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Kılıç Ali Paşa Tomb

Audio Narration:

Persons in the Tomb:

Kılıç Ali Paşa

Birth / Death: 1519 – 1587
Title: Kaptan-ı Derya (Grand Admiral)
About: Kılıç Ali Paşa, originally named Giovanni Dionigi Galeni, was of Italian origin. According to legend, he was on his way to Naples to become a priest when he was captured by Barbary corsairs under Ali Ahmet Reis. He served for a long time as a galley slave, eventually converting to Islam and taking the name Ali. He gained naval experience under Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa and Turgut Reis and served as Beylerbeyi of Algiers. During the naval battles of Çeşme and İnebahtı, his fleet was attacked by the Holy League formed by European powers. As the commander of the Ottoman navy, he sank many enemy ships and saved his own fleet. Following this defeat, he was appointed Kaptan-ı Derya by Sultan Selim II (1566–1574) and renamed from Uluç to Kılıç. Along with Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Paşa, he rebuilt the Ottoman fleet stronger than before, reestablishing Ottoman dominance in the Mediterranean. He remained in command until his death.

Uluç Hasan Paşa

Birth / Death: 1544 - 1591
Title: Kaptan-ı Derya (Grand Admiral)
About: Uluç Hasan Paşa (1544–1591), originally named Andrea Celeste and a Venetian citizen, began his maritime career with the Republic of Ragusa. Captured by Turgut Reis in 1563, he converted to Islam and took the name Uluç Hasan. He served under Uluç Ali Reis, became Sanjak Bey of Thessaloniki in 1577, and later Beylerbeyi of Algiers. He married Zahra, widow of the Sultan of Morocco. Between 1582 and 1588, he governed Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis, then became Kaptan-ı Derya in 1588. He quelled the Tripoli rebellion and killed Yahyaoğlu Yahya. He pursued pro-English and anti-Spanish policies and died suddenly in 1591.

Location of the Tomb:
Beyoğlu, İstanbul
About the Tomb:

Construction Year: 1587

Ordered by: Unknown

Architect: Mimar Sinan

Prominent Features:

  • The tomb of Kılıç Ali Paşa was designed by Mimar Sinan with a unique spatial conception. It is octagonal in plan and constructed of ashlar stone, with a double-shell dome.
  • The entrance is set within a deep niche, and the dome is supported by two interior columns and arches spanning the thick masonry walls.
  • The tomb is lit by two tiers of windows. Although not richly decorated, the lower window pediments feature a frieze of Ayat al-Kursi in white script on a blue background. The central dome bears a medallion with inscriptions and surrounding palmette and Rumi motifs in blue and white.
  • These decorations were restored during the 1979 renovation.
  • The tomb contains the sarcophagi of Kılıç Ali Paşa and Uluç Hasan Paşa.
Route
Kaşgari Tomb
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Digital İstanbul was realized with the valuable contributions of Ziraat Katılım.

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