Tomb of Sultan Mustafa I
The Baptistery Converted to Imperial Mausoleum
The tomb of Sultan Mustafa I (1591-1639) is housed in the former Byzantine baptistery of Hagia Sophia. This intimate mausoleum contains the remains of Mustafa I, known as 'Mustafa the Mad,' who ruled twice during a turbulent period of Ottoman history.
Mustafa I was the younger brother of Sultan Ahmed I and uncle of sultans Osman II and Murad IV. He reigned twice (1617-1618 and 1622-1623) but was deposed both times due to mental instability. He spent most of his life confined in the Kafes (the 'cage') of Topkapi Palace.
The tomb was originally the baptistery of Hagia Sophia, where Christians were baptized during the Byzantine era. After Mustafa I's death in 1639, it was converted into his mausoleum, preserving much of its original Byzantine structure.