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The 12 tombs at the Muradiye Complex in Bursa, Turkey, are the final resting place of 40 members of the Ottoman dynasty. They’re included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bursa. This entry includes tombs 7-9.
Tomb of Şehzade Mahmud
The 7th tomb at the Muradiye Complex belongs to Şehzade Mahmud (d. 1507). He was a son of Sultan Bayezid II and died during his governorship in Manisa. The tomb was commissioned by his mother, Bülbül Hatun (d. 1515), and the architect was Yakup Şah bin Sultan Şah.
The interior of the tomb is richly decorated with hexagonal turquoise and dark blue tiles up to a height of 2.9 meters. There are also 16th century hand-drawn decorations that were plastered over in the 19th century. They were rediscovered during restoration in 2013. The dome, which is decorated with floral patterns and calligraphy, is one of the most beautiful in the Muradiye Complex.
Four marble sarcophagi occupy the tomb. Buried alongside Şehzade Mahmud are his three sons, Orhan, Emir, and Musa. They were all strangled in 1512 by Sultan Selim I to eliminate any opposition to the throne.
Tomb of Mükrime Hatun
Next is the tomb of Mükrime Hatun (Mükrime Hatun Türbesi). The date of construction is estimated to be shortly after 1517. The tomb is decorated with colorful floral and geometric patterns from different periods.
Mükrime Hatun (d. 1517) was the wife of Şehzade Şehinşah, the son of Sultan Bayezid II. There are two more sarcophagi in the tomb, but their occupants are unknown.
Tomb of Gülşah Hatun
The 8th tomb is that of Gülşah Hatun (d. 1487), a consort of Mehmed the Conqueror who bore him a son, Şehzade Mustafa. The tomb was built while she was still alive.
The interior of the tomb is very plain, as the decorations have not survived to this day. Another sarcophagus sits next to Gülşah Hatun’s but it’s occupant is unknown.
