MAUSOLEUM OF PRINCE MUSTAFA

The Tomb of Şehzade Mustafa was built in 1573 by his brother, Sultan Selim II, in honor of Şehzade Mustafa, the son of Suleiman the Magnificent. Şehzade Mustafa, who was executed in Konya in 1553, is one of the most well-known princes in Ottoman history. His body was brought to Bursa and initially buried in another location. After being interred elsewhere for approximately twenty years, he was reburied in the tomb constructed in his name.

Inside the tomb, there are four sarcophagi known to belong to Şehzade Mustafa, his mother Mahidevran Hatun, and Şehzade Bayezid’s son Osman. The identities of the other sarcophagi remain unknown.

Inscription on the Tomb of Şehzade Mustafa

“When Sultan Selim Han, the son of Suleiman Han, commanded, this garden, showing paradise, became delightful. His servant Edai mentioned the date as follows: The grave of Sultan Mustafa, like a rose garden.”

The founder of the tomb is Mehmet Çavuş from Dergah Allavandan, and it is stated that Hassa Chief Architect Sinan was historically entrusted with this work. The tomb, containing exquisite İznik tiles from the 16th century, was built using some Byzantine-era construction materials, such as marble slabs and columns taken from the Bursa Palace.

The interior walls were covered with 16th-century naturalist tiles and later, in the late 18th century, were adorned with Baroque decorations. During the restoration on February 15, 2013, the plaster was scraped off, and the tomb was revitalized.

Between 2013 and 2014, the tomb underwent extensive restoration by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015.

Location of the Tomb of Şehzade Mustafa

Kaynak: kaynak: Bursa Kitabeleri – ömer kaptan, BBB