Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies An international peer-reviewed journal published bi-annually www.ejars.sohag-univ.edu.eg Original article TYPOLOGY OF THE OTTOMAN MAUSOLEUMS IN RHODES IN THE LIGHT OF THE REMAINING TYPES IN CEMETERY OF MURAD RE'IS Abdel Wahab, M. Islamic Archaeology dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum Univ., Fayoum, Egypt E-mail address: [email protected] Article info. EJARS – Vol. 10 (1) - June 2020: 87-101 Article history: Abstract: Received: 15/11/2019 The Greek cities hold a broad base of the religious, civil, war, Accepted: 21/4/2020 educational, commercial, and funeral architectural styles. Thus, it Doi: 10.21608/ejars.2020.98964 is a good opportunity for the researchers in Islamic architecture and civilization, in general, and the Ottoman, in particular, to bridge many historical and architectural gaps. The researchers have neglected and disregarded the monuments of the Ottoman Empire in Europe, especially after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the European part. It was deliberate neglect inspired by racism in some European countries. They sometimes tended to carelessness or direct destruction. Consequently, less than (10 %) of the original monuments have survived, as shown in the books of travelers and statistics by the Ottoman authorities. The remaining monuments, even a few, are important for understand- Keywords: ing and identifying the characteristics of Ottoman architecture and the arts in the European cities, especially Rhodes. Fortunately, Rhodes this Island still holds hundreds of Ottoman monuments. The mau- Murad Reis soleums and cemeteries are among the most significant resources Funeral architecture in identifying the Ottoman architectural styles and patterns in Ottoman Architecture Rhodes. They help form a complete picture, not only architect- urally and technically, but also demographically as well as nature, Mausoleum names, titles, and occupations of the Ottomans at that time. 1. Introduction The survival of such architectural styles The author was motivated to conduct the has motivated scholars and authors, especi- study by doing archaeological and architect- ally Kiel. M [1], to adopt a positive attitude ural documentation to maintain the Ottoman- regarding reinvestigating the monuments Islamic history and monuments at that part of the Ottoman Empire [2]. This helps of Europe via their writings, inscriptions, unveil many details and study history . ornaments, as well as the relevant documents Such studies have highlighted the cultural, and awqaf (endowments) that ensured ful- architectural, social, intellectual, admini- filling the jobs defined by the founder. strative and other aspects regarding the Additionally, he hopes that the study Ottoman administration of the vast land it paves the way to raise the awareness of the controlled. The Ottoman governments tried importance of an era that lasted for more to modify these aspects to be part of the than four centuries and resulted in many Ottoman ideology based on an Islamic architectural and cultural monuments, which concepts as well as a political one that they affected the European cities. The study focuses are the heirs of the Byzantine Empire [3]. on the remaining Ottoman mausoleums in 87 the cemetery of Murad Re'is who was stelai in Murad Re'is cemetery. Most of buried in front of his mosque in the same them were members of the Ottoman civil, place(a). Murad Re'is or the elder (Turkish: military, and religious aristocracy, as well Koca Murat Re'is (1534-1609) was cons- astheir families. They represent only a idered one of the most important Barbary fraction of the members of the Ott-oman corsairs in the Ottoman Empire. He was ruling class who were buried there over born into an Albanian family in Albania four hundred years [5]. On the contrary, or Rhodes. At a very young age, he joined in the cemetery of Gani Ahmed, a simple Hayreddin Barbarosa to Constantinopole. distance from Murad Re'is, the remaining Then, he was appointed to take command inscriptions indicate the low social level of the Ottoman fleet. While Murad Re'is of those buried there. The majority of is known in Ottoman history as a corsair graves and gravestones belong to Ottoman and naval commander, he has acquired officials and Crimean Khans(b) buried there. the sanctity of a saint among the Muslim Many of them were exiled or exiled and faithful [4]. The growth of the cemetery executed in the Island, such as Crimean dates from the death of Murad Re'is in Khan Sahin Giray (1640), Sadr-I a'zam 1609 and the founding of his mausoleum. Gurcu Yusuf pasha (D. 1127/1718), Sari It should be noted that this cemetery was 'Abdullah Pasha (D. 1147/1734), Abdul dedicated to the high-ranking of Ottoman kerim pasha (D. 1175/1761), and Sadr-I officials and Crimean Khans; for example, a'zam Kara Ibrahim Pasha (D. 1098/1687) there were three of Kanuni Suleiman's com- [4,5]. However, many remaining maus- manders, i.e. Borazan Ali Dede, Abdulcelel oleums belong to some Ottoman officials Bey, and Cafer Bey were buried there [5]. who were exiled to Rhodes and died there, These commanders took part in the siege fig. (1-b), including Crimean Khan Fetih of the Island (1522-1523). Hence, it was Giray I (1595), (D. 1074/1663), Crimean used as cemetery before the deathof Murad Khan Saadet Han-I II(D. 1106/ 1694), Cri- Re'is in 1609. Some scholars argued that the mean Khan Canbeg Giray (D. 1046/1636), area was used as a cemetery for Muslims Sadr-I a'zam Mehemt Rami Pasha (D. 1119/ from the early Arab conquest in 53 H/672- 1707), Shah Safi Mirza II (D. 1169/1756), 3 [4]. This region was used as a cemetery Sencar Havvas Bey (D. 1314/1896), and for Muslims since 53/672-3 or before. The Mehmed Radif Pasha (D. 1323/1905). Muslims conquered the Island twice. First, These are only the names whose shrines they did so in 28 H/657, but soon they got still appear in the cemetery from among out of it before Janada bin Abi Umayya the list mentioned by Rodoslu [5]. Such re-conqueredit in 58 H/678. Moreover, the cemetery represents an important aspect Island of Rhodes became an important base for the Islamic navy. However, the and an architectural design that was the Muslims left it before they returned basis of architecture in most Islamic during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid periods [8]. Because of being the final [6]. The Museum of Walterspreserves the destination of the owner, he was always map of Perry Re'is, which dates back to interested in its preparation in his lifetime 1522 AD, during which the Ottomans to be commemorated in this world and to besieged the Island. It showsa mosque in get a reward in the hereafter. Many esta- the same location of the present cemetery blishments were attached to theses mau- outside the fortifications of the castle, fig. soleums, including religious, charity...etc. (1-a) [7]. This map (1525) confirms that the Therefore, many documents were dedicated location was used as acemetery before the to the endowment of mausoleums and cupture of the city by Sultan Sulyman. their charity facilities to revive the rituals Currently, there are about two hundred grave and be a feature of that era [4]. 88 a b Figure. (1) Shows a. the northern tip of Rhodes Island and the location of the muslims' cemetery, from a 17th A copy of Piri Re'is’ south-oriented map made in 1525 in the Walter Art Library Collection, b. the distribution of the Ottoman mausoleums in the cemetery of Murad Re'is. 2. Types of the Ottoman Mausoleums in Rhodes In the beginning, the Ottomans used to were located separately from the mosque bury their dead in the cemetery of Murad in the cemeteries. Such styles varied in a Re'is to the northwest of the city, where way that gave a detailed and comprehen- his mosque and cemetery were establis- sive picture of their features. The Ottoman hed. This cemetery was dedicated to the architect was keen on following the common Ottoman statesmen and military, official architectural traditions in Anatolia and and high ranking members of Ottoman Turkey in order not to differ but in terms society. The other cemetery was the cem- of the financial and social capabilities of etery of Gani Ahmed to the east, next to the owner [12]. Furthermore, the religious the tombs of the Jews, Orthodoxies, and status of the owner greatly affected the size, Catholics looking over the sea, fig. (2-a) pattern, and endowments of the mausoleum. [9]. Many nominations were used for the The European lands, including Rhodes, building on the tomb including, but not had a local Christian style of funerary limited to, grave, cemetery, mausoleum, and architecture. Therefore, the Ottomans did dome. Moreover, the Ottomans adopted not adopt it as it was particularly related similar nominations. For example, they to death. Additionally, the Ottomans adopted used the tomb and the mausoleum to refer many other architectural styles by transf- to the graves of statesmen, religious leaders, orming the churches into mosques, as well and Ahl al-Bayt, while the graveyard ref- as civil or military architecture that the erred to the common men. The funerary architect could reuse after many modific- architecture was one of the most important ations to fit the Islamic use. To conclude, Ottoman architectural styles. The locations the Ottoman funerals in Europe were totally for the mausoleums in the European cites imported.Based on the field study that varied during the Ottoman era [10]. Somet- enlisted the remaining Ottoman mausoleum imes, they were found behind the qibla, Rhodes and reviewing some European such as the mausoleum of Rejeb Pasha in studies such as Balldutcci [13] and Gabreil Rhodes and the mausoleum of Hasan Bey [14] on the island’s Ottoman architecture in Reythmno in Crete island, or in the front and registered many tombs that were of the mosque, e.g.