Has Yunus Paşa Tomb
About the Person:
- Has Yunus Paşa (also known as Yunus Bey) is a significant figure in the history of Ottoman naval affairs. He was appointed head of the Ottoman navy in the summer of 1455 during the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror. He participated in the Chios expedition, led the conquest of Enez, and helped capture several Aegean islands.
- According to Eastern Rome sources such as Kritovoulos and Doukas, he soon fell out of favor and was executed. The claim in *Sicill-i Osmanî* that he was martyred in the Battle of Otlukbeli is inaccurate. It is also said that he was originally a Catalan (Spaniard) who had converted to Islam.
About the Tomb:
Construction Year: 1952
Ordered by: Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Architect: Unknown
Prominent Features:
- The current tomb is a symbolic makam türbesi (memorial tomb) built based on public belief that Has Yunus Paşa was buried in Istanbul.
- It is a small-scale structure with stone-and-brick coursed masonry in line with classical Ottoman tomb style.
- The entrance has an arched stone-framed doorway, and the side windows are fitted with iron grilles.
- Inside, there is a single sarcophagus covered with a green cloth, featuring a turban motif at the head.
- On the exterior and at the entrance, plaques state that the tomb belongs to Has Yunus Paşa, Grand Admiral under Mehmed the Conqueror.
- Today, the tomb is visited as a symbolic monument; it is more likely that his actual grave is in the Yunus Paşa Tomb located in Enez, Edirne.
