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Mimar Sinan was born in Agirnas village of Kayseri
city, in 1490. The recruitment of the children were done only in the Rumelia until the
sultanate of Selim I, but Yavuz Sultan Selim ordered to recruit children from Anatolia, as
well. Mimar Sinan was in the first convoy of came from Anatolia. After he came to
Istanbul, he was given to the School of Novice. There he learned carpentry and masonry.
During Selim I’s Caldiran Campaign he found the chance see the architectural works in
Sivas, Erzurum, Amasya, and Tabriz After the Caldiran Victory, he raised to be a yeniceri.
At first, he was in infantry but with the successes he gained he joined to the cavalry
troop. He won his reputation in the army with his talent in masonry. While grand vizier
Lutfi Pasha was marching through Van following the Mohac Campaign, he needed, ships to
pass the soldiers over Van Lake. Mimar Sinan had build these ships. In a short time Sultan
Suleyman the Lawgiver heard his reputation, and he managed to build a wonderful bridge on
the Prut River in 13 days for the Bogdan Campaign. When Master Architecture Acem Isa died
in 1529, Mimar Sinan replaced him. He worked until he died. He worked under the sultanate
of Selim I, Suleyman I, Selim II and Murad III. Mimar Sinan built many masterpieces.
Selimiye and Suleymaniye Mosques are two examples of his brilliant career. He had built
more than 600 architectural works in different Ottoman regions. Mimar Sinan died, in 1588.
He married twice, but he never had a child. He was also very fond of literature, he wrote
many beautiful poems. He died without money, in spite of his reputation and wealth he
gained in his life. |
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