Gulfem Hatun Camii Mosque in Uskyudar district. The mosque was built in 1539-1543 by order of Gulfem Khatun, a woman from Sultan Suleiman's harem. Historians are still debating whether she was the sultan's concubine, the ruler of the harem, or a very influential courtier. Gulfem Khatun was believed to be a rich and influential woman. She founded not only a mosque, but also a whole complex - a madrasah, an imaret (charity kitchen), a school, and a caravanserai. But only the mosque has survived to this day. There is a local legend that initially the mosque was especially associated with women and for a long time was used mainly by them. There is an old burial ground at the mosque - a small Ottoman khazire (cemetery at the mosque). The most important burial site there is associated with Gulfem Khatun herself. Her turbe (mausoleum) used to be located next to the mosque, but in the 20th century, during the expansion of the streets of Uskyudar, it was destroyed. At the same time, some of the tombstones were preserved, the grave stone of Gulfem Khatun was moved to the mosque and a small khazire with several old Ottoman graves remained nearby. On the tombstone of Gulfem Khatun there is the word "şehide" - "martyr" or "deceased". Because of this, there was a legend that she was executed. According to legend, she sold her "time" in the harem for money to build a mosque, and the sultan, upon learning about this, ordered her execution. Historians consider this story to be unproven, but the legend in Istanbul is very well known.

See original · Русский