Lala Mustafa Paşa Tomb

Although his exact birth date is unknown, he was from the village of Sokol in Bosnia. He entered the palace during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim and became the chief barber of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
He served as çâşnigîr (responsible for food), küçük mîrahur (in charge of the stables), and later as a sanjak bey. He was also the tutor (lala) of Prince Selim and supported him in the succession struggle against Bayezid.
He played a significant role in Selim II’s accession to the throne, and subsequently served as beylerbeyi (provincial governor) in key provinces such as Aleppo, Damascus, Van, and Erzurum.
He supported the declaration of war against Venice, led the Cyprus campaign, and captured Nicosia and Famagusta, securing the island for the Ottoman Empire.
He marched on Georgia and Shirvan, winning the battles of Çıldır and Koyungeçidi, and captured Tbilisi and Shirvan. He also oversaw the restoration of Kars Fortress.
After the death of Sokullu Mehmed Paşa, he expected to be appointed grand vizier and briefly served as acting grand vizier. However, due to pressure from Koca Sinan Paşa, he was not appointed and died on 7 August 1580.
He became related to the Ottoman dynasty through marriage and left behind mosques, caravanserais, complexes, and charitable foundations in many cities including Erzurum, Damascus, Konya, Tbilisi, Kars, Mecca, and Medina.

Construction Year: 1580

Ordered by: Lala Mustafa Paşa

Architect: Mimar Sinan

Prominent Features:

The tomb is in the form of an open türbe with a square plan.
It is covered with a dome resting on four columns with baklava-shaped capitals, connected by pointed arches at the corners.
An inscription by calligrapher Hamit Efendi encircles the dome.
The tomb contains Lala Mustafa Paşa’s inscribed marble sarcophagus with a turban motif.
It is located to the left of the gate leading to the Bostan Pier in the courtyard of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque.