Rüstem Paşa Tomb

Born near Sarajevo and recruited into the Acemi Ocağı, Rüstem Paşa was trained in the imperial palace (Has Oda) and quickly caught the attention of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
After serving as rikâb ağası and silahdar, he proved himself during the Mohács Campaign and rose swiftly through the ranks.
His provincial posts began with the governorship of Teke and expanded to include Dulkadir, Karaman, and Diyarbekir.
He married Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan, gaining unmatched prestige in the court hierarchy.
Appointed Grand Vizier in 1544, he led major diplomatic and military initiatives like the 1547 peace with Austria and the 1548 campaign against Iran.
Rumors surrounding the execution of Şehzade Mustafa temporarily led to his dismissal, but he was reinstated in 1555.
Rüstem Paşa played a decisive role in the succession crisis between princes Bayezid and Selim, favoring Selim who would become Selim II.
Known for financial reforms and political intrigue, he died on July 12, 1561, and was buried in his grand tomb designed by Mimar Sinan beside the Şehzade Mosque in Istanbul.

Construction Year: 1548

Ordered by: Unknown

Architect: Mimar Sinan

Prominent Features:

Built of finely cut küfeki stone, the tomb is octagonal in plan and covered with a single dome resting directly on the walls.
It is illuminated by 17 windows arranged in two tiers, with pointed arch windows that are rectangular in shape.
The entrance façade features a door below and windows above.
A six-column portico made of white marble, with baklava-shaped capitals and connecting arches, covers the entrance; its roof is wooden.
The doorway is framed within a rectangular niche and topped with a red-and-white voussoir arch.
The double-leaf entrance door is crafted using the kündekârî technique, showcasing 16th-century Ottoman woodwork.
A celî sülüs inscription is set on marble above the door.
The interior is richly decorated, almost entirely tiled with exquisite 16th-century İznik tiles.
A frieze in celî sülüs script, in white on a blue background, encircles the space above the windows and includes Qur’an 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi) and Qur’an 39:53.
The dome interior is adorned with intricate painted decoration (kalem işi).
The tomb houses two sarcophagi: one belonging to Rüstem Paşa and the other to his son.