TheSulaymaniyya Takiyya (Arabic:التَّكِيَّة السُّلَيْمَانِيَّة,romanized: at-Takiyya as-Sulaymāniyya;Turkish:Şam SüleymaniyeKülliyesi^[1]) is atakiyya (Ottoman-era Arabic name for amosque complex which served as aSufi convent) inDamascus,Syria, located on the right bank of theBarada River.^[2] Commissioned by the Ottoman sultanSuleiman the Magnificent, the western building of the complex was built, following the plans ofMimar Sinan, between 1554 and 1559. Another building was added eastwards from it in 1566 to be used as amadrasa (which became known as theSalimiyya Madrasa, named after Suleiman's sonSelim II, although this building too may have been commissioned by Suleiman before his death).

Sulaymaniyya Takiyya التَّكِيَّة السُّلَيْمَانِيَّة
View of the mosque from its courtyard
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Region	Levant
Status	Active
Location
Location	Damascus,Syria
Geographic coordinates	33°30′45″N36°17′29″E / 33.51250°N 36.29139°E /33.51250; 36.29139
Architecture
Architect(s)	Mimar Sinan
Type	takiyya (mosque complex)
Style	Ottoman architecture
Completed	1554–1558/59 (western building: mosque andimaret) 1566–67 (eastern building:Salimiyya Madrasa)
Specifications
Minaret(s)	2
Materials	Stone, marble, mosaic

Althoughnot the first Ottoman building in Damascus (that is considered to have been theSalimiyya Takiyya inas-Salihiyya^[3]), the Sulaymaniyya Takiyya is considered to have marked the introduction of theOttoman architectural style to Damascus.^[4] In the centuries following its construction, the Sulaymaniyya Takiyya became an important stop on the "Syrian route" of pilgrims toMecca, and it is considered to this day "as the most important Ottoman cultural building" in Damascus.^[5]

In the cemetery of the complex, the lastOttoman sultan is buried,Mehmed VI, who was forced into exile upon theabolition of the Ottoman sultanate in 1922.^[6][7]

Sultan Suleiman I who had recently lost two sons, as he executed his sonŞehzade Mustafa, followed byŞehzade Cihangir who died of grief, wanted to establish a mosque for the salvation of his soul, so he chose the site of his fatherSelim I's former palace in Damascus.

The construction of the western building was commissioned in 1554–55 during the reign of governorŞemsi Pasha, until it was completed in 1558–59.^[8][9] This building was masterminded byMimar Sinan and built by local craftsmen,^[10] on the location ofBaibars' Ablaq Palace which was destroyed byTamerlane forces during thesiege of Damascus.^[11] It is composed of a large mosque on the southwest side of a courtyard, flanked by a single line of stone arcading, and a soup kitchen (known in Turkish asimaret)^[8] across the courtyard to the northwest, flanked by hospice buildings.^[12]

The mosque has two minarets and Ottoman-style domes.^[13] It also has walls with alternating light and dark stripes, an architectural feature known asablaq and of Syrian origin.^[14] The mosque has been described as "the finest example ofOttoman architecture in Damascus".^[12][15]

In addition to the first building and eastwards from it, amadrasa was built in 1566–67. It was possibly ordered by Süleyman right before his death in 1566 as it was called the Sulaymaniyya Madrasa in some sources upon completion,^[8] but over time it became known as theSalimiyya Madrasa (after Süleyman's sonSelim II), and was subject to theHanafi school.^[16]

The complex later served as a gathering point for pilgrims who wanted to prepare for the annualHajj.^[11]

The cemetery next to the mosque is the burial place of the last Ottoman SultanMehmed VI, who was dethroned and forced into exile when the Ottoman sultanate was abolished in 1922. He died on May 16, 1926, inSanremo,Italy and was buried at the cemetery of the Sulaymaniyya Takiyya. The mosque was chosen because it was located in the closest Muslim-majority country to Turkey and was built by his ancestors. There are almost thirty other graves of theOttoman dynasty who died in exile and were not allowed to be buried in theRepublic of Turkey at the time.^[17]

•  
  Plaque
•  
  The minarets of the mosque seen from outside the fence
•  
  Mosque as seen from Shukri al-Quwwatli Street and the Barada River
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  The mosque courtyard in 1870
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  Mosque in 1942
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  Salimiyya Madrasa courtyard
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  Grave of the last Ottoman sultan,Mehmed VI (r. 1918–1922), in the cemetery
•  
  Grave ofAhmed Nihad, head of the imperial family from 1944 to 1954
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  Grave ofHatice Sultan, daughter of Murad V
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  Grave ofRefia Sultan, daughter of Abdülhamid II

• Darke, Diana (2010).Syria. Bradt Travel Guides.ISBN 978-1-84162-314-6.
• Dumper, Michael; Stanley, Bruce E.; Abu-Lughod, Janet L. (2007).Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO.ISBN 978-1-57607-919-5.
• Necipoğlu, Gülru (2005).The Age of Sinan: Architectural Culture in the Ottoman Empire. London: Reaction Books.ISBN 1-86189-244-6.

• Sulaymaniyya Takiyya, Archnet