Perhaps Ankara’s oldest mosque stands before you. Sultan Alaeddin Camii whispers tales of sultans and centuries. Despite sometimes being called “Muradiye Camii” in some texts, locals still call it “Alaeddin”.
Built in the 12th century, Sultan Alaeddin Camii has witnessed Ankara’s transformation. Muhyiddin Mesud, a Seljuk ruler, ordered its construction near İç Kale’s entrance. Imagine the year 1197. Construction crews finish the mosque. The minber, or pulpit, is complete. Craftsmen mark it with the date November 1197. Some say it could be 1178. Either way it is old.
The story of Sultan Alaeddin Camii is tied to Ankara’s past. After Turks captured Ankara in 1073, the Muslim population grew slowly. It grew until the 12th century. Early Muslims likely worshiped in repurposed Byzantine temples. The Eski Cami, east of Alaeddin Camii, was the first Turkish mosque. It was built after 1073. Space was tight within the castle. The Eski Cami was small. Today, only a ruined mihrab remains.
Muhyiddin Mesud ruled Ankara. He built a palace and the Alaeddin Camii around 1186-1204. A door in the mosque’s western kıble wall possibly connected to the palace. Imagine a sultan walking directly from his palace into the mosque.
Look at the mosque’s northern side. The son cemaat yeri and women’s gallery above were original. Sultan Alaeddin Camii pioneered this design. It inspired many later mosques. Hacı Bayram, İbadullah, and Ağaç Ayak mosques followed its lead.
Muhyiddin Mesud acted independently. This angered his brother, Rükneddin Süleyman Şah. He besieged Ankara. The Sultan Alaeddin Camii suffered damage. In 1204, Mesud surrendered and died. Alaeddin Keykubad sought refuge in Ankara during the ensuing power struggles. He stayed for two years and renovated the mosque. But Keykubad had to leave Ankara in 1213. The castle and mosque likely suffered more damage during these conflicts.
Over the centuries, the Sultan Alaeddin Camii has undergone many repairs. Sülü Paşa, governor of Sultan Orhan, restored it in 1361. Şerif Sünbül Hatun renovated it under Murad II in 1433. Sultan Abdülhamid II had it repaired in 1895. The General Directorate of Foundations restored it in 1954 and 1985. These repairs altered its original form.
Notice the mosque’s layout. It has a rectangular prayer hall and a flat wooden ceiling. The son cemaat yeri in the north features repurposed columns. The upper level is also flat-roofed. Sixteen windows illuminate the mosque. Three more windows are in the women’s gallery.
Inside, see the muzzen’s gallery and the women’s gallery above the entrance. The mihrab dates from the 1895 renovation.
Marvel at the minber. This wooden pulpit showcases period craftsmanship. Using fake kündekari technique, craftsmen joined walnut pieces. Stars and rhombuses adorn it. The minber’s inscription states it was made with the mosque in 1197.
The minaret stands northwest of the mosque. It rises from a stone base. It was likely built during the 1433 renovation. The brick body features stone rings. A lead cone tops the minaret.
The mosque’s fountain is also a historical treasure. It sits on the son cemaat yeri’s street-facing side. Though still intact, it no longer provides water. Water was likely supplied via aqueduct. A sebil above the fountain allowed passersby to drink. This fountain may date back to Seljuk times. Sultan Alaeddin Camii links us to Ankara’s rich Seljuk and Ottoman heritage.