Architectural patronage of women in the early Ottoman era

Abstract

This study investigates archtectural patronage of women through internal dynamics of the dynastic Ottoman household and sultans' political agendas throughout different phases of the empire-principality, transition period, centralized and consolidated state-between the years of 1299-1512. It focuses on how these changes influenced almost every aspect of royal women as well as non-royal women's architectural patronage. It covers patronage practices of women not only through the construction of the buildings but also by maintaining these institutions. Particularly it puts emphasis on how geographical location of their architectural attempts overall the Ottoman lands as well as within the towns highlighted their prominence.