INTRODUCTION (15) (Mukaddime)

In Modern English

"The building of this blessed madrasa was ordered by the great emir who wages jihad, the champion of the state and the religion, Halife b. Tuli, in the year six hundred and thirty-two." The Arabic writing of this meaning is read with great difficulty; it is written in an ordinary and confused hand.

Yet, although it is understood from this carved date that this madrasa, which is recorded in its waqf deed as made in 622 [1225] while the said emir was governor of Amasya, was made in 632 [1234-35], according to the situation shown by the sharia documents found and the plainness of the record carved over the door of the "Dugrakiye Madrasa," the said emir "Halife Alp" in 632 was not governor of Amasya but commander-in-chief of Georgia. At this date the governor of Amasya was "Emir Nureddin Tugrak" and the judge "Bedreddin İbrahim bin Halil el-Kımârî"; in 622, however, the governor of Amasya was "Emir Mübârizeddin Halife" and its judge "Takiyyeddin Osman bin Ali." Since it is known from the signature that the waqf deed was drawn up by this judge "Takiyyeddin Osman," it is understood that the stone in question was placed there ten years after the madrasa was built. That this madrasa was once made of stone and masonry is shown by its facade and by the foundation on its north side. Later the multitude of earthquakes and tremors brought it down, and its trustees repaired it many times and kept it well. Since it was very badly damaged in the fire of 1011 [1602-03] and then in the earthquake of 1057 [1647], it was rebuilt in wood by the hand of the professor "Hasan Efendi," and, again needing repair many times, was repaired, and most recently the former mufti of Amasya "Gürcü Hacı Osman Hilmi Efendi" had it renewed in 1305 [1887-88].

The first professor of this madrasa was the martyred judge "Bedreddin İbrahim el-Kımârî." After him "Celâleddin Abdülvehhab bin Yusuf et-Tebrîzî," then in 647 [1249-50] "Sadreddin Mehmed bin Hızır et-Türkmânî," then "Necîbeddin Musa el-Halâtî," then in 698 [1298-99] "Hacı Mecdeddin İsa es-Sulgârî," then "Mecdeddin Ömer bin el-Hakkârî," then "Şemseddin Mahmud en-Nahcıvânî," then in 768 [1366-67] "Nizâmeddin Abdülmelik," with the title "müftü's-sekaleyn" (mufti of men and jinn), then "Fahreddin Osman et-Türkmânî," then "Şihâbeddin Ahmed er-Rûmî," then in 805 [1402-03] "Mecdeddin Müsafir bin Artuk" were seen as professors.

In 818 [1415-16] "İzzeddin Hasan bin Emir Ali," in 824 [1421] "Tâceddin Ebu'l-Mekârim et-Tokâdî," then "Bedreddin Mahmud el-Muslihî," then "Rükneddin Abdülkerim el-Amâsî" won fame as professors in this lofty madrasa. Then until 1098 [1686-87], in this manner, a great number of fazıl became professors; at this date "Şeyh Mahmud Efendi," one of the scholars, and in 1108 [1696-97] the former mufti of Behisni "Hasan Efendi" became professor and trustee.

In 1134 [1721-22], having the trusteeship taken from the hand of his son "Seyyid Mehmed Efendi," and at his death in Muharram 1150 [1737] "Hâfız Ahmed Efendi," one of the great scholars, became professor and in 1169 [1755-56] also trustee; in 1176 [1762-63], when half of the teaching duty was taken from the hand of the scholar "Seyyid Abdullah Efendi," and in 1185 [1771-72] from that of "Mahmud Efendi," at his death in 1210 [1795-96] the former mufti "Dizdarzade Seyyid Hacı Hüseyin Efendi," the same year at his death "Seyyid Şeyh Mustafa Efendi," and in 1220 [1805-06], when he withdrew, his son "Seyyid Lütfullah Efendi" held the teaching share; but at his death in 1266 [1849-50] "Malatyalı Sûfî Mehmed Ârif Efendi," one of the scholars, who had become professor to the other half, became professor.

"The said Hâfız Ahmed Efendi" had handed the other half of the teaching in 1189 [1775-76] to his elder son "Seyyid Abdullah Efendi" together with the trusteeship; in 1205 [1790-91], with the abolition of the trusteeship, it was given to "Hacı Mahmud Efendi," at his death in 1214 [1799-1800] to the most famous of the ders-i âms (teachers authorized to give general lessons) "Hacı İbrahim Efendi," and at his death in 1222 [1807] to "Taşköprülü Hâfız Hacı Abdullah Efendi," one of the scholars; in 1226 [1811] the teaching half went to his son "Mehmed Ârif Efendi," and, "Hacı İsmail bin Ahmed bin Seyyid Mehmed Efendi bin Hacı Mahmud Efendi" having withdrawn from the trusteeship in 1242 [1826-27], the said "Taşköprülüzade Mehmed Ârif Efendi" became professor and trustee.

Since the said person was a traveler on the path of the order, in 1246 [1830-31] he handed the teaching half to his brother-in-law "Malatyalı Sûfî Mehmed Ârif Efendi" and in 1248 [1832-33] the trusteeship to "Keklikzade Seyyid Hacı Ali Ağa bin Mustafa bin Hacı Ali Ağa" and left it; "Malatyalı Sûfî Mehmed Efendi" became sole professor of the madrasa, and on his death in 1277 [1860-61] his son "Mehmed Hulûsî Efendi," at his death "Gürcü Hacı Osman Hilmi Efendi," and at his death his son "Mehmed Efendi" became professors.

13. "Hayriye Madrasa": It is in the Gökmedrese Quarter, near the waqf han of Yörgüç Paşa, on the road. It was built in 1210 [1795-96] by the former mütesellim of Amasya, one of the palace chief gatekeepers (kapıcıbaşı), "Türedizade Hacı Ali Ağa," was called Hayriye and became famous as the "Yukarı Bakacak Madrasa." This madrasa is of wood and large, its middle a garden on two sides. The founder had endowed and set aside to this madrasa his three shops, two coffeehouses and a vineyard; today the madrasa stands, but its waqfs have been lost.

In this madrasa first "Hasan Efendi," at his death in 1232 [1816-17] the most famous of the ders-i âms "Süleyman Efendi," in 1237 [1821-22] "Taşköprülü Hâfız Hacı Abdullah Efendi," in 1238, when he withdrew, his son-in-law "Malatyalı Sûfî Mehmed Ârif Efendi," and in 1246, when he withdrew, his brother, the most famous of the ders-i âms, "Mahmud Efendi" became professor; at his death in 1273 [1856-57] his sons "Mustafa, İbrahim, Ahmed" held the teaching share jointly, and while their uncles carried out the deputation duty, with their uncles' deaths the waqfs were lost and the madrasa became unworkable. In 1296 [1878-79] "Acaralı Osman Efendi" had become an honorary professor.

14. "Dârülhadis Madrasa": It is in the Pirinççi Quarter, beside the stream, level with the mosque of "Hacı Hamza Efendi." It was built in 933 [1526-27] by "Seydî Alizade Hacı Osman Çelebi," one of the judges, to be a dârülhadis. When this madrasa was first built it was of wood; since it burned in the fire of 1011 [1602-03], the founder's granddaughter "Ayşe Hatun binti Ahmed Çelebi bin Hacı Osman Çelebi" rebuilt it in 1018 [1609-10], set aside the trusteeship for her son "Şaban Ağa" and his children, endowed her properties and also arranged the waqf deed broadly.

Although it burned many times in the fires of 1098 and then 1143 [1730-31] and was rebuilt many times in 1100 and 1151 [1738-39], the endowed revenues were lost and the waqf hamlet in the "Hakala" nahiye became the professors' source of livelihood. Today it stands in need of repair. At the death in 1163 [1750] of "Ahmed Efendi," who was first professor at its last construction in 1151, "Hâfız Hüseyin Efendi" became professor, but at his death in 1168 "Hüseyin Efendi," and at his dismissal in 1170 "Hâfız Hüseyin Efendizade Hâfız Ahmed Efendi," held the teaching; when he withdrew in 1178, the most famous of the ders-i âms "Fenarcızade Evliya Halil Efendi"; when he withdrew in 1201, "Soruklu Hâfız Ali Efendi" became professor; on his dismissal in 1204 "Şîrîn Ali Efendi" held the teaching, but in 1208 for the second time "Hâfız Ali Efendi," and at his death in 1221 his son "Hâfız Ahmed Efendi," on his dismissal in 1227 "Mehmed Râşid Efendi," at his death in 1231 "Hâfız Osman Fâzıl Efendi," and at his death in 1253 [1837-38] the most famous of the ders-i âms "İnepazarlı Seyyid Hacı İsmail Hakkı Efendi" became professor; at his death his sons the Efendis "Mustafa, Mehmed Nurî" held the teaching jointly.

15. "Dugrakiye Madrasa": It is northwest of the Mehmed Paşa Mosque, on the road, on the Yeşilırmak bank and adjoining the "İnekler Türbesi." That it was built as a mescit in 631 [1233-34] by the governor of Amasya "Emir Nureddin Tugrak" is understood from this Arabic writing carved over its door:

The building of this blessed mescit was ordered by the Hunt Emir Hacı Tuğrak, in the year six hundred and thirty-one, in the time of the great sultan, the shah of shahs, the possessor of the yoke of peoples, the Alâeddin of the world and the religion, Ebu'l-Feth Keykubad son of Keyhusrev, the proof of the commander of the faithful.
(Meaning of the Arabic inscription)

Then, when "Hızır Paşazade Mehmed Paşa" had his great mosque built near it, he converted this mescit, very close by, into a madrasa in 900 [1494-95] and gave it the name "Dugrakiye Madrasa." While until 1098 [1686-87] scholars of the forty degree were professors in this madrasa, since it burned in 1099 [1687-88] it remained for a time an empty plot; in 1111 [1699-1700] it was rebuilt by the trustee of "Mehmed Paşa," "Tâceddinzade Ali Bey," cash and land were endowed, and its professorship was given to "Ömer Efendi," one of the scholars; at his death in 1132 [1719-20] "Abdurrahman Efendi" became professor.

When "Abdurrahim Efendi," professor of this madrasa, which appears in the writing as "Dugrakiye" and in popular speech has been called "Durakiye" to this day, withdrew in 1136 [1723-24], "Ali Efendi," one of the scholars; at his death at the beginning of 1147 [1734] "İnallızade Seyyid İbrahim Efendi," one of the scholars; at his death in 1183 [1769-70] his son "Seyyid Mehmed Efendi"; and at his death in 1192 [1778] "Hâfız Mustafa Efendi," one of the scholars, became professor; at his death in 1206 [1791-92] his son "Hâfız Ömer Efendi," and at his death in 1212 [1797-98] "İbrahim Şâkir Efendi, son of Halil Efendi," held the teaching, but at his death in 1220 [1805-06] "Hacı Mahmud Efendi," one of the scholars, became professor.

In 1221, when he too withdrew, "Ali Efendi," one of the scholars; in 1247 [1831-32], when he withdrew, his son "Seyyid Mehmed Efendi" and in 1267 [1850-51] "Seyyid Hacı Hâfız Ahmed Efendi" became professor of the Durakiye; when he died in 1276 [1859-60], while his son "Hâfız Hasan Efendi" held the teaching duty, the madrasa fell toward ruin, in 1296 [1878-79] was wholly ruined by the river's overflow, and its waqfs were also lost. Then "Canikli Mehmed Efendi," one of the famous scholars, in 1308 [1890-91] strove for its rebuilding with the monetary aid he collected and, undertaking the professorship as an honorary post, showed an example of effort.

16. "Rahmaniye Madrasa": It is east of the Savakça Quarter, at the mountain's edge, in a high place; near the tomb of "Abdurrahman Erzincânî," it was built in 1206 [1791-92] by one of the palace chief gatekeepers, the former mütesellim of Amasya "Hacı Feyzullahzade Hacı Abdurrahman Ağa." According to the description of "Canikli Ali Efendi," who studied about fifteen years in Amasya, the said madrasa was on the qibla side of the place called "Ahır Önü," and since it was of wood it fell into ruin around 1275 [1858-59]; now even its site has been lost.

17. "Saraçhane Madrasa": It is on the west side of the Saraçhane Mosque, in a group of buildings of its own, on the highway, on the Yeşilırmak bank. It was built of wood in 1300 [1882-83] by "Kızıklızade Hacı Mahmud Efendi," one of the benefactors and of the eşraf of the "Hacıköy" kaza. "Gürcü Hacı Eyyub Efendi," one of the foremost scholars, became the first professor of this madrasa, and Amasya's virtuous deputy "Mehmed Ârif Efendi" took grace from this madrasa.

18. "Sultan Bayezid Madrasa": It is a group of buildings of its own on the west side of the Sultan Bayezid Mosque. Since it was built and completed in 891 [1486] by order of Sultan Bayezid Han II, it became famous as the "Sultaniye Madrasa." The north-facing door of this lofty madrasa and its four sides are stone; its rooms are broad and sound. On its south, level with the door, it has an excellent lecture hall, in its middle a şadırvan, on two sides its garden, on three sides fourteen rooms and on its north three mülâzım rooms.

The professorship of this lofty madrasa was stipulated for the muftis of Amasya. "Amasyalı Cemâlîzade Zenbilli Ali Efendi," the former şeyhülislam, who was appointed to the muftiship of Amasya in 891, became the first professor. This condition could be observed until 1084 [1673-74]; at the death of the mufti "Hacı Hızır Efendi," the fetva emini "Yahya Efendi" became mufti of Amasya and "Merzifonlu Mustafa Efendizade Iydî Bayram Efendi" professor of the Sultaniye, so that they were separated from each other. But after the dates of 1033 [1623-24] they had been separated several more times.

In the event of 1099, when "Iydî Efendi," professor of the Sultaniye, became judge of Tripoli (Trablusşam), "Şeyh Yakubzade Hacı Mustafa Efendi"; in 1107 [1695-96], on his resignation, "Damat Hacı Osman Efendi," one of the fazıl; in 1113 [1701-02] "Çorumlu Ahmed Efendi," one of the great scholars, then "Mütevellizade Ahmed Efendi," then "Iydî Efendizade Mustafa Âkif Efendi," one of the famous fazıl, became professor; at his death in 1173 [1759-60] his son "İsmail Efendi" held the teaching, but at his death in 1191 [1777-78] "Seyyid Osman Efendi," one of the fazıl, and in 1221 [1806-07] "Fazlîzade Seyyid Hâfız Ahmed Efendi," one of the fazıl, became professor, and at his death a year later "Âkifzade Molla Iydî" held the teaching.

In 1233 [1817-18], on the death of his father "Seyyid Abdurrahim Efendi," he was dismissed and the famous calligrapher among the scholars "Kâtibzade Seyyid Ahmed Kâmil Efendi," and at his death in 1244 [1828-29] his son, the scholar "Hacı Hâfız Mustafa Rıfat Efendi," became professor of the Sultaniye; in 1281 [1864-65] he went to Istanbul and settled there and died in 1305 [1887-88]. For this reason "Arapkirli Hacı Osman Efendi," one of the scholars who was in his deputation, became professor in accordance with procedure.

19. "Sungurlu Madrasa": It is west of the Burma Minare Mosque, within the street, in the Pervane Bey Quarter. In 1163 [1750] "Sungurzade Hacı Mehmed Ağa," of the eşraf of the Sungurlu kaza, had it built and gave its professorship to the scholar "Çorumlu Hacı Kara İsmail Hâtif Efendi." He had income-yielding buildings endowed in Amasya, in Tokat and in the Sungurlu kaza. It is also called the "Sunguriye Madrasa."

At the death in 1198 [1784] of the said first professor "Kara Müftü Hacı İsmail Efendi," his son "Hâfız Mehmed Efendi," and at his death in 1230 [1814-15] his other son, the former mufti of Amasya "Mustafa Vâzıh Efendi," became professor; while at his death in 1251 [1835-36] his son "Nimet Efendi" held the teaching, the madrasa fell into ruin and in the fire of 1304 [1886-87] had wholly vanished. "Yumuk Osmanzade Hacı Müsevvid Ahmed Şükrî Efendi," one of the scholars, had built only its north side and built for himself a lecture hall and a private room on its south; at his death in 1312 [1894-95] his son "Hacı Hâfız Mehmed Tevfik Efendi" took his father's place and is engaged in giving lessons.

20. "Sofular Madrasa": It is in the Sofular Quarter, adjoining the west of the "Abdullah Paşa Mosque"; it is behind the "Dârülhadis." In the lecture hall opposite on the north of this madrasa, as a place of study for the students of "Köprülü Hacı Hâfız Mustafa Tevfik Efendi," one of the famous fazıl of the age, it was built in 1310 [1892-93] by "Cünûnzade Hacı Mustafa Ağa," one of the eşraf of the country and a disciple of the said fazıl. This madrasa is of wood and is administered by the said ağa. That the front of the "Abdullah Paşa Mosque" is the "Dârülhadis," its right side a madrasa, its left side once a "Dârülkurrâ," and what faces it the fazıl's lecture hall proves that it is a place of great grace. The first professor of the said madrasa is again the said "Hacı Hâfız Efendi."

21. "Torumtay Madrasa": It is inside the mosque at the westernmost end of the Gök Medrese Quarter, on the qibla side of the Torumtay Tomb. It was built in 665 [1266-67] by the governor of Amasya, beylerbeyi "Seyfeddin Torumtay." This madrasa consists of very many small stone rooms seen on the north and west sides of the space inside the great door of the mosque. Its lecture hall is on the east side, hexagonal, broad and open on top; since its outside appearance is enchanting, adorned with green stones like bright ruby, it became famous as the "Gök Medrese"; this name appears in its waqf deed and became the special name of the quarter. This lecture hall later stands as a private tomb for the founder's children.

In this lofty madrasa the physician of the age "Gıyâseddin Mahmud Garmînî" as first professor, then such fazıl as "Ziyâeddin İsa el-Hakkârî," "Şemseddin Ahmed-i Verdî," "Nasreddin Mehmed bin Gıyâs-ı Garmînî," "Şemseddin Mehmed bin el-Hallâtî," "Zeyneddin Yakub ez-Ziyârî," "Şerefeddin Mehmed-i Erzincânî," "Bedreddin Doğan-ı Türkmânî" and "Muhyiddin Yahya" were professors until 800 [1397-98].

Among the scholars it is also called the "Seyfiye Madrasa." In 817 [1414-15] "Bedreddin İsrail-i Rûmî" was seen as professor of this Seyfiye; then foremost scholars such as "Cemâleddin İshak" and "Şeyh Muhyiddin Mehmed-i Çorûmî" were counted as professors in the ranking of madrasas at fifty, and in 1027 [1618], in view of the building's location, "Şeyh Alâeddin Efendi" became sheikh, and when he died in 1031 [1621-22] his son "Şeyh Ahmed Şemseddin Efendi" became sheikh, but in 1032 [1622-23], in accordance with the waqf condition, being counted a madrasa, "Ahmed Efendi," one of the scholars, became professor; then appointments were made bound to the chain of the ulema, and in 1098 "Hacı Efendizade Hacı Ömer Efendi" became professor and was repeatedly dismissed and appointed along with "Hasan Efendi."

In 1115 [1703-04], in the place vacated by "Ömer Efendi," "Halil Efendi"; at his death in 1137 [1724-25] "Hıfzîzade Hacı Hâfız Osman Fâik Efendi," one of the famous hadith scholars; at his death in 1151 [1738-39] the famous ascetic "Akdağlı Şeyh Mustafa Efendi," one of the famous scholars; in 1158 [1745], leaving the teaching, "Abdullah Efendi," one of the scholars; and at his death in 1164 [1750-51], to one half "Mustafa Efendi," to the other half "Kara İbrahim Efendi" became professors.

In 1174 [1760-61], at the death of "Mustafa Efendi," "Karamanlı Ahmed Efendi"; in 1176, when he withdrew, "Hacı Osman Fâik Efendizade Seyyid Hacı Abdülganî Efendi," then his son "Molla Osman" and then his son "Molla Ali" held half the teaching, but in 1237 [1821-22], when he withdrew, "İnepazarlı Hâfız Seyyid Abdullah Şâkir Efendi," one of the scholars, and at his death in 1248 his son "Abdullah Efendi," in 1266, at his death, his uncle "İnepazarlı Seyyid Hacı İsmail Hakkı Efendi" became professor, and at his death in 1273 [1856-57] his sons the Efendis "Mustafa, Mehmed Nurî" held half the teaching.

In 1173, at the death of "Kara İbrahim Efendi," "Seyyid İbrahim Efendi," one of the scholars; at his death in 1178 "Hacı Hüseyin Efendi," one of the fazıl; at his death in 1192 "Hacı Osman Efendi," one of the scholars, and in 1218 [1803-04] "Taşköprülü Hâfız Hacı Abdullah Efendi," then his son "Şeyh Mehmed Ârif Efendi," and at his death in 1281 "Hasan Efendi," one of the scholars, then "Ali Kayazade Mustafa Efendi" became professors; at his death his sons the Efendis "Mehmed Sa'îd, Hüseyin Kemâlî, Ahmed Niyâzî" held the other half of the teaching share.

22. "Tayyar Paşa Madrasa": It is northwest of the Meydan Köprüsü, on the site of the Ehlî Hatun Lodge and adjoining its tomb. It was built in 1218 [1803-04] by "Canikli Hacı Ali Paşazade Tayyar Mahmud Paşa" and its waqfs were arranged. This madrasa is of wood; it has an excellent garden on the Yeşilırmak bank. It is also called the "Meydan Köprü Madrasa." When "Şirvanizade Mehmed Rüşdî Paşa" saw in 1288 [1871-72] that it had fallen into ruin, he had it repaired again. In this madrasa first "Payaslı Hacı Mehmed Efendi," one of the foremost scholars, became professor; at his death in 1225 [1810] "Seyyid Mehmed Tâhir Efendi," one of the great scholars, and in 1233 "Seyyid Hacı Abdullah Efendi" became professor; at his death in 1242 [1826-27] his sons the Efendis "Mehmed Ârif, Mustafa" together with "Fazlîzade Seyyid Abdüsselâm Efendi" held the teaching duty jointly, but on their dismissal in 1246 "Yenicelizade Seyyid Mehmed Efendi," one of the scholars, and at his death in 1248 "Seyyid Mustafa Efendi," and at his death in 1257 [1841] "Hoca Hâfız Mehmed Efendi," one of the great scholars, became professor; at his death in 1275 [1858-59] his sons the Efendis "Ömer Vehbî, Hasan Sıdkî" held the teaching duty jointly, while the waqfs were lost and the madrasa also fell into ruin. In 1313 [1895-96] the ders-i âm "Gürcî Mehmed Efendi" rose up for its rebuilding, showed great effort, completed it with help, and became honorary professor.

23. "Abdullah Paşa Madrasa": It is in the Sofular Quarter, in the courtyard of the said pasha's mosque. It was built in 890 [1485] by "Abdullah Paşa" to be a "Dârülhadis," and its waqf deed was arranged in 907 [1501-02] by his son "Abdî Bey." This Dârülhadis consists of two rooms on each side of the space before the inner door of the mosque; the top of the space is also covered with a great dome. The rooms of this Dârülhadis are small, and its lecture hall is the mosque itself.

Fazıl such as "Şermîzade Takıyyeddin Osman Efendi" and the famous professor "Abdî Efendi" were hadith teachers in this Dârülhadis, and it was counted in the ranking of madrasas at the fifty degree. In 1098 "Mahmud Efendi," in 1101 [1689-90] "Hâfız Ömer Efendi," at his death in 1124 [1712] his son "Hâfız Abdullah Efendi," on his dismissal in 1136 the most famous of the ders-i âms "Diyarbekirli İsmail Efendi," in 1142 the ders-i âm "Ortaköylü Seyyid Abdülvehhab Efendi," at his death in 1145 "Osman Efendi," in 1147 "Ahmed Efendi," at his death in 1169 "Şeyh Mustafa Efendi," in 1177 the sheikh of reciters "Hâfız Osman Efendi" and at his death in 1179 "Osman Efendi" and in 1204 "Seyyid Hâfız Osman Efendi" and in 1228 [1813] "Seyyid Mehmed Efendi" became professor; at his death in 1246 [1830-31] his son "Seyyid Ebûbekir Efendi" held the teaching and at his death in 1290 [1873] "Maraşlı İbrahim Efendi" became professor.

24. "Osmaniye Madrasa": It is in the İçeri Şehir, in the "Karatay Quarter," adjoining the "Hacı Mahmud Çelebi Lodge." It was built in 1149 [1736-37] by the Büyük Ağa professor "Ayıntaplı Hacı Kara Osman Efendi," one of the great scholars, and its waqfs were arranged. What this person built is only the large lecture hall; he added several rooms to the adjoining "Hacı Mahmud Çelebi Lodge," then the lodge was counted wholly a madrasa and became famous among the scholars as the "Osman Efendi Madrasa" and the "Osmaniye Madrasa," and in popular speech later as the "Tekke Madrasa." Its waqfs consisted of a few shops, houses and a vineyard; now all have been lost.

First "Ömer Efendi," student of the said "Osman Efendi"; at his death in 1183 [1769-70] his son "Hâfız Mustafa Efendi"; at his death in 1206 [1791-92] his son "Seyyid Hâfız Ömer Efendi"; at his death in 1218 [1803-04] "Seyyid Mustafa Efendi"; and at his death in 1247 [1831-32] his son "Seyyid Ahmed Rıfat Efendi" held the teaching; it remained unworkable for a time, and then the mufti "Caniklizade Hacı Mehmed Hilmi Efendi," who was in the lodge sheikhship, revived the madrasa.

25. "Fatımiye Madrasa": It is southeast of the Gümüşlüzade Mosque, on the site of the Gümüşlüoğlu Lodge. It was built in 1153 [1740-41] by "Amasyalı Fatma Hatun," one of the palace women of Sultan Mahmud Han I, and its waqfs were arranged in 1158 [1745]. Since Fatma Hatun was the wife of "Amasyalı Hindîzade Hacı Ahmed Ağa," one of the notable beys, she set aside the trusteeship for his male children. This lofty madrasa was built of wood; at the sultan's granting it to her as property she endowed the "Sarı Alan" and "Ortaköy" estates (malikâne), setting aside twelve thousand kuruş from the first and eight thousand from the second; of this she set aside four thousand kuruş a year for the trustee, five thousand for the professor, two thousand for the collector, four thousand for the madrasa's fuel, lighting and repair, and gave the rest to the imams and muezzins of the "Atik Ali Paşa Mosque" in Istanbul.

To the professorship of this madrasa, famous by the names "Hatuniye Madrasa," "Fatımiye Madrasa" and "Gümüşlü Madrasa," first "Şeyh İsmail Efendi," the last sheikh of this lodge and tomb keeper of the pîr, one of the scholars; in 1179 [1765-66] "Ömer Efendi," one of the scholars; in 1192 "Seyyid Ali Efendi"; in 1195 [1781] "Seyyid Zeynelâbidin Efendi"; in 1212 [1797-98] "Tavillili Hacı Hasan Efendi"; in 1214 "Niksarlı İsmail Efendi"; and in 1228 [1813] his son the ders-i âm "Ali Efendi" became professor, but, since it was not looked after, the madrasa fell into ruin toward 1280 [1863-64].

26. "Feyziye Madrasa": It is in the Gök Medrese Quarter, in the row of Yörgüç Paşa's waqf han, on the highway and opposite the Hayriye Madrasa. It was built by the former kazasker of Anatolia "Amasyalı İbrahim Efendi" in the name of his son "Seyyid Feyzullah Efendi," completed in 1151 [1738-39], and its waqfs were arranged. This madrasa is of wood; it had rooms on its north and south sides and a lecture hall on its west. While at its first construction it was exceedingly fine, since it burned in the fire of 1207 [1792-93], it was rebuilt in 1208 [1793-94] by "Amasyalı Şerif Ahmed Efendi," its second waqf deed was arranged in 1209, and when "Şirvanizade Mehmed Rüşdî Paşa" saw that in time it was again on the verge of collapse, he had it rebuilt a third time in 1288 [1871-72].

The waqfs of this madrasa are eight shops and two houses in Amasya; six had been endowed by "İbrahim Efendi" and two, together with a house, by "Şerif Ahmed Efendi." Since all of these were lost, the madrasa fell into ruin. In this madrasa first "Hacı Mahmud Efendi," of the kin of the said grand vizier, then his son "Şerif Ahmed Efendi," at his death in 1210 [1795-96] "Hüseyin Efendi," one of the scholars, at his death in 1223 [1808] "Canikli Hacı Mehmed Efendi," in 1249 [1833-34] "Mengülcüzade Seyyid Yahya Efendi," one of the scholars, and at his death in 1265 [1848-49] his son "Seyyid İbrahim Efendi" became professors.

Notes and Research

Old Words in the Text

• vakfiye: the document that writes the founding conditions and revenues of a waqf
• vâlî: governor, administrator of a region; beylerbeyi: head of a great province
• ser'asker: commander-in-chief
• kitâbe, mahkûk ibare: writing carved on stone
• zelâzil, recefât: earthquakes and tremors
• müfti's-sekaleyn: "mufti of men and jinn"; a great title given to scholars
• mütevellî: the person who administers a waqf; tevliyet: this duty
• ders-i âm: a teacher who has received authority to give general lessons
• kasr-ı yed, ref': withdrawing, or being made to withdraw, from a post; dismissal
• mütesellim: the official who carried out the administration of a place by deputation
• kapıcıbaşı: the head of the palace gatekeepers; a high-ranking palace official serving on behalf of the state
• fetvâ emîni: the official who carried out fatwa business in writing
• kürsî şeyhi: a higher-grade preacher who preaches in mosques
• şadırvan: a water place with fountain in a courtyard, domed or roofed
• müseddes: hexagonal; müzeyyen: adorned; dil-firîb: enchanting
• akârât-ı mevkûfe: endowed real estate and its income
• harîk: fire; müşrif-i harâb: on the verge of ruin

The Halifet Madrasa and Tomb

On the inscription, date of founding and founder of the madrasa, the information Hüsameddin gives partly agrees and partly differs from present research. The author says that the madrasa, written in the waqf deed as made in 622, is read as 632 in the inscription at its door, and, to reconcile the two, puts forward that the inscription was placed ten years after the madrasa, because in 632 Halife Alp was not governor of Amasya but commander-in-chief of Georgia. The entry in the İslâm Ansiklopedisi, on the other hand, records that it is understood from the inscription that the madrasa was built in 606 [1209-10] and that the waqf deed is dated 622 [1225]. That is, the reading of the inscription is different; the inscription Hüsameddin reads as 632 is seen to be mentioned in present research with another date. This difference has not been resolved; the reading of the inscription could not be confirmed.

According to the encyclopedia, Halifet Gazi was a Danishmendid emir. When the principality ended he entered Seljuk service; İzzeddin Keykâvus I, after conquering Sinop in 1215, appointed him to the command of the Black Sea coast guard, and in the time of Alâeddin Keykubad I to the governorship of Amasya in 1222. After the campaign against the Mengujekids he was made governor of Erzurum, and in 1232 he fell a martyr in the campaign against the Georgians and was buried in his tomb in Amasya. Hüsameddin's expression "commander-in-chief of Georgia" is consistent with this information. Since the hijri year 632 the author gives corresponds to 1234-35, it does not fully coincide with 1232 in the encyclopedia; this small difference is worth noting separately.

The earthquake and repair records are consistent in the two sources. Hüsameddin relays that after the earthquake of 1057 [1647] the professor Hasan Efendi had the building rebuilt in wood and that the former mufti Gürcü Hacı Osman Hilmi Efendi had it renewed in 1305; the encyclopedia reports that after the earthquake of 1647 the professor Hasan Efendi had the collapsed parts made of wood and that in 1888 the mufti of Amasya Hacı Osman Hilmi Efendi had the whole building thoroughly repaired. On the present state of the madrasa the encyclopedia writes that the south wall and east section partly stand; the building has not survived whole to our day.

The tomb adjoining the east of the madrasa, on the other hand, stands: it has a square base, an octagonal body and a pyramidal cone, and is two-storied. The marble sarcophagus inside is described as a Roman-period woman's sarcophagus. On the founding of the madrasa and tomb there is a difference of opinion among researchers: some regard the building as converted from a church to a madrasa; there are those who think the tomb may have been built in the middle of the twelfth century or in 1145-46. This debate does not appear in Hüsameddin's narrative.

Gök Medrese and Seyfeddin Torumtay

Hüsameddin says the madrasa was built in 665 [1266-67] by the governor of Amasya Seyfeddin Torumtay. According to the İslâm Ansiklopedisi, Torumtay was appointed governor of Amasya in the time of Gıyâseddin Keyhusrev II and lies in the tomb dated 1278-79 that he had built. The inscription giving the mosque's construction date was removed from its place and has not been found; but the waqf deed Torumtay drew up is dated 665 [1266-67], and the building is accepted to have been completed by that year at the latest. Hüsameddin's date agrees with this. In the waqf deed the building appears under the name "Gökmedrese," and that this name passed from the building to the quarter is also consistent with Hüsameddin's account.

Two separate explanations of the source of the name stand out. Hüsameddin notes that the outside of the lecture hall is adorned with green stones. In the encyclopedia the name is derived from the use of the entrance section as a madrasa and from the adjoining tomb's being adorned with purple and turquoise tiles and glazed bricks. This building stands today as a mosque; its door leaves are in the Amasya Museum. There is a difference between Hüsameddin's record "the lecture hall set aside as a tomb for the founder's children" and the encyclopedia's expression "a tomb in which it is not known who lies": the encyclopedia writes that there are seven sarcophagi in the tomb, but gives who lies in it as unknown.

The Sultan Bayezid Madrasa and Zenbilli Ali Efendi

According to its inscription the mosque of the Sultan Bayezid II Complex was completed in Receb 891 [July 1486]; the date 891 Hüsameddin gives agrees with this. The entry on the complex in the İslâm Ansiklopedisi relays that Hüsameddin writes that construction began in 886 [1481] and that Bayezid entrusted the building to Prince Ahmed. The madrasa is a part of the complex and is also known as the Sultaniye. Opposite the entrance are lined a domed lecture hall-mescit, arcades enclosing the courtyard with şadırvan on three sides, and behind them eighteen cells; Hüsameddin, however, counts fourteen cells and three mülâzım rooms. The madrasa is in repaired condition today and was used for many years as the provincial public library. The information that the professorship was tied to the muftis of Amasya and that the first professor was Zenbilli Ali Efendi is repeated in the encyclopedia relying on Hüsameddin; it is also recorded that the madrasa was of the sixty degree.

On Zenbilli Ali Efendi (d. 1526) the encyclopedia says the following: he was first sent to the muftiship of Amasya, then served as professor in Bursa, and when in 1486 the construction of the Bayezid Madrasa in Amasya was completed he returned there with the professorship and also took on the muftiship of Amasya. When in 1491 Prince Ahmed, at the circumcision feast of his sons, put his own teacher ahead of the ulema of Amasya, he left his post and returned to Istanbul. Later he became mufti of Istanbul, that is, şeyhülislam, and stayed in this post about twenty-four years. According to Hüsameddin, Zenbilli Ali Efendi was born in Amasya; the encyclopedia entry says that, because of his tendency to present many people as Amasyans, this information must be regarded with suspicion. In some sources he is written to be a Karamanid, in others from Aksaray; his birthplace is not known with certainty. Hüsameddin's record that he was appointed to the muftiship of Amasya in 891 and the encyclopedia's information on the return in 1486 point to the same period.

The Abdullah Paşa Dârülhadis

The Abdullah Paşa Mosque, also known as the Sofular Mosque, stands today; it is single-domed and single-minareted. The two vaulted rooms on the right and left of the entrance are the places where the science of hadith was taught. The record in the Cultural Portal gives the building as built by Beylerbeyi Abdullah Paşa in 1502. Hüsameddin, however, describes the building as dated 890 [1485] and its waqf deed as arranged in 907 [1501-02]. The difference between these two dates is open to documentary debate and could not be confirmed; the date 1502 is close to the waqf-deed date Hüsameddin gives.

Other Madrasas

On the present condition and founding of the other madrasas Hüsameddin lists (Hayriye, Dârülhadis, Dugrakiye, Rahmaniye, Saraçhane, Sungurlu, Sofular, Tayyar Paşa, Osmaniye, Fatımiye and Feyziye), no information was found in other sources. The name of the Dugrakiye Madrasa has remained "Durakiye" among the people; the author himself gives this detail.

Bibliography

Primary sources

• Abdîzâde Hüseyin Hüsâmeddîn Yasar, Amasya Tarihi, Amasya Belediyesi Kültür Yayınları, 2022, vol. 1, p. 284–303. amasya.bel.tr

Academic studies

• Aynur Durukan, "Hilfet Gazi Medresesi ve Türbesi", TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, vol. 18, İstanbul 1998, p. 30-31 (https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hilfet-gazi-medresesi-ve-turbesi).
• Selda Kalfazade, "Gökmedrese Camii", TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, vol. 14, İstanbul 1996, p. 140-142 (https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/gokmedrese-camii).
• "Beyazıt II Camii ve Külliyesi (Amasya)", TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/beyazit-ii-camii-ve-kulliyesi--amasya).
• "Zenbilli Ali Efendi", TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/zenbilli-ali-efendi).

Official sources

• "Sofular Camii", T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Kültür Portalı, text sourced from the Amasya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü (https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/amasya/gezilecekyer/sofular-cam-ve-dar-ul-hads--abdullh-pasa-cam).