Bursa history

Origins and Foundation: The Birth of Prusa

The history of the city known today as Bursa is rooted in the Hellenistic period. The city was founded tentatively between 202–185 BC by King Prusias I of Bithynia, in whose honour it received its initial name — Prusa (Prusa ad Olympum). According to historical legends, the famous Carthaginian commander Hannibal, who was at the court of the Bithynian king at that time, helped choose the location for the city's foundation. He noted the strategic importance of the fortified plateau at the foot of the mountains.

Key Factors of Formation

The development of the city from an ancient polis to a major centre was determined by a unique combination of natural and geopolitical advantages:

• Geography and Defence: The city is situated on the natural terraces of the north-western slopes of Mount Uludağ (in ancient times — the Mysian or Lesser Olympus). The rocky terrain provided reliable defence from the south, while the fertile plain at the foothills guaranteed food security.
• Healing Springs: The rich thermal waters became a crucial factor of attraction. As early as the Roman period, the first baths were built here, turning the city into an elite resort for nobility and rulers.
• Trade Hub: Proximity to the Sea of Marmara and its location on routes leading deep into Anatolia made Prusa an important transit point for goods coming from the East.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Long before the arrival of the Ottomans, the territory of modern Turkey in this region was famous for its high culture of production. In the Byzantine era, the city became a significant centre of silk weaving, adopting silk production secrets brought by monks from China. This laid the economic foundation thanks to which Bursa subsequently became a world centre of the silk trade. The cultural landscape of the early city was formed as a synthesis of Greek traditions, Roman engineering art (aqueducts and thermal baths), and local trade.

Key Dates in the History of Bursa

Bursa, the first capital of the great Ottoman Empire, has a rich and multi-layered history reflected in its architecture and cultural heritage. From ancient times to becoming a modern industrial centre — here are the main milestones of its development.

• Circa 202 BC: The city is founded by the Bithynian King Prusias I and receives the name Prusa.
• 74 BC: Prusa, along with the entire Kingdom of Bithynia, becomes part of the Roman Republic.
• 395 AD: After the division of the Roman Empire, the city becomes part of Byzantium and an important centre for silk production.
• 1326: After a long siege, the city is conquered by Osman Ghazi and his son Orhan, becoming the first capital of the Ottoman Empire.
• 1327: The minting of the first Ottoman silver coin — the akçe — begins in Bursa.
• 1365: The capital is moved to Edirne, but Bursa retains its status as an important spiritual and commercial centre.
• 1396–1400: By order of Sultan Bayezid I, the construction of the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), an outstanding monument of early Ottoman architecture, is completed.
• 1402: The city is plundered and burned by Tamerlane's troops after the Battle of Ankara.
• 1421: Construction of the Green Mosque and tomb (Green Mausoleum), symbolising the city's revival, is completed.
• 1491: The Koza Han silk market is built, cementing Bursa's status as a centre of international silk trade.
• 1855: A severe earthquake causes significant damage to many historical buildings in the city.
• 1923: The city officially becomes part of the proclaimed Republic of Turkey and gradually becomes one of its largest industrial centres.
• 2014: Historical areas of Bursa, including the village of Cumalıkızık, are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the collective title "Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire".

Stages of Development and Transformation

The evolution of Bursa is a journey from a strategic outpost to the industrial heart of the country. Each historical period introduced changes that radically altered the economy, architectural appearance, and status of the city.

• Foundation at a Trade Crossroads (2nd Century BC): King Prusias I's choice of location at the foot of Mount Uludağ determined the city's fate. Its fortunate location at the intersection of trade routes laid the foundation for its future prosperity as a commercial hub.
• Capital Status (1326): Becoming the first Ottoman capital, the city underwent massive urbanisation. A unique urban planning model was created here, where life formed around "külliye" (social-religious complexes), which became the standard for the entire empire.
• Silk Hegemony (15th Century): The construction of the Koza Han market and the development of sericulture turned the city into a global centre for the silk trade. This ensured a powerful influx of capital and cultural exchange with merchants from Europe and Asia.
• Textile Industrialisation (19th Century): In the era of Tanzimat reforms, the city was one of the first in the region to transition to factory production. The appearance of steam silk-spinning factories marked the transition from a craft-based system to modern industry.
• Urban Modernisation (Post-1855): A devastating earthquake triggered a complete replanning of the city. Under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Vefik Pasha, wide straight streets were laid connecting historical districts, giving the city a more European appearance.
• Automotive Boom (1960s): The opening of Tofaş and Renault factories made the city the "Detroit of Turkey". This event transformed the economy, turning the region into the country's main centre for automotive engineering and heavy industry.
• UNESCO Recognition (2014): The inclusion of historical zones in the World Heritage List cemented the city's cultural significance. This stimulated the development of tourism and helped balance industrial growth with the preservation of unique Ottoman heritage.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Bursa is unique in that the genetic code of Ottoman architecture was formed precisely here. The city serves as a living encyclopaedia of the transition from Seljuk traditions to the classical imperial style. The urban fabric developed not through a single master plan, but organically — around religious-social complexes (külliye), which became centres of attraction for residential quarters.

Eras and Architectural Styles

In the city's appearance, several key historical layers can be clearly traced, each leaving its mark in stone and wood:

• Early Ottoman Period (14th–15th Centuries) — "Bursa Style"
  This is the golden age of urban architecture. The style is characterised by the use of alternating stone and brick masonry, as well as the appearance of mosques with an inverted T-plan (zaviye). Buildings of this period are distinguished by monumentality, yet are proportionate to the human scale.
  Iconic Sites: Ulu Cami (multi-domed basilica), Green Mosque (the pinnacle of decorative style with tiles), Muradiye Complex.
• Classical Period (16th–17th Centuries)
  Although the capital moved to Istanbul, Turkey continued to adorn Bursa with buildings in the style of the classical Ottoman renaissance, characterised by ideal proportions and huge central domes. However, this style is less represented in Bursa, giving way to early forms.
  Features: Active construction of hammams and covered markets (bedestens) serving the Great Silk Road. An example is the Koza Han market.
• Period of Modernisation and Eclecticism (19th Century)
  After the devastating earthquake of 1855, the city was rebuilt. Elements of European Baroque, Empire, and Neoclassicism penetrated the architecture, mixed with traditional Ottoman motifs.
  Urban Planning: Governor Ahmed Vefik Pasha invited European architects to lay out wide boulevards connecting scattered historical districts. Administrative buildings and clock towers (for example, Nusretiye) appeared.
• Civil Architecture (Ottoman Residential House)
  Besides monumental buildings, Bursa is famous for its residential quarters. Traditional houses have a stone ground floor and protruding upper floors made of a wooden frame (bay windows), hanging over narrow streets.
  Where to See: Districts around the fortress walls and the village of Cumalıkızık, which has preserved authentic 14th-century buildings.

Urban Structure

The city developed linearly along the foothills of Mount Uludağ. Its structure is polycentric: each sultan built his own complex (mosque, madrasa, bathhouse, hospital, imaret) on a separate hill, around which a new district grew. Thanks to this, Bursa is perceived today as a necklace of historical centres strung on a single axis, surrounded by green parks and cypress groves.

Notable Figures in the History of Bursa

Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and one of the key cities of Turkey, became the birthplace and place of activity for many sultans, scholars, artists, and national heroes. Their contributions defined not only the history of the city but also that of the entire country.

• Osman I Ghazi (c. 1258–1324) — the founder of the Ottoman dynasty and empire. Although he did not live to see the capture of Bursa, it was he who began its years-long siege, predetermining its fall and transformation into a capital. According to his will, he was buried in Bursa, and his tomb is today one of the city's main shrines.
• Orhan I Ghazi (c. 1281–1362) — son of Osman Ghazi, the second ruler of the Ottoman Empire. In 1326, he conquered Bursa and made it the first capital of the new state, laying the foundations for its future greatness. Under him, the first mosques, baths, and madrasas were built in the city, and the minting of Ottoman currency began. His mausoleum is located next to his father's tomb.
• Karagöz and Hacivat (14th Century) — legendary characters of traditional Turkish shadow theatre. According to legend, they were real workers constructing a mosque in Bursa who distracted others from work with their jokes, for which they were executed. Later, they were immortalised in puppet shows which became an integral part of Turkish culture, and Bursa is considered the birthplace of this art form.
• Ahmed Muhtar Pasha (1839–1919) — a distinguished Ottoman field marshal, reformer, and Grand Vizier. He was born in Bursa and received his primary military education here. He became famous as a commander on the Caucasian front during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, for which he received the honorary title "Ghazi" (The Victorious).
• Zeki Müren (1931–1996) — one of the greatest Turkish singers, composers, and actors of the 20th century. Born in Bursa, he became an icon of Turkish classical and popular music, earning the nicknames "Sun of Art" and "Pasha". His unique style and voice brought him nationwide love, and his house-museum in Bursa attracts many fans.
• Ertuğrul Sağlam (born 1969) — a famous Turkish football manager and former footballer. His name is written in golden letters in the modern history of Bursa. In the 2009–2010 season, under his leadership, the local football club "Bursaspor" became the champion of Turkey for the first time in its history, breaking the long-standing hegemony of the Istanbul giants.