See the Ottoman Empire through the Old City of Bursa
When the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman Bey’s son Orhan Bey, conquered Bursa in 1326, for a short time it became both a trading center and the capital of the Ottoman state. The “Ottoman spirit” of the city continued until Timuarmies invaded the city in 1402, but after a short period of decline the city then continued to develop successfully until the conquest of Istanbul in 1453.
Bursa had to overcome various threats to its existence throughout its history. The earthquake known as the “Little Doomsday” that had occurred in 1855 caused the city’s total destruction, causing Keçecizade Fuat Pasha to cry, “Alas! The beginning of Ottoman history has disappeared.” However, Bursa survived, and went on to house six Ottoman Sultans, who influenced the development of the empire, and many spiritual leaders, and contains various marvels of architecture. In this way Bursa carries the legacy of the culture of the empire, despite all the destructive events it has suffered, and it reflects the part of our soul for which we have been looking for so long.
Mustafa Armağan, who was born in Cizre to parents from Urfa, is a “Bursa lover,” because he spent 15 years of his life there., Talking about Bursa in his book, The City that Founded the Ottoman Empire, Armağan says that “the mystery of Ottoman glory that echoes across three continents patiently awaits us behind the centuries-old city walls of Bursa,” and he adds: “Watch the Ottomans through an Ottoman window.”