Person in the Tomb
Brought to Istanbul as a slave from Africa at a young age, Hacı Beşir Ağa entered the palace as Yapraksız Ali Ağa's apprentice.
He advanced in Enderun and became Sultan Ahmed III's companion and then palace treasurer. After being exiled to Cyprus and Egypt in 1713, he was appointed as the sheikh of the Harem and also performed the hajj obligation.
He returned to Istanbul in 1717 and served as Darüssaade Ağa (Kızlar Ağa) for 29 years.
He had great influence during the reigns of Ahmed III and Mahmud I. He was effective in appointing Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Paşa as the Grand Vizier. He also had a say in high-level state appointments with the influence he had on the sultans. He was a religious, charitable and bookish person; he had many social complexes, hadith schools, fountains, fountains, schools and libraries built.
About the Mausoleum
- Year Built
- Commissioned By
- Architect
- Location
Featured Highlights
It is located in the courtyard of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, between the fountain and the tomb courtyard, just to the left of the passage gate.
Its inscription is of high artistic value, made by the calligrapher el-Hac İsmail Efendi.
There is a fountain built by Beşir Ağa by the window of the tomb.
The Darülhadis (on Baba Haydar Street) was built by Beşir Ağa in 1734-35, and a small social complex consisting of a fountain, a school and a library.
There is also a fountain in Eyüp Nişanca and a large-scale social complex in Cağaloğlu consisting of a mosque, madrasah, library, lodge, fountain and school.
Among his charitable works are the mosque in Topkapı Palace, fountains and madrasahs in Cairo and Medina, and numerous fountains, schools and libraries in various parts of Istanbul.
The two galleries he had built outside the Eyüp Sultan Mosque have not survived to the present day.
