King Mosque, Elbasan

The King Mosque (Albanian Xhamia e Mbretit / Xhamia Mbret ) in central Albania Elbasan is the oldest preserved mosque in the country. Built at the end of the 15th century mosque is located in the old town inside the fortress walls. Since 1948 it belongs to the cultural heritage of Albania.

The exact origin of the mosque is not known. The Islamic art historian Machiel Kiel brings the foundation of the mosque with the activities for the reconstruction of Sinan Pasha Elba Sans Borovinić in context and suggested that the construction of the late 15th century or perhaps dates from the early 16th century. Other sources indicate 1492 as the year of construction. Stylistically fits the mosque to other churches that were built in the late 15th century on the orders of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II after his visit to Albania, as well as the royal Mosque of Berat.

The mosque consists of a rectangular prayer hall whose sides are about 14 feet long. Before that lies a large, wooden porch and in the northwest corner stands the minaret. The prayer room was divided by a slanted wooden portico of three pillars in two areas.

The mosque was the largest and most important of the city. Evliya Çelebi tells of his visit in 1671 that countless travelers have been immortalized on the walls of the mosque. In the 19th century restoration work was carried out, probably this graffiti has been removed.

After the ban on religion in Albania in 1967, the building was converted and changed. It served as a center for popular political lessons. 1979 was the building only the prayer room - the minaret was demolished and the porch has been replaced by a simple extension.

In 2013, the mosque was extensively restored and orginialgetreu. Also, the minaret was built.