Istanbul Yeni Mosque

Originally known as the Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Valide Sultan Camii), the New Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Yeni Valide Sultan Camii) was built between 1660 and 1665 in the Eminonu neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the most famous pieces of architecture in Istanbul. It is on the Golden Horn, at the end of the Galata Bridge to the south.

The Valide Sultan Mosque (Queen Mother)

The construction of the mosque began in 1597. Sultana Safiye, later known as Valide Sultan (Queen Mother) of Sultan Mehmed III, issued the order. Originally called the "Valide Sultan Mosque," it was commissioned by her in her role as Valide Sultan following Mehmed III's accession to the Ottoman throne in 1595.

The original architect was Davut Aga, an apprentice of the great Mimar Sinan. Davut Aga passed away in 1599, however, and was succeeded by Dalgic Ahmed Cavus. The construction took more than half a century and was completed by another valide Sultan, Sultana Turhan Hatice, mother of Sultan Mehmed IV.

Disagreement arose in the court over the project because of the location and the financial implications, and political discord delayed the project. The Jewish population of the city was concentrated in the Eminonu district, which also served as the city's main commercial hub. By putting the mosque there, Sultana Safiye hoped to increase Islam's clout in the city, taking advantage of local and foreign merchants' growing unhappiness with the growing influence of their Jewish competitors, who provided an easy pretext for the Sultan to seize their property.

However, the vast monetary outlay drew sharp criticism. In particular, the Janissaries felt the mosque was a waste of money and resented the Valide Sultan's rising political power. After the death of Mehmed III in 1603, Sultana Safiye was compelled to give up on the project. After Sultana Safiye was sent to the harem, the new Sultan, Ahmed I, lost interest in the project, and construction was stopped.

The New Valide Sultan Mosque

After 1603, the unfinished building crumbled to dust, and it was further damaged by the Great Fire of Istanbul (1660), which began on July 24, 1660, and lasted for just over two days (around 49 hours, according to the chronicles of Abdi Pasha). The mother of Sultan Mehmed IV, Sultana Turhan Hatice, was encouraged by Imperial Architect Mustafa Aga to finish the project as an act of devotion later that same year. In addition to the New Mosque, Sultana Turhan Hatice commissioned the construction of the adjacent Spice Bazaar. So, in the closing months of 1660, work resumed on the mosque, and the adjacent bazaar was built.