Melike Mama Hatun, or simply Mama Hatun, was a female ruler of the Saltukids, with its capital in Erzurum, for an estimated nine years between 1191 and 1200.
During her reign she had a caravanserai, a mosque, a bridge, and a hammam built in the town of Tercan, located midway between Erzincan and Erzurum, which are still standing and are named after her.[1]
Her tomb, built by masters from Ahlat, is also in Tercan.[2] The town itself was called Mamahatun until recently, and is still referred to as such locally. During her reign she built mosques, a medrese, several mekteps, shadirvans, caravanserais, and other types of Islamic architecture. She also built many hammams throughout her rule.
Mama Hatun also remains a vivacious figure in Turkish folk literature to this day.
See also
References
- ↑ T.A. Sinclair, Eastern Turkey: An Architectural & Archaeological Survey, II, London, 1989, p. 282.
- ↑ O. Pancaroğlu, The House of Mengüjek in Divriği: Constructions of Dynastic Identity in the Late Twelfth Century, in A. Peacock - S. Nur Yildiz (edd.), The Seljuks of Anatolia: Court and Society in the Medieval Middle East, London - New York, 2013, p. 57, D. Darke, Eastern Turkey, Chalfont St. Peter - Guilford, 2014², p. 137.
Sources
- Sevim, Ali: Türk Tarihi – Fetih, Selçuklu ve Beylikler Dönemi, Türk Tarih Kurumu 1989; p207/208
- Dursun Ali Şeker, art. MAMA HATUN (ö. 597/1201'den sonra) Saltuklu melikesi (1191 - 1200), in İslâm Ansiklopedisine 27 (2003), p. 548.