Fatih Mosque, Istanbul

The Fatih Mosque was the first great sultanic complex of Ottoman Istanbul; Mehmet the Conqueror chose its site on the Fourth Hill and began it about a decade after the conquest, built by the architect Atik Sinan; the original was destroyed in the earthquake of 22 May 1766 and rebuilt ¹.

Freely notes the Conqueror led the way himself with an enormous complex known as Fatih Camii, and his vezirs followed, erecting mosque complexes across the city ¹.

Al-Salabi records that the Conqueror built beside his mosque eight madrasas on every side, where the student completed his final stage, with lodgings and a monthly stipend attached and the school year running all year round; beside them a library whose keeper had to be versed in titles and authors, lending to students and teachers whatever they sought, audited every three months ².