Hunat Hatun Külliyesi

Hunat Hatun Külliyesi is a complex of buildings located east of İç Kale, outside the city walls of Kayseri, Türkiye, and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Anatolian Seljuk architecture. The külliye consists of a mosque, a medrese, a tomb, and a bathhouse. Its founder is Mahperi Hatun, wife of Alaeddin Keykubad I and mother of Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II. The title “Huand,” by which this Hatun was known, gradually became Turkicized in the name of the complex as “Hunat.”

History

The külliye was constructed between 1237 and 1238 (H. 635). Precise construction dates are recorded in Arabic inscriptions above the western and eastern portal doors of the mosque. These inscriptions state that Mahperi Hatun commissioned the mosque’s construction during the sultanate of her son, Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II.

Evliya Çelebi mentions an imaret associated with the külliye, but no such structure has been identified to date. There are differing opinions regarding the sequence of construction. Gabriel and Kuban argue that the mosque was built first, followed by the medrese and tomb, while Karamağaralı asserts that the medrese was the original structure. Mahmut Akok, however, contends that the mosque and medrese were designed simultaneously, with the tomb added in a second phase.

Architectural Features

Mosque

The main structure of the külliye, the Hunat Hatun Mosque, is a rectangular building measuring 56 by 46.5 meters and supported by numerous columns. The mosque has three entrances: to the north, east, and west. The portal doors are classic examples of Seljuk architecture, adorned with geometric and vegetal ornamentation. A prominent feature is the band of Arabic calligraphy in celî sülüs script above the western portal. The mihrab on the qibla wall is decorated with shell-shaped niches, muqarnas vaulting, and marble columns. The minbar is constructed using the kündekârî technique and has survived to the present day with some damage.

The central open space of the mosque was covered by a dome in the 18th century; this dome was later rebuilt during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II in the 19th century. The mosque was originally without a minaret; the current minaret was added later in Ottoman style.

Hunat Hatun Mosque (Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality)

Medrese

The Huand Hatun Medrese has a rectangular plan with an open courtyard and two iwan layouts. The southern, western, and northern sides of the courtyard are surrounded by arcades with pointed arches. On the eastern side, a summer iwan is flanked by winter classrooms. The library, founded in 1751 by Hacı Halil Efendi, was transferred to the Raşid Efendi Library in 1917 after the cessation of medrese education.

Prismatic and cylindrical towers at the corners of the medrese provide structural support and enhance its monumental appearance. Decoration is characterized by simplicity, with careful stonework being the primary ornamental feature.

Tomb

The Hunat Hatun Tomb is an octagonal, two-story structure with a dome, located southeast of the medrese. The lower level contains sarcophagi, while the upper level features a mihrab-equipped space and three chests. One of the chests belongs to Mahperi Hatun; the other two are likely for her daughter Selçuki Hatun and another female member of the dynasty. The exterior façade is decorated with muqarnas cornices, ornamental columns, and a band of Ayet’el-Kürsi.

Hunat Hatun Tomb (Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality)

Bathhouse

The Hunat Hamamı is a dual-section bathhouse, divided into male and female areas. It is positioned diagonally relative to the main külliye plan. The male section was later lowered in height. During recent restoration works, figurative tiles similar to those from Kubadabad were uncovered. The bathhouse has been under private ownership since 1929.

Restorations and Conservation

The Hunat Hatun Mosque was managed under the waqf system during the Seljuk period, but no restoration records from that era have survived. The first major restorations during the Ottoman period date to 1726–1727 (H. 1140), as documented by records indicating the dome was added over the central opening and the minaret and gallery were installed.

Drawings made by Texier in 1834 show the courtyard still open, suggesting that the earlier dome was later demolished and rebuilt in 1899 under Sultan Abdülhamid II. In the 20th century, researchers including Albert Gabriel, Mahmut Akok, and Ali Saim Ülgen prepared detailed surveys and restoration reports for the complex.

The most comprehensive restoration efforts during the Republican period were carried out by the General Directorate of Foundations. The restoration process was completed in the 2000s, after which the complex was reopened for worship and public visitation.