The term “Selatin” refers to grand and magnificent mosques commissioned by the sultans during the Ottoman Empire. This designation is typically applied to mosques located in the imperial capitals, symbolizing the power and splendor of the state. The phrase “Selatin Mosques in Fatih” denotes such significant mosques situated in the Fatih district of Istanbul. Fatih is one of the historic centers of Istanbul, which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and is home to many important Selatin mosques.

Selatin mosques are a significant category of mosques commissioned by sultans during the Ottoman Empire. The first Selatin mosques in the Ottoman period are Ulu Mosque and Yeşil Mosque in Bursa. In Istanbul, the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque after the conquest is often considered the first Selatin mosque, but Fatih Mosque, built by Sultan Mehmed II, is generally recognized as the first. The oldest surviving original Selatin mosque in Istanbul is Bayezid Mosque, constructed by Sultan Bayezid II.

In Ottoman palace tradition, certain conditions had to be met for the construction of Selatin mosques. Principally, a sultan needed to achieve a significant military victory and acquire substantial war spoils. These mosques were funded not from the state treasury but from the personal wealth of the sultan. Initially, sultans who didn’t participate in battles and gain spoils didn’t build Selatin mosques. However, this tradition was broken with the construction of Sultanahmet Mosque by Sultan Ahmed I, and by the 18th century, the requirement for obtaining spoils of war was entirely abandoned.

Characteristics:

• Royal loge (Hünkâr mahfili)
• Multiple minarets
• Mahya (string of lights) hung between minarets during Ramadan
• Large size
• Open 24 hours

List of Selatin Mosques in Istanbul:

1. Süleymaniye Mosque
2. Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
3. Şehzade Mosque
4. Nuruosmaniye Mosque
5. Fatih Mosque
6. Yavuz Selim Mosque
7. Eyüp Sultan Mosque
8. Yeni (New) Mosque
9. Bayezid Mosque
10. Büyük Selimiye Mosque
11. Ayazma Mosque
12. Laleli Mosque
13. Beylerbeyi Mosque
14. Büyük Mecidiye Mosque (Ortaköy Mosque)
15. Dolmabahçe Mosque
16. Nusretiye Mosque
17. Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque
18. Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Edirnekapı)
19. Mihrimah Sultan Complex (Üsküdar)
20. Büyükada Hamidiye Mosque
21. Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque
22. Yeni Valide Complex
23. Eski Valide Mosque
24. Sultan Mustafa Mosque

These mosques represent the architectural and historical magnificence of the Ottoman era, each with unique features and cultural significance.

Guide to the “Selatin” Mosques in Fatih, Istanbul

Bayezid Mosque

• • Location: Bayezid District
  • Constructed: 1501-1506, by Sultan Bayezid II
  • Architect: Initially attributed to Mimar Kemaleddin and Mimar Hayreddin; later sources suggest Yakub Shah bin Sultan Shah
  • Significance: One of the oldest original Selatin mosques in Istanbul. Features a 16.78m diameter main dome, supported by two half-domes. The courtyard is surrounded by 24 domed arcades and includes a marble-paved area with a central ablution fountain.

Fatih Mosque and Complex

• • Location: Fatih District
  • Constructed: 1462-1469, by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror
  • Architect: Sinaüddin Yusuf bin Abdullah (Atik Sinan)
  • Features: The complex includes 16 madrasas, a hospital, guest house, soup kitchen, library, and bathhouse. Notably built on one of the city’s seven hills. The mosque preserves original elements like the ablution fountain courtyard, main entrance, and some parts of the minarets and walls.

Laleli Mosque

• • Location: Laleli District
  • Constructed: 1760-1763, by Sultan Mustafa III
  • Significance: Named after Laleli Baba, whom Sultan Mustafa III revered. The mosque complex includes an imaret, türbe (tomb), sebil, timekeeper’s room, bath, inn, and shops. Notable for its blend of classical Turkish architecture with Baroque influences. Features a square plan with a central dome surrounded by six half-domes.

Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Edirnekapı)

• • Location: Edirnekapı, Karagümrük
  • Constructed: 1562-1565, by Mimar Sinan for Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
  • Design: Rectangular layout with a central prayer area distinguished by two sets of columns on each side. The main dome, supported by three arches and flanked by three smaller domes on each side, dominates the structure.

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

• • Location: Çemberlitaş, near the Grand Bazaar
  • Constructed: 1748-1755
  • Historical Importance: The first mosque in Istanbul with Baroque architectural elements. Built under Sultan Mahmud I and completed by Sultan Osman III. Features a unique courtyard with revak (arcades) and a multi-angled layout.

Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque

• • Location: Aksaray Square
  • Constructed: 1869-1871, commissioned by Pertevniyal Valide Sultan, consort of Sultan Mahmud II
  • Architect: Plans drawn by Sarkis Balyan, with contributions from Hagop Balyan
  • Design: An eclectic style combining neogothic elements with traditional Ottoman architecture. Notable for its blue-dominated interiors with floral and star motifs.

Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)

• • Constructed: 1609-1617, by Sultan Ahmed I
  • Architect: Sedefkar Mehmed Ağa, a student of Mimar Sinan
  • Features: Known for its blue İznik tiles (over 21,000 pieces). The mosque is part of a large complex including a madrasa, royal lodge, market, bath, fountain, and more. The central dome is illuminated by over 200 stained glass windows.

Süleymaniye Mosque

• • Constructed: 1551-1557, by Mimar Sinan for Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
  • Design: A masterpiece of classical Ottoman architecture. The central dome is supported by four massive pillars and surrounded by 28 arcades. The complex includes educational institutions, a hospital, a bathhouse, and the mausoleums of Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan.

Şehzade Mosque

• • Constructed: 1543-1548, by Mimar Sinan for Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, in memory of his son Prince Mehmed
  • Design: Known as Sinan’s “apprenticeship masterpiece.” Features a central dome flanked by four half-domes and four smaller domes at each corner. The complex includes a madrasa, guest house, and tombs, including the colorful tiled tomb of Prince Mehmed.

Yeni (New) Mosque

• • Location: Eminönü
  • Constructed: Initiated in 1597, completed in 1665
  • Architects: Started by Davut Ağa, continued by Dalgıç Ahmed Ağa, and completed by Mustafa Ağa
  • Features: A classic Ottoman design with a central dome supported by four elephant feet. Notable for its two minarets with three balconies each, and its unique positioning at the entrance of the Spice Bazaar.

This guide provides a brief overview of the most significant imperial mosques located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, reflecting the rich history and architectural heritage of the Ottoman Empire.

 

Ottoman mosques in Istanbul, organized alphabetically.

A

• Abbas Ağa Mosque
• Abdurrahman Ağa Mosque
• Ahi Çelebi Mosque
• Ahmediye Mosque (Fatih)
• Ahmet Çelebi Mosque
• Akbaba Mehmed Efendi Mosque
• Akşemseddin Mosque (Fatih)
• Ali Kethüda Mosque (Sarıyer)
• Ali Pertek Mosque
• Altunizade Mosque
• Arakiyeci Mehmed Ağa Mosque
• Arpa Emini Prayer Room
• Ayazma Mosque
• Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Mosque

B

• Balaban Tekkesi Prayer Room
• Bali Paşa Mosque
• Bayezid Ağa Mosque
• Bayezid Mosque
• Bebek Mosque
• Bedrettin Mosque
• Bereketzade Ali Efendi Mosque
• Beşir Ağa Complex
• Beylerbeyi Mosque
• Bezmialem Valide Mosque
• Burmalı Prayer Room
• Büyük Mecidiye Mosque
• Büyük Selimiye Mosque

C

• Cerrah Mehmed Paşa Mosque
• Ceylani Mosque
• Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Paşa Mosque
• Cezeri Kasım Paşa Mosque (Eyüpsultan)
• Cezeri Kasım Paşa Mosque (Fatih)

Ç

• Çivizade Mosque
• Çukurcuma Mosque

D

• Davud Paşa Complex
• Defterdar Mosque
• Defterdar İbrahim Paşa Mosque
• Dolmabahçe Mosque
• Draman Yunus Mosque
• Dülgerzade Mosque

E

• Ebulfazl Mosque
• Emir Buhari Mosque
• Emirgan Hamid-i Evvel Mosque
• Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque
• Eski Valide Mosque
• Eyüp Sultan Mosque

F

• Fatih Mosque
• Fatma Sultan Mosque
• Ferhad Paşa Mosque (Çatalca)
• Feridun Paşa Mosque
• Ferruh Kethüda Mosque
• Firuz Ağa Mosque

G

• Galib Paşa Mosque
• Gazi Ahmed Paşa Mosque
• Gazi Atik Ali Paşa Mosque

H

• Hacı Ahmed Mosque (İstanbul)
• Hacı Bedel Mustafa Efendi Mosque
• Hacı Evhadüddin Mosque
• Hacı Hesna Hatun Mosque
• Hacı İlyas Yatağan Mosque
• Hacı İsa Mosque
• Hadım İbrahim Paşa Mosque
• Handan Ağa Mosque
• Haraççı Kara Mehmet Mosque
• Harbi Prayer Room
• Haseki Sultan Mosque
• Hazreti Kaab Mosque
• Hekimoğlu Ali Paşa Mosque
• Hırka-i Şerif Mosque
• Hızır Çavuş Mosque
• Hidayet Mosque
• Hoca Ali Mosque
• Hürrem Çavuş Mosque
• Hüseyin Ağa Mosque

I

• III. Mustafa Mosque

İ

• İbrahim Ağa Mosque
• İbrahim Paşa Mosque (Şehzadebaşı)
• İçerenköy Mosque
• İmrahor Mosque (Üsküdar)
• İskenderpaşa Mosque (Beykoz)
• İsmailağa Mosque
• İvaz Efendi Mosque

K

• Kâğıthane Mosque
• Kaptan İbrahim Ağa Mosque
• Kaptan-ı Derya Basmacızade İbrahim Paşa Mosque
• Kaptanpaşa Mosque
• Karabaş Mustafa Ağa Mosque
• Kasım Paşa Mosque
• Kaşgari Murtaza Efendi Mosque
• Katip Muslihiddin Mosque
• Katip Sinan Mosque
• Katip Şemseddin Mosque
• Kazancı Mosque
• Keçeci Piri Mosque (Beyoğlu)
• Keçeci Piri Mosque (Fatih)
• Kemalpaşa Mosque
• Kemankeş Mosque
• Kethuda Mosque
• Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque
• Kırmızı Minare Mosque
• Kızıl Mosque
• Kızıl Minare Mosque
• Küçük Mecidiye Mosque
• Kürkçübaşı Ahmet Şemsettin Mosque
• Kürkçübaşı Mosque

L

• Laleli Mosque

M

• Maarifi Mosque
• Mahmud Ağa Mosque
• Makbul İbrahim Paşa Mosque
• Malatyalı İsmail Ağa Mosque
• Mehmed Ağa Mosque
• Merkez Efendi Mosque
• Mesih Mehmed Paşa Mosque
• Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Edirnekapı)
• Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Üsküdar)
• Mimar Acem Mosque
• Mimar Hayreddin Mosque
• Molla Çelebi Mosque
• Molla Hüsrev Mosque
• Molla Hüsrev Mosque (Küçükmustafapaşa)
• Müderris Abdülbaki Efendi Mosque

N

• Nakilbend Mosque
• Nalçacı Halil Mosque
• Nişancı Mehmet Paşa Mosque
• Nusretiye Mosque

O

• Odabaşı Mosque
• Orhaniye Barracks Mosque
• Osmanağa Mosque
• Ottoman Mosque

Ö

• Öküz Mehmed Paşa Mosque

P

• Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque
• Pîrî Mehmed Paşa Mosque (İstanbul)
• Piyale Paşa Mosque

R

• Ramazan Efendi Mosque
• Rum Mehmet Paşa Mosque
• Rüstem Paşa Mosque

S

• Saçlı Abdülkadir Efendi Mosque
• Salacak Fatih Mosque
• Sanki Yedim Mosque
• Sekbanbaşı Mosque
• Selman Ağa Mosque
• Serbostani Mustafa Ağa Mosque
• Serhazin Süleyman Amber Ağa Mosque
• Silahi Mehmed Bey Mosque
• Sinan Paşa Mosque (Beşiktaş)
• Softa Hatip Mosque
• Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Complex
• Sokollu Mehmet Paşa Mosque (Azapkapı)
• Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Mosque (Büyükçekmece)
• Suadiye Mosque
• Sultanahmet Mosque
• Süleymaniye Mosque

Ş

• Şemsi Paşa Mosque
• Şepsafa Mosque
• Şeyh Ebul Vefa Mosque

T

• Tavaşi Hasan Ağa Mosque
• Teşvikiye Mosque
• Tevfikiye Mosque

V

• Vaniköy Mosque
• Vasat Atik Ali Paşa Mosque

Y

• Yeni (New) Mosque
• Yeni Valide Mosque
• Yeraltı Mosque
• Yeşilköy Mecidiye Mosque
• Yıldız Mosque
• Yusuf Agah Mosque
• Yusuf Şucaeddin Mosque

Z

• Zal Mahmud Paşa Mosque
• Zeynep Sultan Mosque
• Zihni Paşa Mosque