Carol I Mosque

Grand Mosque of Constanța
Grand Mosque of Constanța
Basic information
Location	1 Crângului Street Constanța, Romania
Geographic coordinates	44°10′24″N 28°39′35″E / 44.17333°N 28.65972°ECoordinates: 44°10′24″N 28°39′35″E / 44.17333°N 28.65972°E
Affiliation	Sunni Islam
Year consecrated	1913
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Victor Ștefănescu
Architectural style	Neo-Egyptian & Neo-Byzantine elements of Neo-Romanesque
General contractor	George Constantinescu
Groundbreaking	24 June 1910
Completed	1913
Specifications
Dome(s)	1
Dome height (inner)	25 metres (82 ft)
Dome dia. (inner)	8 metres (26 ft)
Minaret(s)	1
Minaret height	47 metres (154 ft)

Grand Mosque of Constanța (Romanian: Marea Moschee din Constanța), originally known as the Carol I Mosque (Romanian: Moscheea Carol I), is a mosque in Constanța, Romania. It is listed as an historic monument by the Romanian National Institute of Historical Monuments.^[1]

The mosque is referred to by Constanța's Islamic community as the King's Mosque (Romanian: Geamia Regelui, Turkish: Kral camisi).^[2]

History

The Grand Mosque of Constanța stands on the site of the former Mahmudia Mosque (Geamia Mahmudia), built in 1822 by Hafız Hüsseyin Pașa and named after Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II. The Grand Mosque of Constanța was commissioned in 1910 by Romanian King Carol I. Construction began on 24 June 1910 with the first cornerstone laid in the presence of Spiru Haret, contemporary Romanian Minister of Religious Affairs; Sefa Bey, contemporary Ottoman ambassador in Bucharest; and the Ottoman consul in Constanța.^[2] The project was funded by the Romanian Government and entrepreneur Ion Neculcea, and finished construction in 1912.^[3]

The mosque was officially inaugurated by Carol I on 31 May 1913.^[4] During the ceremony, Sultan Mehmed V bestowed the Order of the Medjidie upon chief architect Victor Ștefănescu. King Carol I also rewarded Ștefănescu with a watch.^[2]

Architecture

The mosque was built in Neo-Egyptian and Neo-Byzantine styles with elements of Neo-Romanesque architecture. Its designer, George Constantinescu, modeled the mosque after the Konya Mosque in Anatolia (Turkey).^[2] Victor Ștefănescu served as the chief architect for the project. Contractors used brick and stone materials for the mosque proper, and reinforced concrete for the dome and minaret. The mosque was the first structure in Romania to be built using reinforced concrete.^[2][4] The main portal was constructed using stone from Dobrogea, while the door beneath was constructed from black marble inlaid with bronze. The interior columns were constructed from marble from Câmpulung.^[3]

The minaret was built in Neo-Moorish style and has a height of 47 metres. The dome has a height of 25 metres and a diameter of 8 metres.^[3]

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References

1. Romanian National Institute of Historical Monuments (1 October 2010). "Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2010: Judeţul Constanţa" [List of Historical Monuments 2010: Constanţa County] (PDF) (in Romanian). Ministry of Culture and National Patrimony of Romania. p. 993. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
2. "Constanţa: Marea Moschee, un secol de existenţă. În 6 iunie 1913 se oficia primul serviciu religios" [Constanţa: Grand Mosque, a century of existence. On 6 June 1913, the first religious service was held] (in Romanian). Romanian Television. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
3. "Moscheea Carol I" [Carol I Mosque] (in Romanian). County Directory of Culture, Religion and Patrimony/National Culture: Constanţa. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
4. Petre T. Frangopol. "Istoria moscheii lui Carol I" [History of Carol I's Mosque] (in Romanian). România Liberă. Retrieved 13 January 2014.