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The Tomb of Ahmed I (I. Ahmed Türbesi) lies just off the Hippodrome and close to the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet quarter of Istanbul — part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Peninsula.
Introduction to the Tomb of Ahmed I
The Tomb of Ahmed I was commissioned after his death by his younger half-brother, Sultan Mustafa I, and built between 1617 and 1619. It was designed by Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa (1540–1617), the same master architect responsible for the Blue Mosque. The building features a square plan with bevelled corners and its exterior is clad entirely in marble.
Visitors enter the tomb through a triple-arched portico. The main doorway is richly decorated with inlaid ivory, mother-of-pearl, and tortoise shell. The front gate, however, is a later addition to the original structure.
The tomb is topped by a single dome and illuminated by three rows of windows on each side. The lowest tier features rectangular windows with wooden frames, while the two upper tiers have pointed-arch windows.
The interior is richly decorated with exquisite Iznik tiles, alongside finely crafted Ottoman woodwork, hand-painted decorations, and elegant calligraphy.
Burials in the Tomb of Ahmed I
The tomb houses 36 burials, including three Ottoman sultans and Ahmed I’s chief consort. These figures led lives marked by intrigue, power struggles, and tragedy. Other burials include the children of Sultans Ahmed I, Osman II, Murad IV, and Ibrahim.
Biography of Ahmed I
Ahmed I (b. 1590, Manisa – d. 1617, Constantinople) was the 14th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1603–1617). He ascended the throne at the young age of 13, notably breaking with the Ottoman tradition of fratricide. His reign, however, was challenged by several disastrous wars, during which the empire began to lose territory.
Ahmed I is perhaps best remembered for commissioning the Blue Mosque. He was also an avid fencer, horseman, and poet, writing under the pen name Bakhti. Ahmed I died of typhus at Topkapi Palace, and three of his sons — Osman II, Murad IV, and Ibrahim — would later succeed him as sultan.
Biography of Kösem Sultan
Ahmed I is interred alongside his wife, Kösem Sultan (1589–1651), also known as Mâh-Peyker Sultan. Born Anastasia, she was the daughter of a Greek Orthodox priest from the island of Tinos. In 1604, she was reportedly kidnapped and sold into slavery in Bosnia. The Chief Black Eunuch of the Ottoman court recognized her beauty and intelligence and had her sent to the Imperial Harem to be trained as a concubine.
After being chosen as chief consort, Kösem Sultan rose swiftly to become one of the most influential figures in Ottoman history. Serving as regent for two Sultans, she wielded significant power behind the throne. Some historians argue that her focus on maintaining her position occasionally overshadowed broader state interests. In 1651, she was assassinated on the orders of her nine-year-old grandson, Mehmed IV, following accusations of a plot against his life.
Biography of Osman II
Close by lies 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 ascended the throne after a successful coup against his uncle, Mustafa I. During his brief reign, he personally led an ambitious but ultimately failed invasion of Poland.
Osman II’s son, Şehzade Ömer died at just three months old under unusual circumstances: he was accidentally struck by a stray bullet that ricocheted during a ceremonial reenactment of his father’s Polish campaign.
Osman II was the first sultan to openly challenge the power of the Janissaries, but his efforts provoked a revolt. He was ultimately captured, taken to Yedikule Fortress, and strangled, paving the way for his uncle Mustafa I to reclaim the throne. This marked the first recorded instance of the Janissaries executing a reigning sultan.
Biography of Murad IV
Murad IV (b. 1612, Constantinople – d. 1640, Constantinople) is third sultan interred in the Tomb of Ahmed I. He ruled as the 17th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1623 to 1640. Ascending the throne at just 11, after his uncle Mustafa I was deposed for a second time, he earned the nickname Murad the Warrior (Murad Gazi). Murad IV was the last Ottoman sultan to personally lead his troops into battle. According to some accounts, on his deathbed from cirrhosis at the age of 27, he ordered the execution of his brother, Ibrahim — an act that, if carried out, could have ended the Ottoman dynasty.
