Archaeological research near Hungary’s Szigetvar Castle has revealed that an Ottoman settlement surrounding the mausoleum of Suleiman the Magnificent was larger and wealthier than previously thought. The site marks the area where the Ottoman sultan is widely believed to have died during his final military campaign in 1566.
The 460th anniversary of Süleyman’s death during the siege of Szigetvar Castle on the night of Sept. 6-7, 1566, has once again drawn attention to his final campaign and the Ottoman remains uncovered in the area.
Research conducted by the University of Pecs in Hungary across the wider area surrounding the mausoleum complex in 2024 and 2025 has provided new insights into the size, structure and daily life of the Ottoman settlement known as “Turbek.”
Ottoman-era artifacts of varying density were discovered spread across an area of approximately 80 hectares, indicating that the settlement was larger and wealthier than previously believed.
Final campaign, death
