designs, 15 of which appeared only once, showing a strong influence from Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. The blue and white hexagonal tiles are the earliest examples of underglaze tiles in the Ottoman period. Because some tiles are arranged inconsistently, some scholars believe part of them were moved here from the Ottoman palace in Edirne in the north.
The mosque preserves a 15th-century mihrab covered in tiles, which bears the name of Sultan Murad II. The Cuerda Seca style of the mihrab tiles is very similar to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in Bursa, built in 1421, and was likely made by the same team of craftsmen. The mihrab of the Green Mosque in Bursa was reportedly designed by a master from Tabriz, Iran. Therefore, this master likely traveled to Edirne to design the mihrab for the Muradiye Mosque.
3. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami) complex: construction started in 1438
1. Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Cami): 1447
The Three-Balcony Mosque (Üç Şerefeli Camii) is known as a major landmark that started a new era of Ottoman architecture, serving as the first mosque in Ottoman history with a central dome and a portico. The mosque was commissioned by the sixth Ottoman Sultan, Murad II (reigned 1421–1444), in 1438 and completed in 1447.
The Three-Balcony Mosque is located not far northwest of the Old Mosque and was the largest mosque in the Ottoman Empire when it was finished. This mosque is considered a pioneer of the classic Ottoman mosque style, being among the first to transition from the Seljuk multi-dome design to a central large dome, featuring a central dome 24 meters in diameter.
The Three-Balcony Mosque gets its name from the three balconies on its minaret. This was the tallest minaret in the Ottoman Empire at the time, standing 76 meters high with 203 steps, and it can be climbed to the balconies using three different paths.
The underglaze tiles of the mosque are very similar in style to those of the Green Mosque in Bursa (1421) and the Muradiye Mosque in Edirne (1436), and were likely all designed by the person known as the Master of Tabriz.
The architectural design of the Three-Balcony Mosque greatly inspired the great 16th-century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who built upon this foundation to eventually create the most magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Empire.
The Three-Balcony Mosque suffered from fire and an earthquake in the mid-18th century and was later restored.
Minaret
Minaret
Portico entrance
Side of the portico
View of the main hall from the portico
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Dome above the main hall door
Central large dome
Main hall
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
2. Saatli Madrasa (Saatli Medresesi): 1447
Saatli Madrasa is directly opposite the Three-Balcony Mosque and was also completed in 1447.
3. Peykler Madrasa (Peykler Medresesi): 1450s
Peykler Madrasa is right next to the south side of Saatli Madrasa and was built a few years later.
4. Taş Han Caravanserai: 15th century
The Stone Inn (Taşhan Inn) is across the street to the west of the Three-Balcony Mosque and was built in the 15th century.
5. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bath (Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı): second half of the 16th century
The Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Bath (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Hamamı) was commissioned in the second half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Pasha (in office 1565–1579) and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
The bathhouse was built right next to the Tash Khan inn. It consists of a men's section and a women's section and is known as one of the most important bathhouses in the Ottoman Empire.
4. Edirne Palace: construction started in 1450
1. Rise and fall of the palace
Edirne Palace (Edirne Sarayı) was ordered to be built by Sultan Murad II in 1450, but construction stopped the following year when the Sultan passed away. After a period of inactivity, it was finally completed in 1475 by his successor, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
The palace was expanded continuously between the 16th and 18th centuries. The most important period was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566), when the chief architect Mimar Sinan redesigned the palace and solved the water supply issue by building canals. To protect the palace from flooding, the canals were built in an arc shape around it.
The palace stopped being used after Ahmed III moved to Istanbul in 1718. It did not return to use until Mustafa III (reigned 1757–1774) returned to Edirne in 1768. During those fifty years, the palace gradually fell into disrepair and suffered through an earthquake in 1752 and a fire in 1776.
Mahmud II (reigned 1808–1839) carried out small-scale repairs in 1825, but the palace was severely damaged and occupied as a military barracks after the Russian army captured Edirne in 1829.
Between 1868 and 1873, some parts of the palace were repaired by the mayor at the time. During the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, the governor of Edirne feared the Russian army would take the city and intentionally blew up an ammunition depot near the palace. This caused severe damage, and building materials from the palace were later continuously stripped away for use elsewhere.
2. Palace composition
At its peak, the palace consisted of 72 buildings, including 117 rooms, 14 mansions, 18 bathhouses, 9 mosques, 17 gates, and 13 cellars. At its busiest, 34,000 people lived inside.
The main building of the palace is called the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı), also known as the Imperial Throne (Taht-ı Hümayun), built in 1450. The Panorama Pavilion is a seven-story building with an octagonal room at the top. It includes the Sultan's room, a room for flags, a library, and a mosque.
Initial archaeological excavations of the Panorama Pavilion took place in 1956. In 2001, sponsored by the National Palaces Administration, archaeological and restoration work began on the palace gate, the Gate of Felicity (Bab'üs Sa'ade), and the Panorama Pavilion (Cihannüma Kasrı) site, which was completed in 2004.
The Sand Pavilion Bathhouse (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It is another palace ruin that survives today, and it was excavated in 2000.
The Imperial Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) is located on the southwest side of the palace. It has eight domes, and while the north facade is gone, most of it remains well-preserved.
The Court of Justice (Kasr-ı Adalet) is on the south bank of the Tunca River. It was ordered to be built in 1561 by Suleiman the Magnificent, who is also known as Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The Conqueror's Bridge (Fatih Köprüsü) is next to the Court of Justice and was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452.
The Kanuni Bridge (Kanuni Köprüsü), also called the Palace Bridge, was built in 1554 by Mimar Sinan under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Because Edirne Palace is currently under renovation and closed to the public, I could only look at it from the outside.
On the left is the Panorama Pavilion, and on the right is the Sand Pavilion Bathhouse.
An old photo of the Panorama Pavilion before it was destroyed.
On the left are the Gate of Felicity and the Panorama Pavilion; on the right is the Imperial Kitchen.
The Court of Justice.
The Kanuni Bridge.
5. Kasım Pasha Mosque (Kasım Paşa Camii): 1479
The Kasım Pasha Mosque (Evliya Kasım Paşa Cami) is located by the river in the southeast of Edirne. It was ordered to be built by Kasım Pasha in 1479. Kasım Pasha was a famous Ottoman general who served as the commander of Rumelia, the European part of the Ottoman Empire. He commanded troops during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the multinational crusader forces of Poland and Hungary between 1443 and 1444, fighting in places like Serbia and Bulgaria.
The mosque closed after 1950 due to the construction of a dam. Since then, it has been continuously damaged by floods, making it the most wild, early Ottoman mosque in Edirne.
The mihrab on the outer wall.
The entrance to the bunker tower.
The steps of the bunker tower.
Dome
Main hall
Mihrab
Mihrab
Architectural pieces scattered on the ground.
The tomb of Kasim Pasha.
The road leading to the mosque.
The road leading to the mosque.
6. Sultan Bayezid II complex: 1488
The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Sultan II Bayezid Külliyesi) sits on the north bank of the Tunca River in the northwest suburbs of Edirne. It was built by order of the eighth Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, who reigned from 1481 to 1512. Bayezid II was the son of Mehmed the Conqueror and was known as 'the Just'. During his reign, he worked to maintain government affairs at home and defeated the Republic of Venice abroad, leading the Ottoman Empire into a prosperous era.
The entire complex includes many buildings such as a mosque, a medical school (Medrese-i Etibba), a public kitchen (imaret), a hospital (darüşşifa), a bathhouse (hamam), and warehouses.
1. Mosque
View of the main hall from the portico
Looking at the front porch from the main hall.
Portico
Portico
Portico dome
Portico dome
Portico dome
The main gate of the hall.
The dome of the main hall.
Main hall
Main hall
Minbar
Minbar
Main hall
Mihrab
2. Medical school
The Sultan Bayezid II Medical School (Sultan II Bayezid Medrese-i Etibba) was known as one of the best medical schools in the Ottoman Empire, consisting of 18 classrooms and a large lecture hall. The famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi mentioned in his writings that this medical school studied the works of various ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, and physicians, including Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Pythagoras. Every doctor was an expert in a different field, and they tried to find the best treatments by studying various medical texts.
3. Hospital
The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital (Sultan II Bayezid Darüşşifa) is the most important part of the entire complex. From its completion in 1488 until the Russo-Turkish War in 1877, this hospital provided continuous treatment to patients and was especially famous for using sound and scent for mental health therapy. Today, it has become part of a health museum.
Halal Travel Guide: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage (Part 2)
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Reposted from the web
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source. view all
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Summary: Edirne — Ottoman Mosques and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English. The account keeps its focus on Edirne Travel, Ottoman History, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.