OTTOMAN TURKS PERIOD

(1299-1923)

The Ottoman Empire was founded as an autonomous state in the 14th century by Osman I in north-western Anatolia. Orhan Gazi, sun and successor of Osman I, was the first ruler to use the title of sultan.

When Fatih Sultan Mehmet conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, the state became an empire and Constantinople became the capital of the whole Empire. During the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the Ottomans attained unity throughout Anatolia. But the Empire reached its zenith under Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in the 16th century and it covered the areas from the Persian Gulf in the east to Hungary in the north-west; and from Egypt in the south to the Caucasus in the north. The Ottoman Empire lasted until the end of World War I in 1918. After the defeat at World War I the Ottoman Empire collapsed and lost its non-Turkish areas. After the Turkish War of Independence (1918-1923), The Republic of Turkey was founded on October 29, 1923.

Ottoman state organisation was based on a hierarchy. The Sultan (Padisah) was both the head of the State and head of the Muslim World. The Sultan had viziers and ministers from whom he took advice from time to time. The Ottoman Empire was divided into provinces which were ruled by governor-generals.

Calligraphy was the most important Ottoman art. Embroidery, gravures, ceramics, miniatures were other branches of Ottoman arts. Today many of the greatest works can be seen at Topkapi Palace, Ibrahim Pasha Museum and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.

Capital Cities of Ottoman

Bursa was the First Capital of Ottoman Empire. Because of its being the first Ottoman capital, Bursa is very rich in religious monuments, mosques, tombs (turbes) and baths.

Edirne was the Second Capital of Ottoman Empire.

In 1453 Istanbul became the Third and Last Capital of Ottoman Empire.

Today it is possible to see many examples of the Ottoman architecture in Istanbul.
Among these are the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Iskele Mosque, Sehzade Mosque, Hasaki and Çemberlitaş Turkish Baths built by Chief of Architects Mimar Sinan, Mahmutpasa Mosque, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), Fatih Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, the Tiled Pavilion and Topkapi Palace which was the political centre of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries.

Topkapi Palace was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453 and served as the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans for three centuries. The palace opened its gates as a National Museum in 1924 with order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of Turkish Republic.

Dolmabahçe Palace which is located on the European shores of Bosphorus, served as the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1923. The palace was built by Sultan Abdülmecit who reigned during the first World War.
Beylerbeyi Palace was built between 1861 - 1865 by Sultan Abdulaziz. And Yildiz Palace built by Selim III at the end of the 18th century, is one of the last palaces built by the Ottoman sultans.

Among beautiful examples of the Ottoman Architecture in Turkey are: