Battalgazi Grand Mosque

Battalgazi Ulu Camii is a historical structure located in the Battalgazi (Old Malatya) district of Malatya Province, recognized as one of the original examples of Anatolian Seljuk architecture. Based on inscriptions and archival documents, the construction of the mosque is dated to the first quarter of the 13th century.

Battalgazi Ulu Camii (Malatya Governorate)

History and Construction Process

The construction date of Battalgazi Ulu Camii varies across sources, but the generally accepted view is that the structure was completed during the reign of Anatolian Seljuk Sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubad in 621 AH / 1224 CE. One of the mosque’s foundation inscriptions is preserved today at the Malatya Museum. However, some waqf records indicate that the mosque was built during the time of Kaykavus bin Kaykhusraw (1211–1220). This suggests that construction may have begun under Kaykavus and was completed under Keykubad.

According to the inscription, the architect was Yakub bin Ebubekir al-Malati of Malatya, while the calligrapher was Ketebe Ahmed bin Yakub. Significant contributions to later additions and repairs were made by Ustad Hüsrev al-Bennâ.

Architectural Features

Battalgazi Ulu Camii stands out as the only surviving example in Anatolia that represents the Iranian Great Seljuk mosque architectural tradition. The building follows a four-iwan plan. The central rectangular courtyard and the iwan openings leading to it, along with the dome over the mihrap area, form the primary layout of the mosque. This planning concept occupies an exceptional position among Anatolian mosques.

The construction materials used are brick and stone in combination. The distinction between the original construction elements, made of brick, and later additions, constructed in stone, is clearly visible. Rubble stone is used in the walls, while regular cut stone and brick are employed in the interior spaces. Stone masonry is evident in the portals, arcade arches, and supporting elements. The mosque measures 34 by 55 meters and has three entrances: south, east, and west.

Dome

The dome over the mihrap area is erected on a square base and connected to the iwan by six supported pointed arches. The inner surface of the dome is decorated with spiral motifs made of unglazed bricks and turquoise-glazed ceramic tiles placed between them. The name “Muhammad” is inscribed in decorative Kufic script using purple and turquoise tiles at the dome’s apex. The 16 borders along the dome’s base contain verses 1 to 5 of Surah Al-Fath.

Battalgazi Ulu Camii (Malatya Governorate)

Iwans and Courtyard

The arch surfaces of the iwan between the dome and the inner courtyard are adorned with Quranic verses, masterful carved inscriptions, and vegetal motifs. The eastern and western sides of the courtyard are arcaded. The western arcade has largely retained its original form, while the eastern arcade has been reconstructed in stone. Various Quranic verses in Kufic and Reyhani scripts are inscribed on the lintels of the arcade arches.

Doors

• The southern door is the oldest entrance and is believed to have served as an access point to the madrasa.
• The eastern door was renovated in 672 AH / 1274 CE and reconstructed by the architect Hüsrev.
• The western door dates to 645 AH / 1247 CE and was commissioned by Emir Şahabeddin İlyas from Ustad Hüsrev. This door is the best-preserved in terms of stone craftsmanship.

Minaret

The original structure did not include a minaret. It was constructed in 645 AH / 1247 CE from brick during the rebuilding of the western wall. The minaret has an octagonal base with a cylindrical shaft but suffered partial damage due to a lightning strike.

Mihrap and Minbar

The original mihrap of the mosque collapsed during an earthquake in 1893. A new mihrap was built between 1900 and 1902 during the reign of Sultan II. Abdülhamid. The original minbar is currently exhibited at the Ankara Ethnography Museum. The minbar currently in the mosque was brought from the Söğütlü Mosque in Malatya.

Kaysariya

This additional structure, located north of the courtyard and used like a second mosque, is dated to the Mamluk period (second half of the 14th century). Its façade features two pointed-capped supporting towers and a three-line inscription.

Condition After the Earthquake

The earthquakes that struck on 6 February 2023, centered in Kahramanmaraş and causing widespread destruction across a vast region, inflicted serious damage on Battalgazi Ulu Camii. Initial post-earthquake assessments revealed:

• Crack formation and stone falls in certain sections of the main structure,
• Structural instability particularly around the eastern and western entrances,
• Partial damage to the ceramic tile decorations on the dome over the mihrap.

Significant structural damage was observed in the minaret, with reports of bending in the shaft and brick detachment. Following the earthquake, the structure was placed under protection through a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the General Directorate of Foundations. A comprehensive restoration project was launched, and the repair process is being carried out under scientific supervision to preserve the historical fabric and maintain the building’s original character.