People in the Tomb
I. Abdülhamid, son of Sultan III. Ahmed, lived under surveillance following the 1730 Patrona Halil Rebellion.
He ascended the throne on 21 January 1774.
His reign witnessed the Ottoman-Russian War and the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca.
He prioritized military reorganization, naval strengthening, and founding engineering schools.
Remembered as a kind, compassionate, and diligent ruler, he died of a stroke on 7 April 1789 and was buried in this tomb, which he had built.
Born on 8 September 1779 to I. Abdülhamid and Ayşe Sîneperver Sultan, IV. Mustafa was raised with traditional education.
Following the Kabakçı Mustafa Rebellion, he became sultan on 29 May 1807.
He failed to establish authority amid turmoil and war.
When Alemdar Mustafa Pasha sought to reinstate Selim III, IV. Mustafa attempted to eliminate his rivals.
He succeeded in having Selim killed but Mahmud escaped and ascended the throne on 28 July 1808.
IV. Mustafa was later executed by Mahmud’s order and buried in his father’s tomb in Bahçekapı.
About the Mausoleum
- Year Built
- Commissioned By
- Architect
- Location
Featured Highlights
The tomb has a square plan, entirely built from marble, appears two-storied from outside, and is domed.
It is illuminated by 26 windows, with rich calligraphic decorations on the dome pendentives and interior walls.
On the northern wall, the Prophet Muhammad’s footprint (Kadem-i Şerif) is displayed in a marble panel.
The entrance door, outer courtyard, and portico doors are adorned with Qur’anic verses.
The interior inscription band features Surah al-Mulk; the dome and pendentives include medallions bearing the Asma al-Husna, the names of Allah, the Prophet, the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, and Hasan and Husayn.
In addition to I. Abdülhamid’s sarcophagus, the tomb also contains the sarcophagi of his sons: Şehzade Mehmet Abdüssamed, Şehzade Osman Seyfeddin, and Şehzade Burhanettin.
