Bayram Paşa Tomb

Damat Ladikli Bayram Paşa, as an Ottoman statesman, undertook important duties during the reign of Murad IV.
After receiving his education at Enderun, he rose in the palace service; he became the Janissary Ağa in 1623, then the Governor of Egypt, the Kubbe Vizier (Members of the Ottoman Divan of military origin and chosen by Sultan and his Grand Vizier), and finally the Grand Vizier in 1637.
He married Hanzade Sultan, the daughter of Ahmed I, and received the title of “son-in-law of Şehriyari (another name for Sultan)”. This marriage was one of the rare palace marriages in Ottoman history that took place before he became a vizier.
He played important roles during the Yerevan and Baghdad campaigns, and died suddenly near Urfa during the Baghdad Campaign of Murad IV in 1638. His body was brought to Istanbul and buried in the complex he had built.

Construction Year: 1634 – 1635

Ordered by: Bayram Paşa

Architect: Unknown

Prominent Features:

The tomb has a square plan, a central domed hall and flat covered iwans on three sides. This plan is one of the rare examples of early Ottoman design, inspired by civil architecture and frequently seen in structures such as madrasahs and dervish lodges, adapted to the tomb.
The central dome rises on an octagonal drum, which gives the tomb a plastic and dynamic exterior.
The tomb is illuminated by two rows of windows. A baroque portico with wooden pillars and hand-carved decorations added in the 18th century adorns the entrance.
A triangular area was left between the tomb and the surrounding wall extending in the east-west direction, and visibility of the tomb’s interior was provided to visitors from the street through windows.
The octagonal fountain, which is open on five sides to the outside and is adjacent to the iwan in the northeast of the tomb, is decorated with elegant marble columns, segmented arches, bronze networks, and geometric and rumi motifs.
Under the muqarnas eaves above the fountain, there is a single inscription dated 1634-35, the year the complex was built.
The fountain, located just west of the tomb, draws attention with its architecture reflecting the late classical style. Its frame with eyebrow arched mirror stone and tughra motif preserves the original texture.