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The Tomb of Ahmed I (I. Ahmed Türbesi) sits off the Hippodrome and near the Blue Mosque in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Sultanahmet area of Istanbul.
Introduction to the Tomb of Ahmed I
The tomb was built between 1617 and 1619 and contains the burials of three Ottoman sultans. It’s topped by a dome and decorated with fine Iznik tiles. Inside are beautiful examples of Ottoman woodwork, tile, and calligraphy, but its occupants are full of tragic tales, power struggles, and deceit.
Ahmed I
Sultan Ahmed I (b. 1590, Manisa – d. 1617, Constantinople) was the 14th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1603-1617). He took the throne at the age of 13 and broke with the Ottoman tradition of fratricide upon his enthronement. Due to several disastrous wars, the Ottoman Empire began to lose territory under his rule.
His legacy is the construction of the Blue Mosque, and he enjoyed fencing, horseback riding, and poetry. In fact, he authored a number of works under the name Bakhti. Ahmed I died of typhus at Topkapi Palace. Three of his sons, Osman II, Murad IV, and Ibrahim, ascended to the throne.
Kösem Sultan
Ahmed I is buried next to his wife, Kösem Sultan (1589-1651), also known as Mâh-Peyker Sultan. Originally named Anastasia and the daughter of a Greek Orthodox priest from the island of Tinos, Kösem Sultan rose to become one of the most powerful figures in the history of the Ottoman Empire. As the regent of three Sultans, she effectively influenced them to control important affairs. Kösem Sultan is accused of caring more about her own position of power rather than the interests of the Ottoman Empire.
Osman II
Nearby is Osman II (b. 1604, Constantinople – d. 1622, Constantinople), the 16th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1618-1622). Nicknamed Genç Osman (Young Osman), he was only 14 when he took the throne after a successful coup against his uncle, Mustafa I. During his short reign, he personally led a failed Ottoman invasion of Poland.
Osman II was the first sultan to recognize the danger of the Janissaries and tried to restrict their power, but they revolted against him. In the end, they dragged him to Yedikule Fortress and strangled him to death, leaving his uncle Mustafa I to take the throne for a second time. It was the first time in history the Janissaries had executed a Sultan.
Murad IV
The third Sultan buried in the Tomb of Ahmed I is Murad IV (b. 1612, Constantinople – d. 1640, Constantinople). He was the 17th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1623-1640). Murad IV was a brutal leader that was only 11 when he took the throne after his uncle, Mustafa I, was deposed for a second time. Nicknamed Murad the Warrior (Murat IV Gazi), he was the last Ottoman Sultan to lead his troops into battle and fight on the front lines. Rumor has it that on his deathbed from cirrhosis at the age of 27, he ordered the execution of his brother, Ibrahim. This would have ended the Ottoman dynasty, but the order was not carried out.
Other Burials in the Tomb of Ahmed I
Other burials in the tomb of Ahmed I include the children of Ahmed I, Osman II, Murad IV, and Ibrahim. Osman II had one son, Şehzade Ömer, who was only three months old when he died in the most unusual circumstances. A stray bullet that ricocheted during a reenactment of his father’s Poland campaign struck and killed him.
