A Study on the Graves of Servants and Concubines in the Hazire of the Tomb of Mustafa III

Esra Halıcı; Burak Muhammet Gökler

Article Details

A Study on the Graves of Servants and Concubines in the Hazire of the Tomb of Mustafa III

Authors:

Esra Halıcı | Burak Muhammet Gökler

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Journal:

Art-Sanat Issue 24, pp.254-283

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356339

pISSN:

2148-3582

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Mustafa III 1717-1774, the son of Ahmed III and Mihrishah Amina Sultan, reigned for seventeen years. A poet, calligrapher and scholar, Mustafa III gave importance to reconstruction activities while trying to reform the state and social structure. The graves discussed within the scope of the study are located in the hazire walled burial ground section of the tomb of Mustafa III in the southwest of the Laleli Complex, which Architect Mehmed Tahir built by the order of Mustafa III in 1760. A total of 29 gravestones were identified in this hazire located to the southeast and northeast of the tomb. As a result of field studies, it was discovered that twenty-six of these graves belonged to women; only 11 graves belonging to palace servants and concubines were evaluated within the scope of this study. The studies were conducted by reading the inscriptions, revealing the tombstone typologies, and systematically analyzing the decorative compositions. As a result of the study, it was determined that three of the graves belonged to concubines, three to chamberlains, two to tomb keeper servants, one to a food taster, one to a kalfa the head of the female servants and one to an oda odalisque. Located in the hazire of the tomb of Mustafa III, these tombstones are rare examples of how female servants and concubines in the Ottoman palace were represented after death. Although these individuals were at the lower levels of the social hierarchy, the aesthetic and artistic intensity of their tombstones reveals the importance attributed to them. These stones are multi-layered documents that simultaneously reflect the artistic trends, religious thought structure and social roles of the period.

 Mustafa III 1717-1774, the son of Ahmed III and Mihrishah Amina Sultan, reigned for seventeen years. A poet, calligrapher and scholar, Mustafa III gave importance to reconstruction activities while trying to reform the state and social structure. The graves discussed within the scope of the study are located in the hazire walled burial ground section of the tomb of Mustafa III in the southwest of the Laleli Complex, which Architect Mehmed Tahir built by the order of Mustafa III in 1760. A total of 29 gravestones were identified in this hazire located to the southeast and northeast of the tomb. As a result of field studies, it was discovered that twenty-six of these graves belonged to women; only 11 graves belonging to palace servants and concubines were evaluated within the scope of this study. The studies were conducted by reading the inscriptions, revealing the tombstone typologies, and systematically analyzing the decorative compositions. As a result of the study, it was determined that three of the graves belonged to concubines, three to chamberlains, two to tomb keeper servants, one to a food taster, one to a kalfa the head of the female servants and one to an oda odalisque. Located in the hazire of the tomb of Mustafa III, these tombstones are rare examples of how female servants and concubines in the Ottoman palace were represented after death. Although these individuals were at the lower levels of the social hierarchy, the aesthetic and artistic intensity of their tombstones reveals the importance attributed to them. These stones are multi-layered documents that simultaneously reflect the artistic trends, religious thought structure and social roles of the period.

 Mustafa III 1717-1774, the son of Ahmed III and Mihrishah Amina Sultan, reigned for seventeen years. A poet, calligrapher and scholar, Mustafa III gave importance to reconstruction activities while trying to reform the state and social structure. The graves discussed within the scope of the study are located in the hazire walled burial ground section of the tomb of Mustafa III in the southwest of the Laleli Complex, which Architect Mehmed Tahir built by the order of Mustafa III in 1760. A total of 29 gravestones were identified in this hazire located to the southeast and northeast of the tomb. As a result of field studies, it was discovered that twenty-six of these graves belonged to women; only 11 graves belonging to palace servants and concubines were evaluated within the scope of this study. The studies were conducted by reading the inscriptions, revealing the tombstone typologies, and systematically analyzing the decorative compositions. As a result of the study, it was determined that three of the graves belonged to concubines, three to chamberlains, two to tomb keeper servants, one to a food taster, one to a kalfa the head of the female servants and one to an oda odalisque. Located in the hazire of the tomb of Mustafa III, these tombstones are rare examples of how female servants and concubines in the Ottoman palace were represented after death. Although these individuals were at the lower levels of the social hierarchy, the aesthetic and artistic intensity of their tombstones reveals the importance attributed to them. These stones are multi-layered documents that simultaneously reflect the artistic trends, religious thought structure and social roles of the period.

 III. Ahmedin ve Mihrişah Emine Sultanın oğlu olan III. Mustafa 1717-1774, on yedi yıl tahtta kalmıştır. Şair, hattat ve âlim bir insan olan III. Mustafa, bir yandan devlet ve toplum yapısını ıslah etmeye çalışırken bir yandan da imar faaliyetlerine önem vermiştir. Konu kapsamında ele alınan mezarlar III. Mustafa tarafından 1760 tarihinde Mimar Mehmed Tahire inşa ettirilen Laleli Külliyesinin güneybatısında, III. Mustafa türbesinin hazire bölümünde yer almaktadır. Türbenin güneydoğu ve kuzeydoğusunda konumlanan bu hazirede toplam yirmi dokuz mezar taşı tespit edilmiştir. Saha çalışmaları neticesinde söz konusu mezarlardan yirmi altısının kadınlara ait olduğu belirlenmiş; bu çalışma kapsamında ise yalnızca saray hizmetkârları ve cariyelere ait on bir mezar taşı değerlendirmeye alınmıştır. İnceleme, kitabelerin okunması, mezar taşı tipolojilerinin ortaya konulması ve süsleme kompozisyonlarının sistematik biçimde analiz edilmesi ile oluşturulmuştur. Bu bağlamda, söz konusu mezarlardan üçü cariyelere, üçü kethüdalara, ikisi türbedar hizmetlilerine, biri çaşnigire, biri hizmetli kalfaya ve biri de oda kalfasına ait olarak belirlenmiştir. III. Mustafa Türbesi haziresinde yer alan bu mezar taşları, Osmanlı sarayındaki kadın hizmetlilerin ve cariyelerin ölüm sonrası nasıl temsil edildiğini gösteren nadide örneklerdir. Her ne kadar bu bireyler sosyal hiyerarşinin alt kademelerinde yer alsalar da mezar taşlarındaki estetik ve sanatsal yoğunluk, onlara atfedilen önemi ortaya koymaktadır. Bu taşlar, dönemin sanatsal yönelimlerini, dini düşünce yapısını ve toplumsal rolleri aynı anda yansıtan çok katmanlı belgelerdir.

Article Details

A Study on the Graves of Servants and Concubines in the Hazire of the Tomb of Mustafa III

Authors:

Esra Halıcı | Burak Muhammet Gökler

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Journal:

Art-Sanat Issue 24, pp.254-283

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356339

pISSN:

2148-3582

Mustafa III

Hazire

Concubine

Servant

TombstoneIII. Mustafa

Hazire

Cariye

Hizmetkâr

Mezar Taşı

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Esra Halıcı | Burak Muhammet Gökler

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Journal: Art-Sanat Issue 24, pp.254-283

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001356339

pISSN: 2148-3582

Issues

Authors:

Esra Halıcı | Burak Muhammet Gökler

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Görsel Sanatlar (Diğer)

Journal:

Art-Sanat Issue 24, pp.254-283

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356339

pISSN:

2148-3582