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Uskudar (ancient Chrysopolis, mediaeval Scutari) was a city in Bithynia founded in the 7th century BC, in a valley leading down to the Bosphorus shore, by the inhabitants of the Greek colony of Khalkedon and was first known as Chrysopolis (city of Gold) (perhaps because it was a wealthy little port, or because of the way it shone when viewed from Byzantion at sunset).
The city was used as a harbour and shipyard and was an important staging post in the wars between the Greeks and Persians. In 410 BC Chrysopolis was walled by the Athenian general Alcibiades. As its larger and more important neighbor across the Bosphorus grew, the town became a toll-booth for the Bosphorus and later became the first point of defence of Byzantion against the Ottoman armies. Byzantine armies were stationed here, but to no avail; by the time Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans (in 1453) Uskudar had already been in Turkish hands for 100 years. In the Ottoman period Uskudar was one of the three communities outside the city walls (along with Eyüp and Galata. The area was a major burial ground, and today many large cemeteries remain including; Karacaahmet, one of Istanbul's largest cemeteries; a number of Jewish and Christian cemeteries; Bülbülderesi Mezarlığı, said to be the favoured burial place of the Sabetay community, including the educator Şemsi Efendi, this cemetery is next to Fevziye Hatun mosque, also said to be a centre of Sabetay culture. Famous Istanbul historian Jak Deleon writes about Uskudar in his book named 'The Bosphorus: A Historical Guide ' :
''Uskudar was called Chrysopolis ( Golden City ) in antiquity and Skoutarion in Byzantine times. Skoutari was the regiment of shield makers for the imperial army. It must be assumed that the skoutarian Palace, of which no trace remains in our day, was once on these shores. The invading Persians, Macedonians, Arabs and Crusaders called it Escutaire. The region surrendered to the Ottomans in the 14th century. Following the conquest of Istanbul, its name altered and became Uskudar. One source of this name is said to be EskiDar ( Old House ).Suleyman the Magnificent built the Uskudar Palace here in the 16th century. Murat IV constructed the Revan Kosku on the same spot when he returned from his Baghdad campaign.
Old IstanbulThe prominent monuments of Uskudar which flourished throughout Ottoman times include the Grand Vizier Rum Mehmet Pasa Mosque, the Mihrimah Sultan Kulliyesi, the Valide Sultan bath, the Cakirbasi Hasan Pasa Mosque, Debbaglar Mescidi, the Imrahor and Dogancilar Mosques, the Cinili Mosque and the Cinili Bath, the Emetullah Rabia Gulnus Sultan Fountain and the Yeni Valide Kulliyesi built by Ahmet III for his mother, the Ayazma Mosque built by Mustafa III for his mother Mihrisah Emine Sultan, Ahmediye Kulliyesi, Haci Selim Aga Library, the Husamettin Aga Fountain, the Sheikh-ul Islam Pirizade Osman Fountain, the Mahmut I fountain, Bulbulderesi Mescidi and the Sheikh-ul Islam Arif Hikmet Fountain.
The Selimiye Kulliyesi, built by Selim III, is a 19th century building. The complex is made up of a mosque, barracks, a religious school, a time-keeping office, a fountain, a bath and velvet weaving workshops.
The Serefabad Summer Palace, where Mahmut II and Abdulmecid used to reside on occasion, was the most important waterside residence in this district. Semsi Pasa Kulliyesi stands near the same spot and is a 16th century work by Imperial Architect Sinan. This complex of religious foundations and philanthropic institutions is on the coastal road between Uskudar and Salacak.''
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