u/Green-Guitar1736

List of portrayals mentioned in this video here:

- Mine Manavoğlu (Mimar Sinan mini TV show) 1988

- Claudia Cardinal (The Battle of the Three Kings) 1990

- Olha Sumska (Roxelana) 1996-2003

- Gulben Ergan (Hurrem Sultan) 2003

- Sólveg Arnarsdóttir (Die Geliebte des Sultans - Docu) 2005

- Hülya Avşar (8 Ülke 8 Yönetmen & Sinan - Docu) 2011

- Meryem Uzerli ofccc (Magnificent Century) 2011-2013

- Vahide Perçin (Magnificent century) 2013-2014

- Megan Gale (Three Thousand Years of Longing) 2022

Who’s the most book accurate portrayal of Hurrem in terms of looks? (I saw some clips of Olha Sumska in Roxelana and I rlly liked it! For me she’s most book accurate). I also find it fascinating Safiye Sulans actress in MCk played Hurrem before.

I haven’t seen all these shows, but it’s cool how there’s several works that try to portray her! Does anyone have any thoughts?

I thought this edit portrayed the intensity and violence with which Turhan’s rise came from along with Kosem's unfortunate assassination which the show didn’t sanitize.

Also in the beginning Turhan says: “as long as I live, no princes shall be killed”

— and indeed real life Turhan did admirably keep that promise against the explicit command of her regnal son! I'll leave this excerpt from historian Lucienne Thys-Şenocak's book about Turhan Sultan:

>“With his usual literary flare Rycault describes the moment when Mehmed’s order arrived at the Topkapı Palace:

But no sooner was this fatal Command arrived in the hands of the Queen, but she trembled so much, that she could scarce hold the Paper. At length considering, that (as hath been said before) she had given in caution to the Janissaries for the lives of these Princes, and that to her care they were committed, she immediately disclosed and published the design of the Grand Signior to the Janisar-Ağa, craving his help and protection, protesting that she was resolved to maintain the faith she had given to those Princes, whose life she tendered equal with her own.58”  — Excerpt From Ottoman Women Builders

I like this clip which I think summarizes their dynamic decently (Kosem and Turhan) at least when Turhan was Ibrahim’s consort to some degree:

“Honestly, she’s more of a favorite of Kosem than Sultan Ibrahim’s. She raised her specifically. She’s like Kosem’s shadow. Everyone’s afraid of her.”

Not sure if the Beyhan Sultana part is accurate but I think it summarizes Kosem and Turhans near protege dynamic. Two of the most powerful Valide Sultan's in Ottoman history.