“Oh! my Allah, who opens the doors, open auspicial doors to us.” These words are inscribed on the right side of the gate of the Tomb of Hatice Turhan Sultan. This tomb is no ordinary resting place. It whispers tales of power, ambition, and a mother’s enduring love.
Welcome to the Tomb of Hatice Turhan Sultan. It is a mausoleum holding the remains of five Ottoman sultans. It stands proudly in the Fatih district of Istanbul.
The story of this tomb is intertwined with the life of Turhan Hatice Sultan. She was the first Haseki of Sultan Ibrahim and mother of Sultan Mehmed IV. Her journey from a kidnapped girl to a Valide Sultan is one of the most fascinating in Ottoman history.
Born around 1627, Turhan was seized at the age of twelve. She was brought to Constantinople and gifted to K\u00f6sem Sultan for the Topkapi Palace harem. She quickly became a favorite of Sultan Ibrahim. She bore him a son, Mehmed.
When Sultan Ibrahim was dethroned, Mehmed became Sultan Mehmed IV. Turhan should have become Valide Sultan. But she was young and inexperienced. K\u00f6sem Sultan continued to rule as regent.
This led to a bitter power struggle. Turhan eventually orchestrated K\u00f6sem’s assassination. This secured her position as Valide Sultan. As Valide Sultan, Turhan wielded immense power. She initially relied on grand viziers to govern.
Turhan Hatice Sultan commissioned the Yeni Mosque. Safiye Sultan had begun its construction in 1597. However, the project was abandoned. Turhan revived it. The mosque became part of an imperial complex. It included the Egyptian Spice Bazaar.
The Tomb of Hatice Turhan Sultan was built in 1663. Court architect Mustafa Agha designed it. The tomb is square-planned. It has a porch of 15 m x 15 m. The porch’s dome rests on pendant vaults. Arched vaults are built with white and red stones.
Inside, windows in two rows bring light. The lower windows are rectangular and barred. The upper windows have pointed arches. Iznik tiles and carvings adorn the interior. A tile belt surrounds the interior. It contains verses from the Quran.
Beyond Turhan Hatice Sultan, five sultans rest here. Mehmed IV, Mustafa II, Ahmed III, Mahmud I, and Osman III are buried in the Tomb of Hatice Turhan Sultan. Princes, princesses, and consorts are also entombed here. In total, 44 graves fill this space.
Turhan’s death in 1683 marked the end of the Sultanate of Women. She was the last woman to rule the Empire with such power. Her mausoleum stands as a testament to her legacy.
As you stand before this tomb, remember Turhan Hatice Sultan. She was a woman who defied the odds. She left an indelible mark on Ottoman history. Her story echoes through these walls. It whispers of resilience, ambition, and the enduring power of a mother’s love.