Spolia Use in Murad I Hüdavendigar Mosques in the Çanakkale Region

Abstract

The mosques built in Canakkale and environs under the commission of Murad I Hudavendigar or under his name during his reign are referred to as Hudavendigar mosques. Of these structures, while Behramkale Hudavendigar and Tuzla Hudavendigar mosques have survived to the present day, Umurbey Hudavendigar and Gelibolu Hudavendigar mosques have undergone restorations, were rebuilt and thus have lost their original properties, with only their names remanining unchanged. Gelibolu Hudavendigar Mosque was completely rebuilt in the 19th century and Umurbey Hudavendigar Mosque was similarly rebuilt in the 20th century. Archival data and the spolia materials present in their current state were examined in an effort to obtain information regarding the spolia use in their original architecture. The reused of materials (spolia), which was a common practice in Anatolia since Late Antiquity, came into prominence in Anatolian Seljuk and Beylik Era architecture, at times functionally and at others as an element of primary decoration1. This article focuses on the explicit use of spolia in the Murad I Hudavendigar period mosques in the Canakkale region as an expression of political and religious identity and a sign of power beyond sheer architectural decoration.