Sultan Abdülmecid Tomb

Sultan Abdülmecid, son of Sultan Mahmud II, ascended the throne in 1839. He launched the Tanzimat reforms (notably the Gülhane Edict) to centralize administration and equalize the rights of Muslim and non-Muslim subjects. The 1856 Reform Edict further extended these reforms.
His reign saw the construction of Dolmabahçe Palace, the establishment of modern schools, introduction of postal, telegraph and railway systems, and the start of foreign borrowing. He led the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War (1853-56) allied with Britain and France against Russia, culminating in the Treaty of Paris which affirmed Ottoman equality among European states.
Suffering from frail health, Abdülmecid died on 25 June 1861 and was succeeded by his brother Sultan Abdülaziz. He is remembered as the emblematic ruler of the Tanzimat era with a reformist and Westernizing vision.

Construction Year: 1861

Ordered by: Ottoman Dynasty

Architect: Garabet Balyan

Prominent Features:

Built of ashlar stone, the tomb has an octagonal plan and is covered with a dome.
Calligraphic bands featuring verses from the Qur’an in thuluth script by Şevki Efendi encircle the interior walls.
Above the entrance is a verse from Surah Sad (38:50), inscribed in 1910 by calligrapher Hulusi Efendi.
The corners of the walls feature inscriptions of the Asma’ul Husna (Beautiful Names of God), the names of the Prophet, the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, and Hasan and Husayn.
The original sarcophagus cover, silver grille, and chandelier are now displayed in various museums in Istanbul.
The dome interior is adorned with rich hand-painted decorations and stained glass, reflecting the refined ornamentation style of the era.