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The Muradiye Hudavendigar mosque area is situated in a peaceful part of the Bursa neighbourhood and it includes the Mosque belonging to the Sultan Murat II and also the tombs of several Ottoman royalty and there was also a ancient nursing centre which is still in use today (although it has been now modernised), the old soup kitchen is now been converted into a restaurant of Ottoman-style, and the historic Turkish bath and two old Ottoman houses are all now museums.
On the west side of the mosque is a shaded garden area that is filled with a dozen domed tombs. Although a romantic notions it would be nice to think that all these imperial princes died in old age, content with their lives, however because the early Ottoman Empire did not recognise the entitlement of the first-born to inherit the throne, many of them were murdered on purpose normally by their brothers, this was to prevent civil wars regarding the succession to the throne.
There are many interesting tombs in this area including:
Tomb of Murat II
The porch of the Murat 11 tomb is fancy; however the rest of the tomb is incredibly plain. There is a hole strategically placed in the roof or domed area so that the rain can fall on the sultan in this uncovered tomb, as he had requested before he died.
Tomb of Prince Cem
Prince Cem was the youngest son of Sultan Mehmet II. After his father died Prince Cem fled to avoid being captured and murdered by his brother Beyazit II. He was then held hostage by the pope and European powers, and used as a diplomatic pawn in the European struggle with the Ottoman Empire.
Prince Mustafa Tomb
Sehzade Mustafa, son of Sultan Suleyman, was murdered on instruction from by his father because he suspected his son of wrong doings against him on advice from others. Soon after his death, the sultan was racked with guilt over what he had done. This tomb has impeccably fine tiling.
Murat II Hamam
Set across the busy street to the west is the Turkish bath of Murat II, which is still in operation and open to the public.
The Muradiye Hudavendigar Mosque Complex is a must see when in Bursa as this was the last imperial foundation which began its life in 1424 being built by Murat II. There are ten of the royal tombs set within the well tended gardens and are opened to the public on a rotational basis, if you are lucky and can find the gardener with the keys you may also be able to access the closed tombs.
On the west side of the mosque is a shaded garden area that is filled with a dozen domed tombs. Although a romantic notions it would be nice to think that all these imperial princes died in old age, content with their lives, however because the early Ottoman Empire did not recognise the entitlement of the first-born to inherit the throne, many of them were murdered on purpose normally by their brothers, this was to prevent civil wars regarding the succession to the throne.
There are many interesting tombs in this area including:
Tomb of Murat II
The porch of the Murat 11 tomb is fancy; however the rest of the tomb is incredibly plain. There is a hole strategically placed in the roof or domed area so that the rain can fall on the sultan in this uncovered tomb, as he had requested before he died.
Tomb of Prince Cem
Prince Cem was the youngest son of Sultan Mehmet II. After his father died Prince Cem fled to avoid being captured and murdered by his brother Beyazit II. He was then held hostage by the pope and European powers, and used as a diplomatic pawn in the European struggle with the Ottoman Empire.
Prince Mustafa Tomb
Sehzade Mustafa, son of Sultan Suleyman, was murdered on instruction from by his father because he suspected his son of wrong doings against him on advice from others. Soon after his death, the sultan was racked with guilt over what he had done. This tomb has impeccably fine tiling.
Murat II Hamam
Set across the busy street to the west is the Turkish bath of Murat II, which is still in operation and open to the public.
The Muradiye Hudavendigar Mosque Complex is a must see when in Bursa as this was the last imperial foundation which began its life in 1424 being built by Murat II. There are ten of the royal tombs set within the well tended gardens and are opened to the public on a rotational basis, if you are lucky and can find the gardener with the keys you may also be able to access the closed tombs.
