u/Nanakurokonekochan

I’m sorry for pearl clutching but the subreddit has become very toxic lately with call-out posts, stalking, harassment and superfans of Hurrem / Mahidevran jumping on each other’s throats. Before someone shoots me, I have to say I’m not a hater of either lady if you guys haven’t seen my comments here already. What happened to the “be respectful” rule?

I miss the good old days when this subreddit was a refuge on the internet where the fandom centered heavily on power dynamics, complex character loyalties, and gender roles within the Ottoman imperial court.

What about some discussions on the acting? Or discussions around how a character challenges traditional patriarchal rules? Is it really difficult to say, hey, I’m not a big fan of this character but she seems like a complex, flawed human being who should be analyzed within the context of 16th-century political survival.

If you have an intense, obsessive hatred or anger toward a female character you really need to self reflect and see if it’s coming from misogyny or internalized misogyny.

Murphey mentions the limit of a vizier’s power and coercion during the Ottoman campaigns of the 16th and 17th centuries that witnessed a series of struggles between influential viziers, and their factions.
There were a number of cases with deliberate withholding of strategic supplies and financial support by a jealous deputy Grand Vizier (deputy: kaymakam) in Istanbul. This could seriously compromise the preparations of commanders at the battlefront. The struggle to increase their personal influence and the ambition to obtain higher office amongst the statesmen was the obvious ulterior motive. (Source: Murphey, 1999)

According to English Ambassador Henry Lello who served at the court of Mehmed III the behind the scenes political wrangling over who gets promoted to Grand Vizierate may take precedence over the reporting of tactical progress of Ottoman forces at the front. In other words, Viziers may prioritize their own personal interests over the interests of the Empire and government, weakening the state. One of the main reasons of these struggles was the desire to be a Grand Vizier someday and these rivalries caused a lot of tension amongst the Ottoman forces at the battlefield.

Besides the Viziers, the Janissaries, the sipahis and also the religious scholars—ulema were competing in this hierarchical construction.

Historian Gunhan Börekçi explains that high ranking members of the religious scholars (ulema) and the palace soldiers were deeply involved in factional court politics and amongst them there were people who formed alliances with the viziers. Baki Tezcan explains that from 1578 to 1606, the court gained centrality within the Ottoman bureaucracy.

According to Fatih Yeşil, Divan-ı Hümayun, the Imperial Council losing its function was a critical moment in court politics.

Divan-ı Hümayun, the Imperial Council originally acted as a liaison between the Sultan and the Grand Vizier of the Empire. During Murad III’s reign, the telhis (petition) system (also known as the “arz” system) gained popularity. Gunhan Börekçi explains that the favourites took full advantage of the new mode of communication with the sultan, which was a means of direct contact with the sultan, even surpassing the authority of Grand Vizier. They not only had the privilege of submitting their own petitions to the sultan, but also controlled the order in which the sultan saw them. This inevitably led to corruption.

For instance, Kapiagasi Gazanfer made a great fortune during the reign of Murad III and Mehmed III, and had the opportunity to intervene in the decision making of Sultan Mehmed III through these Arz letters.

The new arz/telhis policy resulted in a huge number
of petitions. Şemsi Pasha was commonly villainized as the person who suggested Murad III that the arz system shall be put into effect. His motivation was to loosen Sokollu’s firm grip over the Imperial Council as they were part of opposite factions.
The practice resulted not only in diminishing the
authority and independence of the Imperial Council but also increasing the power of palace eunuchs and stewards. These eunuchs and stewards were able to control appointments due to their proximity to the sultan and they were able to sell them to whoever would pay the highest price, opening the doors to corruption.
Valide Nurbanu Sultan appointing two palace cooks, Ferhad and Çiğalazade Yusuf as head of the eastern campaign and Beylerbey of Revan, respectively, followed by their elevation to the rank of vizier, was depicted by Mustafa Âli as acts of corruption. (Source: Pinar Kayaalp)

On the other hand, proximity to female members of the dynasty was another way of gaining power and influence for viziers. 1600 relazione from Mehmed III’s reign, criticized Sultan Süleyman for allowing statesmen gaining access into the dynasty by marrying sultanas. These types of marriages relatively increased during the reign of Sultan Süleyman, although statesmen marrying sultanas was nothing new.

“One can understand the most notable harm was caused by Sultan Süleyman when he gave his daughter [Mihrimah] in marriage to Rustem Pasha, contrary to the long-established practices of his predecessors. His predecessors knew how important it was for good governance that it should not be tainted by the authority of women: they married their daughters to men of modest standing and assigned them to sanjaks so far away that they kept them at such a distance they could have
no way of influencing any part of the government.”

However marriage of a pasha to a sultana wasn’t necessarily a new idea that appeared in Suleyman’s reign.

“Stjepan, youngest son of Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, accepted Islam and was named Ahmed. Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha quickly advanced during the reigns of as many as three sultans. He started as a mîr-i alem (standard bearer), then assumed the duty of sancakbey, beylerbey and kapudan pasha. He was grand vizier as many as five times, and sultan’s confidant and counsellor. In 1481 or 1484 he married Hundi Sultan, daughter of Bayezid II.” from V. Miović, Per favore della Soltana: Powerful Ottoman Women and Ragusan Diplomats

The SoW Ladies have been framed as having corrupt, self-serving, or underhanded "ulterior motives" that allegedly caused the decline of the empire. However, as illustrated above, the rival male bureaucrats and the male members of various factions aren’t completely innocent in this game of political authority either.

Haseki Gülnuş Sultan was in her thirties and the most senior woman of Mehmed IV, when she decided to build a hospital and a soup kitchen in Mecca, the holiest city of Islam. At the time, the empire was relatively stable, Ottomans were at a far better place than what the Empire’s future would look like after the freefall from onwards 1683: with the conquest of Crete in 1669, and of Kamianets-Podilskyi (Kamanice) in 1672, there was stability under the Grand Vizier Köprülü Fazil Ahmed Pasha.

Gülnuş had been given the income generating villages in Egypt that financially secured her pious foundations in Mecca.

Securing the Haremeyn (Mecca and Medina, the holiest cities of Islam) was a source of prestige; helping the poor people of these cities and meeting the needs of pilgrims undertaking the Hajj would be the most memorable pious act.

Indeed, building charitable foundations in the holy lands of Islam was not that common for Sultanas. The only other female patron to endow waqf buildings in Mecca, as well as in Medina and Jerusalem, was Haseki Hürrem Sultan. Haseki Gülnus Sultan and Haseki Hürrem Sultan would be the two “Haseki”s from Sultanate of Women to achieve this goal.

Around 1678, Haseki Gülnuş Sultan picked Mecca, to built her soup kitchen to feed the poor and a hospital to cure the ill.

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Ironically, there is some Venetian tea ☕️ provided by the ambassadors around this time.

Giovanni Morosini reported in 1680, that Gülnus started to attract the jealousy of Valide Turhan Sultan, who is “now 60 years old, and having governed the empire with absolute power during her son's youth, bitterly resents seeing the [Haseki Sultan] being favored”. Morosini described Haseki Gülnus Sultan as someone who appears “completely adverse to any [political] affair on surface but in reality with her arts, deceptions, she bends [Sultan Mehmed IV’s] will.

Pietro Civano, reported in 1682:

"With great pride, [Haseki Gülnuş Sultan] shows respect, deference and devotion to the [Valide Turhan Sultan] and pretends to be adverse to any [political] affair. At the same time, she employs all manners of arts, intellect and flatteries, not only to have a share in deliberations but to keep herself alone in command with [Sultan Mehmed IV]."

Pietro Civano continues to describe the “fierce jealousy” between Valide Turhan Sultan and Haseki Gülnus Sultan because both of them wanted to control Mehmed IV: “Until now the mother has always had her son's respect, however for the past two years [Haseki Gülnus Sultan’s] arts have prevailed”.

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During the move from Istanbul to Edirne in 1681, Valide Turhan Sultan received 4000 gold coins and 68 keses of akçe, Haseki Gülnus Sultan received 4000 gold coins and 67 keses of akçe. Same amount was given to both sultanas a couple of years prior. Haseki Sultan’s and Valide Sultan’s “harcirah” or travel expenses are almost the same with a symbolic 1 kese different for the Valide Sultan. It seems while Mehmed IV respected and honored his mother’s Valide Sultan status by allowing her to symbolically surpass his Haseki on paper, the ambassador reports show us Valide Turhan Sultan was getting uncomfortable with the rise of Gülnuş.—reinforced with Gülnus’s charitable foundations in the holy lands.

Small edit: Venetian bailo Giovanbattista Donado (1680-1684) reported that Haseki Gülnus Sultan was wishing to strengthen her daughter Hatice Sultan’s position, and she had asked her son in law Musahip Mustafa Pasha a total of three times to accept the Grand Vizierate position, but Musahip Mustafa Pasha had rejected this offer. Musahip apologized by presenting gifts, and by this gesture he had kept his mother in law’s favor, thereby continuing to be loved and respected for some time longer. So Gulnus was politically active during this time.

Source:
The Women Who Built the Ottoman World: Female Patronage and the Architectural Legacy of Gülnuş Sultan

Ambassador reports on Daughters of Ahmed I during Murad IV’s reign

➡️From Giovanni Cappello’s (1629-1633) Relazione:

“Sultan Mustafa, brother of His Majesty's father, is still alive. He continues to live in his natural stupidity, interpreted by the Turks as a spiritual elevation to God. He is, one could say, buried in a room, talking to himself.

His Majesty has four sisters, all married to viziers: one [Hanzade] to Bairan Pasha [Bayram Pasha], now Kaimakhan with the Sultan in the field; one [Fatma] to Mustafa Pasha, appointed Beylerbey of Greece; one [Ayse] to Mortesa Pasha [Murteza Pasha], who is in the field in Persia; and the last [Atike] to Chinan Pasha [Kenan Pasha], currently Kaymakam of Constantinople.

This custom, recently introduced, of bestowing sultanas upon the nobles is observed and tolerated only reluctantly by the military and the people; for these women confer upon their husbands excessive authority, with which, they engage in greed and extortion, thereby depriving everyone of the right to appeal and the hope of relief.

In the past, these women were often given in marriage to galley slaves, who never rose in rank. However, the husbands of the sultanas are not spared from violent death by decree of the Sultan, nor their descendants thereby acquire any conceivable distinction of noble blood or an increase in dignity. As regards the first point, it is just as true that one of the aforementioned sultanas—a sister of His Majesty—saw her first four vizier husbands meet violent deaths by order of the Sultan. Those dependent on them lack privileges, hold no positions of command. When a Pasha has children with an Imperial Prince and other Pashas have children with a concubine, the latter are employed more readily than the former, with the aforementioned aim of preventing them from acquiring any claim—whether by blood to greatness or, through ambition, to authority.“

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➡️From Baki Tezcan, Searching for Osman: A Reassessment of the Deposition of The Ottoman Sultan Osman II:

“The act of marriage between Princess Ayşe Sultan, and Nasuh Pasha was concluded in February 1612, and the wedding took place in December 1612, three months after Nasuh's arrival in Istanbul from the Safavid campaign. Princess Gevherhan Sultan, upon the death of her husband, married Receb Pasha during the reign of Osman II.

Princess Ayşe Sultan, after the death of her husband in 1614, was promised to Karakas Mehmed Pasha, probably during the reign of Osman II as well. Yet the latter was killed in battle at Khotin in 1621, and she was married to Hafiz Ahmed Pasha. Atike Sultan, another daughter of Ahmed, was married to the son of Etmekçizade Ahmed Pasha (d. 1618), most probably in 1618. Upon the death of her husband, she married Kenan Pasha, and, after the death of the latter, yet another official.

A privy purse register from 1622 gives the names of five unmarried princesses, who may be daughters of Ahmed, Osman II, and even Mehmed III: Ummugulsum, Hanzade, Halime, Fatma, and Akile. Two of them may be identified as daughters of Ahmed with certainty.”

“During the reign of Murad IV, a daughter of Ahmed was married to Berber Mustafa Pasha; upon the execution of her husband, she married Sarrac Hasan Pasha. After the death of her second husband, she married Canpolatzade Mustafa Pasha, who was executed by the orders of Murad IV in 1045/1635-6. This princess seems to be Fatma Sultan, who, probably after some other marriages, married Melek Ahmed Pasha in 1662. Melek Ahmed Pasha, who died in the same year, was not her last husband.

Hanzade Sultan is identified as the daughter of Ahmed as well; she apparently married Bayram Pasha during the reign of Murad IV.”

➡️From Ragusan Ambassador dispatches:

October 3, 1623: A few days ago, the Grand Sultan gave his sister in marriage to the Aga of the Janissaries... (This is probably about Hanzade Sultan who married Bayram Pasha, the Agha of Janissaries in 1623)

March 30, 1629: ...they did not have Bayram Pasha executed; as we were told along the way, they had imprisoned him and ransacked his house, but his wife, the sultana, and Cioseme, her companion, managed to escape unharmed...

*1631: The Captain of the Sea is expected here as soon as the weather improves..., and it is held as certain that he has been promised the sultana, the widow of the pasha who died in Scopie this summer... (*this dispatch is probably about Fatma Sultan who was married off to Kaptan-i Derya Canbolatzâde Mustafa Pasha. Her previous husband Hasan Pasha passed away after being promoted to Budin Beylerbey position, on the way between Larissa and Trikala on August 1st 1631)

**July 10, 1632: ...and that Abas Pasha will be recalled to the Court to take as his wife the sultana, sister of the Grand Lord, who had previously been the wife of Affis Pasha, now deceased

**January 16, 1633: It is said to be certain that they have given the sultana of Affis Pasha—who was Grand Vizier—to Murtesan Pasha, who is now the Beglerbei of Diyarbakir

**These dispatches seem to be about Princess Ayse Sultan who was married to Hafiz Ahmed Pasha and Murteza Pasha. Affis: Hafiz, Murtesan: Murteza

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Perhaps you’ve heard about “Valide Alayi” (Valide procession) but have you heard about “Haseki Procession”? Of course this doesn’t signify the transfer of power or the accession of the next sultan like a Valide procession, but I wanted to share Haseki Gülnus Sultan’s “Haseki procession” from her early days as a Haseki 😇 (That would be after 1664 when she was promoted to Haseki after giving birth to future Mustafa II) That said, it was a prestigious procession and she was sent off with a number of influential statesmen and aghas.

Gülnus Sultan was sent off with a grand procession during her visit to Didymoteicho.

Abdi Pasha describes the ceremony in detail:
In the procession, the gatekeepers marched first, followed by the gardeners and the attendants of the Old Palace, walking in pairs; behind them walked the Grand Mirahur and the Haseki Sultan’s Kethuda, wearing their selimi turbans. In fact, it is customary for the small mirahûrs to be present in such processions. Following this group, the aghas of the Darüsaade marched, and behind them the Haseki Sultan set out in her silver carriage, with the prince’s [Prince Mustafa] palanquin following behind. Meanwhile, the sultan had also set out toward Timurtaş to see her off. Sheikh al-Islam Yahya Efendi and Kaymakam Mustafa Pasha were also assigned to see off the Haseki Sultan. They accompanied her out of the city as far as Timurtaş and bid her farewell with prayers at the farewell site. At that moment, the Agha of the Darüssaade, Muslu Ağa, approached the carriage; the carriage was halted for a short while, and the Haseki Sultan, the Sheikh al-Islam, and the Kaymakam Pasha were each presented with a sable fur coat, while generous amounts of gold were bestowed upon everyone participating in the procession.

(Source: Abdurrahman Abdi Pasha’s Vekâyinâme, p.188–189)

Summary: Valide Gülnus Sultan (d.1715) had two surviving sons: Mustafa II and Ahmed III
Emetullah is the chief consort of Ahmed III (r.1703-1730) and mother of Princess Fatma Sultan (b.1704)

Emetullah Başkadın is the “first woman” (Baskadin literally translates into “first woman”) of Ottoman ruler Ahmed III (r.1703-1730) In this period, the harem title Başkadın is generally used for the first consort, regardless of whether she gives birth to a son or not. Ahmed III was one of the two sons of Valide Gülnuş Sultan, who was the Haseki of Mehmed IV.

Emetullah Başkadın has two Wakf endowments: one from 1707 (Islamic year 1119) and one from 1724 (Islamic year 1137)

Her daughter Princess Fatma Sultan is known to be Ahmed III’s favorite daughter.
Fatma Sultan was the wife of Silahdar Ali Pasha and Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha. Fatma Sultan was born on the second year of Ahmed III’s reign: the princess was welcomed on October 22, 1704. In May 1709, her father Ahmed III arranged her marriage to Silahdar Ali Ağa, accompanied by a magnificent series of parades and festivities. After the wedding, Ali Pasha was appointed Grand Vizier in 1713. In 1716, while leading the Ottoman army during the Austro-Hungarian Campaign, he was killed at the Battle of Petrovaradin. At the young age of 13, Nevsehirli Damad Ibrahim Pasha became her second husband. We don’t know if Emetullah Baskadin had any other children or sons, but despite seemingly having “only” given birth to a daughter, she had the privilege of having her daughter married to prominent statesmen. (Fatma Sultan’s first marriage isn’t consummated obviously due to her young age)

In her 1707 Wakf she is addressed as “Devletlü Saadetlü Emetullah Kadın ibnet-i Abdülmennan”
(“Her Excellency, the Honorable Emetullah, daughter of Abdülmennan” alluding to her slave concubine origins)

In her 1724 Wakf, she is addressed as “Sultan Ahmed-i Sâlis hârem-i hümâyûn inayet makrunlarından baş kadınlık rütbesiyle şerefrâz olan Emetullah Başkadın, III. Ahmed’in başkadını”
(“Emetullah Başkadın, who was honored with the rank of chief consort among the favored women of Sultan Ahmed III’s imperial harem, was the chief consort of Ahmed III.”)

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Her waqf deed dated 1724 was approved by Ebu’l-Hayr Ahmed Efendi, the Kazasker of Rumelia; Ataullah Efendi, the Kazasker of Anatolia; and Sheikh al-Islam Abdullah Efendi.

Representatives of Emetullah Başkadın who were authorized to handle all matters pertaining to the endowments:
・In the waqf deed dated 1707, Süleyman Ağa—the agha of Darüssaade, and the trustee İbrahim Efendi
・In the waqf deed dated 1724 Hacı Beşir Ağa—the agha of Darüssaade, and Mustafa Efendi, the trustee.

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Simkeşhane (pronounced seem-kesh-hah-neh) is an Ottoman Turkish term that translates literally to "silver-thread workshop" or "embroidery thread house”
She had a “simkeşhane”: In the gold and silver workshops, gold and silver ores were processed. At the same time, gold and silver wires were wound around silk threads to create gold and silver threads, which are then used to create embroidered designs on the garments of members of the royal family. These gold and silver workshops served as the state’s primary center for fabric embellishment.

Emetullah Başkadın’s charitable endowments include a public fountain, a school, a teachers’ residence, and a mosque.

Emetullah Baskadin’s charity for education: The endowment deed dated 1707 stipulates that clothing and shoes must be purchased for the teacher, the assistant teacher, and 50 students. In the endowment deed dated 1724, stipulation was made that each of the 60 students attending the school would receive a scholarship of 800 akçe for food and drink expenses; totaling 48,000 akçe annually. Both of her endowment deeds ensured that coal would be purchased so that the students would study in a warm environment. She even made sure the students would go to picnic with their teachers and allocated some revenue for these picnics.

🧡It’s refreshing that, in this time period, Ahmed III was a girl dad and mothers of princesses were able to leave behind more traces in history compared to their predecessors. Perhaps, despite being born into the “seniority” system, Ahmed and Mustafa enjoyed more freedoms in their childhood with their parents Haseki Gülnus Sultan & Mehmed IV, they went to campaigns, hunting trips together etc. and this healthy childhood environment helped them become more tolerant, loving parents in their adult life.

Source: Sultan III. Ahmed döneminde hayırsever bir saraylı kadın: Emetullah Baskadin vakfi ve vakfiyeleri,
Semiha Nurdan

Hürrem Sultan had granddaughters who continued to be influential figures at the court:

Ayse Sultan (daughter of Mihrimah Sultan)

Gevherhan Sultan (daughter of Selim II)

Sah Sultan (daughter of Selim II)

Ismihan Sultan (daughter of Selim II)

Fatma Sultan (daughter of Selim II)

Humasah Sultan (daughter of Prince Mehmed)

➡️Even her great-granddaughters continued to make strong alliances by marrying statesmen who served in powerful governmental positions. In this post I’ll specifically talk about how [Mihrimah Sultan’s only child] Ayse Sultan’s daughters married Cigalazade Sinan Pasha and Hurrem Sultan’s genetic legacy continued for generations. Mihrimah Sultan’s descendants are also known as Mihrimahzadeler.

I’ve previously discussed two of Hurrem’s great-granddaughters born to her granddaughter Humasah Sultan: https://www.reddit.com/r/sultanateofwomen/comments/1u7pfzp/found_trace_of_another_one_of_hurrems/

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Cigalazade Sinan Pasha married two of [Mihrimah Sultan’s only child] Ayse Sultan’s daughters. On November 8, 1576, Semiz Ahmed Pasha and his wife Ayse Sultan married one of their daughters to Cigalazâde (Cicalazade) Sinan Ağa who was the Janissary Agha at the time.

“Sultana Vecchia, who is spending a vast sum on preparing her dowry for this wedding. In addition to the most honorable gifts of goods, sending the groom another 30,000 gold coins to be put to good use, so that through this marriage he may have his affairs so well established that he cannot fail to receive such honors—and even greater ones.”

His first wife sadly passed away on December 9th 1580:

“Last night, Cicala’s wife passed away; she was the daughter of the late Magnifico Acmat Bassà, and thus Cicala has lost the great favors he once enjoyed at this court.” Dated December 10, 1580

By 1581, Cicalazade had married another daughter of Ayse Sultan’s:

“Cicala arrived in Constantinople last week, and they say he will take as his wife the younger sister of his late wife, which, once accomplished, will restore him to his former standing—... by virtue of the authority of the sultana who was the wife of Acmat Pasha and the daughter of Rustem Pasha. The Emperor’s ambassador, who has come to reside at the Just Gate, made his entry last Thursday with a most honorable reception, and I sent my family to meet him to perform the customary courtesy, which was granted to him…”

According to Venetian sources; in 1591 Ayşe Sultan, the daughter of Mihrimah and Rüstem, proposed to pay the expenses of one hundred galleys for six months, if her son-in-law Çigalazâde Sinan pașa was promoted to “Kapudan Pasha” admiral of the Ottoman fleet. At the same time a sister of prince Mehmed tried to obtain the same office for her brother-in-law Mehmed pasha.

After his successful career in the Eastern frontier and the Balkans, Cicala became the admiral of the fleet (Kaptan-ı Derya) in 1591. This governmental position allowed him to participate in the Divan and remain an influential statesman in the Empire. With his new position he could also quickly react to factions formed against him by his proximity to Sultan Murad III and Cigalazade’s rival Grand Vizier Ferhad Pasha. Grand Vizier Ferhad Pasha was supported by Safiye Sultan. According to the English ambassador Lello, obtaining this title meant having a powerful network inside the court and being protected by the Sultan.

According to Venetian ambassador Ottoviano Bon, Kaptan-ı Derya position (admiral of the fleet) was one of the top 5 titles in Ottoman Empire: Grand Vizier, Head of Janissaries, Head of the Sultan’s ports and Treasurer being other prestigious titles. Other benefits this title would provide to a statesman were earning lots of money and living comfortably. Cicalazade would have control over the Arsenal and the taxing of many Ottoman isles in the Mediterranean with his new position: “Fra li carichi grandi della Porta, cinque sono principalissimi, che danno commodità, et occasione di accumular gran ricchezza, et che sono di gran commodo: Il primo visir, l’agà de’ gianizzeri, il capiaga, il capitano di mare, il defterdar grande.”

Ibrahim Pasha wasn’t the only son-in-law of Safiye Sultan that Cicalazade clashed with. Leonardo Donà’s report suggests Safiye Sultan’s younger daughter Fatma Sultan’s husband Halil Pasha and Cicalazade Sinan Pasha being “at each other’s throats” dated October 27, 1595:

“Halil Pasha, fourth in line of succession, also holds the office of Captain of the fleet… He believes he will be compelled this year to set sail with the fleet, a prospect that pleases neither him nor his wife, and if he could replace himself with a subordinate
without losing his position, he would gladly do so, but he cannot tolerate Cigalazade Sinan Pasha making a fortune at their expense. And so they are at each other’s throats.”

To prevent Cicalazade from making a fortune by campaigns in the Mediterranen, Halil Pasha resorted to leaving the capital with the fleet. Remaining at the capital would be better to protect his position at the court.

During the Hacova campaign (also known as the Battle of Mezőkeresztes) in 1596 Ibrahim Pasha who was married to Sultan Mehmed III’s sister Ayşe Sultan, lost all his artillery to enemies and did not obey the commands of Cicalazade Sinan Pasha. The intervention of Cicala with the Janissaries helped the Ottomans when the Habsburg forces were dangerously close to Sultan Mehmed III’s tent. Hoca Sadeddin and Gazanfer recommended that Cicalazade Sinan Pasha should become the Grand Vizier.
Despite being favored by his MIL Safiye, Ibrahim Pasha fell out of favor with Sultan Mehmed III, who was informed about the Pasha’s military failure. Ibrahim Pasha was demoted from the Grand Vizier position, he wrote to Valide Safiye Sultan after the battle tho so he remained protected. Cigalazade Sinan Pasha served as Grand Vizier for a brief time in 1596.

Report dated November 23, 1596:
“Then the king pulled a raspberry out of his turban and placed it on his head, appointing him [Cicala] his first vizier and having him dressed in rich garments.”

Cigalazade Sinan Pasha returned to Istanbul in 1599 and asked for his son to be given the title of “Kadı of Greece” (kadi means Sharia judge). Halil Pasha, his former enemy server as governor of the capital at the time and to achieve his goal he served gifts to Halil Pasha.

Cicalazade Sinan Pasha According to Girolamo Cappelo’s 1600 Relazione:

“But as long as Cigalazade Sinan Pasha remains in command of the navy (*In 1599, Cigalazade Sinan Pasha was made Kapudan Pasha / Kaptan-i Derya for the second time) Your Serene Highness will always face annoyances and troubles. I have come to believe that you must either declare yourself completely estranged from his friendship and seek by every means to suppress him—which will not be difficult when one is truly determined, or through the ordinary channels of the Empire—since Ibrahim Pasha, his mortal enemy, has firmly established his authority…

…Given the many grievances he claims to have suffered at the hands of Your Highness—leaves no alternative but to expect continuous harm and troubles from corsairs secretly incited by him and then excused by his shrewdness. Since no justification can be found against the Kapudan Pasha (admiral of the fleet) for such damages, we will be forced to resort solely to complaints and effective orders, which will be scarcely carried out; and in this manner, he will continue to do the worst he can, causing great distress and bringing little dignity to this Most Serene Republic.

I leave aside the arrogance of Cigalazade, who, having in his power the forces of the sea, … ,and moreover a most hostile enemy of the queen and her sons-in-law, would also like to claim a certain majority in the government, and perhaps to rise in some part of the state.“

In 1601 Cigalazade supressed the rebellion of the Sipahis and saved Gazanfer. In a shocking turn of events, Safiye Sultan expressed her gratitude by sending him a letter. A Venetian report from March 25, 1601 indicates a pivotal turn in court factions, as Safiye Sultan, who was previously against Cigalazade Sinan Pasha’s faction, offered him her support and apologies. This shows the ever-changing nature of court factions:

“And the Queen wrote to him Cigalazade a very cunning letter, intended to confirm his support for Capiaga’s [Kapiagasi] cause, but also to quell the rumors circulating about her; in it, Her Highness almost apologized for having been opposed to him until now due to the false reports made about him, and stated that from then on she would work in his favor.”

➡️Previously, French ambassador Jacques de Germigny’s 1579 report had document a pivotal harem alliance: Ayşe Sultan (daughter of Mihrimah Sultan) and Safiye Sultan (the favorite of Sultan Murad III) formed a powerful political faction to counter and oppose the dominant palace figure Valide Nurbanu Sultan. This faction later failed after Safiye Sultan supported Ferhad Pasha, and Ibrahim Pasha; who were Cicalazade Sinan Pasha’s enemies. Many years later, finally, Safiye Sultan started supporting, or at least “artificially” favoring as the Bailo suggests, her enemy Cicalazade Sinan Pasha, who was Ayse Sultan’s son-in-law.

Thanks to the support of Safiye Sultan, Cigalazade’s reputation amongst the court had improved. Mehmed III and Gazanfer also showed him more affection.

Report dated July 29, 1601:
“At present, Cicala has more influence in the
government than even the Grand Vizier himself.”
Report dated March 25, 1601:
“On this occasion, Cigalazade has greatly enhanced his reputation and the King’s favor, as the King attributed to him—above all the other pashas—the suppression of the recent uprising”

Cicalazade Sinan Pasha quickly took advantage of the this unprecedented support of Valide Safiye Sultan and he attempted to promote his son [Mahmud] to the position Beylerbey of Damascus. He was able to “purchase this position” for less than 150 sequins! He also planned to strengthen this new alliance by marrying his son to Sultan Mehmed III’s daughter (or one of his surviving sisters).

Venetian report dating dated March 2, 1601:

“Cigalazade Sinan Pasha’s son was appointed Beglierbei of Damascus, a position of the highest importance, and there was much grumbling about this, since they had placed a young man of about 20 years of age in the post, thereby removing without cause an emir who was very old and of great renown; but Cigalazade the father agreed, in order to secure the position for his son, to make use on this occasion of the Queen’s [Valide Safiye Sultan] influence, which was favorable to him, and they want it to cost him less less than 150,000 cecchini, and that before his return, he hoped to arrange a marriage for him to Sultan Mehmed III’s daughter, or at least to one of his sisters, and to have him come and serve as Vizier at the Gate, promising himself at present much of his authority and just as much of his immense wealth.”

Cigalazade’s career declined during Ahmed I’s reign and in 1606 he died in Diyarbakir.

During Mehmed III’s reign, Safiye Sultan’s factions and favorites played a big role in palace politics and according to Ambassadors, while Safiye Sultan supported her son in law Ibrahim Pasha (husband of her daughter Ayse Sultan), this political faction wasn’t always stable and her daughter would also intervene on behalf of her husband at times. Her younger daughter, Fatma Sultan was married to Halil Pasha, and this faction soured after Esperanza Malchi’s assassination because Safiye Sultan was mad at Halil Pasha for not being able to protect her Kira Kadin.

Valide Safiye Sultan: Sultan Mehmed III’s mother
Princess Ayse Sultan: Wife of Ibrahim Pasha, Safiye’s older daughter
Princess Fatma Sultan: Wife of Halil Pasha, Safiye’s younger daughter
Ambassadors: English ambassador Lello, Venetian ambassador Cappelo
Grand Viziers mentioned: Ibrahim Pasha, Cicalazade Sinan Pasha, Hadim Hasan Pasha, Cerrah Mehmed Pasha

➡️From Girolamo Cappelo’s 1600 Relazione:

“[Safiye Sultan] is joined by two of Mehmed III’s sisters [Ayse Sultan] and [Fatma Sultan]; by supporting their husbands and preventing others who are more worthy and intelligent from being appointed to the office of Grand Vizier and to the principal government posts, or by undermining those who might be placed in such positions against their will, these women contribute further to the disorder of the government.

The elder [Ayse Sultan] is the wife of Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha, and the younger one [Fatma Sultan] is the wife of Halil Pasha. Through the influence they wield with their mother, they have preserved their husbands’ positions of authority, and no matter how many times their husbands have been stripped of their power, they’ve been restored back to their positions.

…and Ibrahim Pasha, if he didn’t have the support of his wife [Ayse Sultan], he would have perished in his latest fall [*], which posed a grave danger to his life, as I wrote to Your Highness. But that sultana, with ceaseless tears and lamentations, pointing out the indignity and disgrace that befell her with her husband’s downfall, never distanced herself from her mother or her brother until she saw Ibrahim restored to his position.”

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➡️Summary of Ibrahim Pasha’s political career and his Grand Vizierate:

During the reign of Murad III, Ibrahim Pasha was dismissed from his duties in 1589 along with the Grand Vizier Siyavuş Pasha and several other viziers. —the Beylerbeyi Incident took place in Istanbul in 1589. Appointed Grand Vizier in April 1596 after Sinan Pasha’s death. He was also appointed commander in chief of the army during his first term as Grand Vizier: Ibrahim Pasha set out on the campaign to Egri alongside Mehmed III in June 1596.

Leaving behind sufficient weapons and troops under the command of Sofu Sinan Pasha, he marched with the army to the Haçova Plains. Since Cigalazade Sinan Pasha (Cicalazade) had played a significant role in the close-quarters battles fought against German, Austrian, and Hungarian troops, he was appointed Grand Vizier on the recommendation of Hoca Saadeddin Efendi. Cigalazade Sinan Pasha served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire for a brief time, from October 27th 1596 to December 5th 1596.

Ibrahim Pasha’s dismissal lasted over a month; as the army was returning from the Battle of Haçova, Valide Safiye Sultan requested that her son in law Ibrahim Pasha be reinstated as Grand Vizier. Finally on December 5th 1596, he was appointed to the office of Grand Vizier for a second time.

[*]Once Ibrahim Pasha was reinstated to the Grand Vizierate, he exiled Cicalazade Sinan Pasha in retaliation to Akşehir, prevented Hoca Saadeddin Efendi from interfering in state affairs, and removed certain other state officials from Istanbul. Ibrahim Pasha dismissed the Austrian commander Hasan Pasha and appointed Satırcı Mehmed Pasha in his place. However, due to Satirci Mehmed Pasha’s failures and his order to have the Crimean Khan Fetih Giray murdered, Ibrahim Pasha once again fell out of the sultan’s (Mehmed III) favor.
Furthermore, his failure to pay the customary sum “mûtat”to his mother in law Safiye Sultan, and even his dismissal of some of the Valide Sultan’s men led him to fall out of favor with Safiye Sultan and his removal from office. He was replaced by Hadım Hasan Pasha, who had “a habit of bribing the Valide Sultan” (November 3 1597).

[**]Ibrahim Pasha was appointed Grand Vizier for the third time on January 6, 1599, succeeding Cerrah Mehmed Pasha who served for a brief time himself.
Same year, he was appointed commander in chief for the Hungary campaign and went on campaign in May 1599.

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➡️English ambassador Henry Lello’s account:

Lello claimed that Safiye Sultan tried to convince the Sultan that İbrahim Pasha had an “enjoyable personality” however she could not secured the Grand Vizierate for him and Cerrah Mehmed Pasha was appointed Grand Vizier (1598-99).
Cerrah Mehmed Pasha served his position for five months. After the military expedition [to Austria] Satırcı Mehmed Pasha and Cerrah Mehmed Pasha were dismissed.
When Damad İbrahim Pasha returned back his position, he was obliged to go to war against Hungary (May 1599) and he promised to take revenge on Satırcı Mehmed Pasha.

When Damad İbrahim Pasha was in Hungary expedition (May 1599), Halil Pasha and Hafız Ahmed Pasha served as statesmen. Halil Pasha was the “kaymakam” and was married to Sultan Mehmed III’s sister Fatma Sultan.
Both of İbrahim Pasha and Halil Pasha complained about their mother-in-law Safiye Sultan because of her interference with the affairs of state.

⭐️

➡️Continuing with Girolamo Cappelo’s 1600 Relazione:

“There are frequent changes in the Grand Vizierate and other principal offices. Because Valide Safiye Sultan wishes to support the poor at all costs, when she realizes that the affairs of the government are not proceeding in accordance with their needs, and when Mehmed III is compelled to take some new course of action, she—being most shrewd and prudent—in order to become the driving force behind the Sultan, and to appease the discontented mob, appears ready to deprive her son in law [Ibrahim Pasha] of his position.

At the same time Safiye Sultan extracts a great deal of money from those who seek the office of Grand Vizier, as she did in the succession of Assan the eunuch [Hadim Hasan Pasha].

Sultan Mehmed III’s fury and discontent, and the murmuring of the people have been somewhat mitigated. After that she found a way to restore her son in law [Ibrahim Pasha] to his position [**], never lacking a thousand pretexts to do so at her discretion.”

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➡️English Ambassador Henry Lello’s notes on Hadim Hasan Pasha:

According to English ambassador Henry Lello, Hadım Hasan Pasha was appointed to Grand Vizierate (1597-1598) by Safiye Sultan’s support because he was Safiye Sultan’s favourite. Safiye Sultan must have advised him not to inform the Sultan Mehmed III about the discontent amongst the subjects because the Sultan was extremely melancholic. Therefore, he was pretty incompetent until Hoca Sadeddin informed him of the current state of the Empire.

Peçevi and Hammer say that Hadım Hasan Pasha was prone to corruption: Pecevi states that he told everyone that Valide Sultan was blackmailing him. According to Hammer, he was scheduled to be incarcerated in Yedikule Dungeons due to his failures in Egypt. Hammer notes that Hadım Hasan Pasha ruined Kapıağası Gazanfer Agha’s career and requested his execution from Sultan Mehmed III. However, Sultan Mehmed III didn’t accept this request and informed his mother Safiye Sultan about what Hadım Hasan Pasha’s was up to. Gazanfer warned Safiye Sultan about how Hadım Hasan Pasha was spreading rumors about her accepting bribes. Hadım Hasan Pasha was on a free fall and he was subsequently executed on April 8th 1598.
Prior to his execution, Hadım Hasan Pasha proposed to appointment Baki and Karaçelebizade as a new Müfti after Müfti Bostanzade’s passing.
However Sultan Mehmed III had Hoca Sadeddin in mind as the new müfti, and he got mad at Hadim Hasan Pasha for this proposal.

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➡️Continuing with Girolamo Cappelo’s 1600 Relazione:

“This rivalry and hatred stemming from competition, are also found amongst the current pashas, and amongst all other government officials without exception. Each one seeks to undermine the one another, even going so far as to seeing the other rise to greater prominence, without any regard for Sultan Mehmed’s interests. The two brothers in law, who above all others should be devoted to the greatness of the Empire, now get along so poorly that they seek to bring each other down; and I will speak first of Ibrahim Pasha, the Grand Vizier and commander-in-chief of the army.

He is the brother in law of Sultan Mehmed III, a native of Bossina in the province of Chersego; in his youth he was a cleric at the monastery of San Saba in Milestro, also in the province of Bossina. He is 50 years old, handsome, courteous by nature, very humane, and honors everyone, especially ambassadors. He is generally regarded as a hypocrite and a two-faced person, quick to make promises, because he wishes to please everyone, but then easily forgets them; although many attribute this to malice, it is generally ascribed to frivolity and instability. Therefore he is commonly known as Deli Ibrahim, that is, Ibrahim “the Mad.” He proves himself a friend of Your Highness, of whom he is pleased to call himself a relative, and professes his gratitude for the memory and esteem that Your Highness has held for him through all his fortunes. I have also been informed of this favorable disposition of his by Osman Agha, his most favored confidant, who never fails on any occasion to render every possible service to Your Highness; and since he greatly loves his brother, the physician Frangini, any favor that Your Highness may bestow upon him will be well spent and will result in public service. He is a bitter enemy of Cicalazade Sinan Pasha, and will favor Your Highness’s interests against him.”

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Venetian Dispatches

12 June 1601 - the sultan's sister [Fatma Sultan] obtains a charge for her husband Halil Pasha even if Safiye hates him

27 July 1601 - the sultan's sister Ayşe is informed of her husband Ibrahim's death

14 Dec. 1602 - the bailo says that once pashas in disgrace were killed or sent away from Constatinople; now two former pashas, one the husband of the sultan's sister and the other of the sultan's daughter, create disorders but their wives freely enter the Imperial Palace

The age group on this sub seems young but I’m perimenopausal so watching that made me extra confused. It’s really awkward to think that, Hurrem, who kept being intimate with Suleyman long after her final child Cihangir was born, was suddenly barred from Süleyman’s bedroom. It’s not like this couple were having anymore kids (according to the show) so reproducing sons isn’t the only reason they slept together.

It’s a plot hole that screams “a man wrote this”. A man who probably thinks we expire after 30-35? Things may get worse after peri or menopause, but there’s no reason to completely stop unless the woman is having severe symptoms?

And of course, they had to turn it into a shameful situation rather than a rite of passage for a woman.

Anyways. Did you know that female orcas go through menopause around age 40 to live as wise matriarchs who lead their pods and protect their kin?

Soranzo’s 1576 Relazione gives us some information on Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and Ismihan Sultan’s son Ibrahim Han’s birth year:

“Thanks to the resources he has managed to maintain thus far, he has always prevailed. His name is Mehmed Pasha, he is a native of Bosnia. Despite being over 70 years old, he is tall, healthy, and robust—so much so that it has not yet been a year since his wife [Ismihan Sultan] gave birth to a son.” ✅ (With this piece of information we could approximate Ibrahim Han’s date of birth to mid 1570’s. Antonio Tiepolo's 1576 report also shows that Ismihan Sultan and Sokollu Mehmed Pasha had three surviving infants)

This son should be Ibrahim Han, since Barbaro mentioned in 1573 that Ismihan Sultan gave birth each year but her babies didn’t survive

“He works tirelessly, granting audiences all day long, with a remarkable memory. He never rises from his seat until everyone who wishes to be heard has his attention. Mehmed Pasha was the subject of hate for many years, as opposed to now, he is greatly loved and revered. He did not consent to waging war against Your Highness, and therefore, when the fleet was routed, he gained immense glory, for the Turks did not value the conquest of the kingdom of Cyprus as highly as the damage they suffered from that defeat. He has also always advocated for peace with Your Highness, and as the architect of that peace, he professes his desire to preserve it as well.”

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Sokollu Mehmed Pasha’s son Kurt Bey’s death from a 1572 report:

“On the 2nd of January, the agà of the janissaries was made, who remained governor of Constantinople when the court left for Andrianople.
The beglerbei of Greece was made in his place and the cargo of Constantinople was given. On the 19th of February, two galleys arrived, one of them flying the flag for water. On the 20th of the said month, the son of Memet, the first vizier, who was stationed in Bosnia, died. He died in Constantinople, to the sorrow of many who knew him. He was indeed a noble young man of about 22 years of age. He had been abbot of Aleppo, and his brother, aged 17, was sent in his place.”

(The Aleppo part is questionable. According to Selaniki, Kurt Kasim Bey joined the Siege of Szigetvár alongside his father.)

Sokollu Mehmed Pasha had two sons born to his concubine prior to his marriage with Ismihan Sultan: Kurt Bey and Hasan Bey. He had to “send his concubine away” once it was decided that he was to marry the Sultana.

A Venetian diplomat, Costantino Garzoni, remarked in 1573: "These sultanas are considered by their husbands not as wives, but as masters, since there is no comparison whatsoever between the former's royal blood and that of the pashas, who are all slaves, therefore, they revere their wives with great submission and are forbidden from having other wives." Stephan Gerlach explained the pashas had to divorce their former wives even if they had children with them.

“The grand vizier created a commemorative complex endowed for the soul of his late son Kurt Kasım Beg, who passed away as the sanjak governor of Herzegovina (Hersek), whose capital Mostar was three days' journey from Ragusa. This charitable complex constructed by Ragusan stonemasons at Trebinje (in modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina) was also sited along the caravan route to Ragusa. It was comprised of a small masjid (mescid), a sumptuous caravanserai (ribaț) for travelers who might gratefully pray on behalf of the deceased, a source of running water (miyah, sebil), a paved road (kaldirim), and a stone bridge (cir) over the Neretva River providing access to the Adriatic Sea. Only the bridge remains from this charge free benevolent complex.” Source: Gulru Necipoglu

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Fun fact: Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and Ismihan Sultan’s lineage through their son Ibrahim Han can be traced for centuries. I actually traced his descendants through Wakf documents! (The years next to their name are the years they served as the guardian of a charitable foundation)

1694, 1701-1713 Ibrahim Hanzade Ali
1699, 1719, 1730, 1745, 1750 İbrahim Hanzade İsmail
1756 İbrahim Hanzade Mustafa
1764 İbrahim Hanzade Abdullah
1768 İbrahim Hanzade Ahmed
1772, 1777 İbrahim Hanzade Hacı Abdullah
1781 İbrahim Hanzade Mehmed Esad
1787 İbrahim Hanzade Numan
1794 İbrahim Hanzade Abdurrahman
1803 İbrahim Hanzade Hacı Halil
1822, 1824 İbrahim Hanzade Yusuf
1834 İbrahim Hanzade Hızır
1886 İbrahim Hanzade Abdülkerim Bey

All of these men are descendants of Haseki Hurrem Sultan and Valide Nurbanu Sultan!

Ismihan Sultan’s marriage to Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, their children, and her second marriage to Kalaylikoz Ali Pasha: https://www.reddit.com/r/sultanateofwomen/s/n7a9DJWxkt

Ismihan Sultan and Sokollu Mehmed Pasha’s children: https://www.reddit.com/r/sultanateofwomen/s/TGSvwjZRgd

Debunking the marriage of Ismihan Sultan’s daughter to Sokollu Mustafa Pasha: https://www.reddit.com/r/sultanateofwomen/s/f2onbH3eFl

From Giovanni Correr’s 1578 Relazione;

⭐️Sultan Murad III’s opinions of his father Selim II:

“His complexion is delicate and, in the opinion of doctors, gives no indication of a very long life; yet his way of life could greatly benefit him in this regard, as he commits no excesses of any kind: no gluttony, no drunkenness, and, in condemning wine, he often condemns the memory of
his father [Selim II], saying that he came to the Empire a drunkard and left it a drunkard. And on more than one occasion he has even been on the verge of destroying a small pavilion [Selim II] built next to the seraglio, which overlooks the harbor, where he often went to drink; and for every glass of wine he drank, he had an artillery shot fired from the seraglio, or from the Tophane—which means “house of bombs”…”

⭐️Sultan Murad III’s relationship with Safiye and how Valide Nurbanu Sultan attempted to send him concubines:

“They say he [Murad] is, by nature, inclined to have affairs with women, because he greatly enjoys their company; yet, despite the abundance and variety of opportunities he has, it is firmly believed that he is content with his wife [Safiye] alone. Although he has not yet made a “chebin” marriage proposal to her, he loves her deeply, never sleeps away from her, and with her he has three children: a daughter aged 11 and two sons, the eldest aged 9 and the younger aged 5.

As a clear sign of his chastity, it is said that his mother [Nurbanu] and some other sultanas presented him with beautiful slave girls, so that he might have relations with them. He refused all of those concubines, saying he did not want the mothers of those girls—who would have no cause for joy—to weep at his death, implying the fratricide of all his sons except the one who would succeed him. If the sons were all by the same mother, even though she would have to grieve and mourn the death of her executed sons, at least she would rejoice at seeing one of them ascend to the Empire and become the ruler of such a vast kingdom.”

“Sultan Murad III delights in various kinds of studies, such as history, poetry, and astrology,…,He is also educating himself in matters of law, and it seems that his main focus is on religion and justice, since many surmise that he is likely to be a friend of the honest and a man of his word, as well as being inclined toward the arts.”

“It is said that he should be a friend of peace and not concern himself too much with war. But I would not advise placing too much weight on this consideration, for it is well known that rulers are for the most part guided by the advice of those around them, and are then very often compelled by circumstances to make decisions even against their own natural inclinations.”

The 1578 Relazione portrays a Murad III that’s “naturally inclined to enjoy the company of women” but still remains monogamous with his favorite concubine Safiye, out of fear of causing great pain to the women later on when he’s gone. This is a stark contrast to the 1590 Relazione of Lorenzo Bernardo, which tells us he’s reportedly sleeping with 2-3 women per day..

⭐️Three days before his accession, Murad III recounted a strange dream he had to his spiritual advisor Sheikh Şüca as follows:
“…We were sitting on a high dais. Someone came and said, ‘May the sultanate be blessed!’ Then they brought the sultan’s [Selim II] sons and seated them before us. A man—who turned out to be the Grand Vizier [Sokollu Mehmed pasha]—came and kissed our hands. Then he strangled the young princes one by one, destroying them—and thus ended my happiness.”

Here, Sultan Murad III refers to the strangulation of his five young brothers. The princes’ funerals were held with state honors alongside the funeral of Sultan Selim II, causing great pain and grief at the Capital, as the average person in Istanbul never had witnesses fratricide in their lifetime. (The execution of Prince Mustafa and Prince Beyazid happened far away from the capital, and these were, just innocent young boys) This dream can be interpreted as Murad III not being wholeheartedly willing to accept the fratricide of his young brothers and, projects his guilt on Sokollu Mehmed Pasha. Murad III’s correspondence with his spiritual advisor gives us great insight into his inner thoughts and mental imagery.

In another letter, Murad III tells his spiritual mentor, Sheikh Şüca, he no longer keeps concubines by his side out of fear of them giving birth to sons that might be killed in the future. He explains that he does not wish to shed anyone’s blood.

⭐️The irony. I truly wonder what exactly went down in 1583 that was the catalyst of this rapid change in his mind. In the end, Murad III had 20 living sons by the time of his death.

The former English ambassador Edward Barton had suggested that Queen Elizabeth should send the Ottoman court "a clock in a form of a cock". The Levant Company, in charge of regulating English trade with the Ottoman Empire and the Levant, decided to present a self-playing organ combined with a clock.

When Queen Elizabeth heard of Dallam's reputation, Thomas Dallam was commissioned by the English Queen to make the mechanical organ. In addition to the organ, Queen Elizabeth also decided to send a horse carriage to Safiye Sultan. Besides the technical part of his work, Dallam’s other responsibilities were playing the organ and presenting it to the Ottoman Sultan. He was the only person who could repair it if the instrument needed repairs.

Thomas Dallam finally set sail from Gravesend in February 1599. His ship, the Hector, arrived to Istanbul, on August 16th. On August 20th Dallam realized that the organ had been damaged during the six month long voyage. All the gluing and pipes needed repairs. When English Ambassador Lello found out that the organ was broken he got very angry at Dallam; Lello was concerned about his own status because the instrument arrived late than he expected.

A State Paper from January 31st 1599 would say: "A great and curious present is going to the Grand Turk, which will scandalize other nations, especially the Germans."

Dallam’s activities were under the radar of The Venetian Ambassador to the Ottoman Capital:
"An organ functioning like a clock, an araba for Sultana, some silverware and fabric arrived in a majestic ship that impressed the Grand Turk."

On September 24th 1599 Dallam presented the organ to the Sultan:

“All being quiett, and no noyes at all, the gift began to salute the Grand Signor; for when I lefte it I did allow a quarter of an houre for his cominge thether. First the clocke strouke 22; then the chime of bels wenr of, and played a songe of 4 partes. That beinge done, two personagis which stood upon to corners of the seconde storie, holdinge two silver trumpetes in there handes, did lifte them to their heades, and sounded a tantarra. Then the muzicke went of, and the orgon played a song of 5 partes tywse over. In the top of the orgon, being 16 foute hie, did stande a holly bushe full of blacke birds and thrushis, which at the end of the musick did singe and shake theire wynges. Divers other motions thare was which the Grand Signor wondered at.”

Dallam notes that Sultan Mehmed III warmly received the idea of having the western instrument at his court and he was easy going with the English clockmaker who was still a bit clueless to the Ottoman customs, and mentions how one accidental wrong move against the sultan could have costed his life:

“He sat so righte behinde me that he could not se what I did; tharefore he stood up, and his Coppagaw removed his chaire to one side, where he myghte se my handes; but, in his risinge from his chaire, he gave me a thruste forwardes, which he could not otherwyse dow, he sat so neare me; but I thought he had bene drawinge his sorde to cut of my heade.”

Dallam’s interpreter inquired with the kapıcıbaşı to ask where Dallam could play the organ because Sultan Mehmed III was physically very close to the organ. Thomas Dallam ended up turning his back towards the Sultan Mehmed III and accidentally touched his knee. To his surprise the Ottoman Sultan smiled in return. English Ambassador Lello had advised Dallam, that if he touched the Sultan his head could be cut off.

Dallam's clock-organ was topped by a silver holly bush filled with blackbirds and thrushes that sung and shook their wings. The Ottoman Sultan was pleased with his efforts, according to Dallam’s account, he was offered by the Sultan’s messengers a selection of concubines from the Imperial Harem. Dallam would describe the sight of the Harem women as:
"I stood so long looking upon them that the guide stamped with his foot to make me give over looking; the which I was very loath to do, for that sight did please me wondrous well."

In Dallam’s words he was offered “two wyfes, ether tow of his Concubines or els tow virgins of the beste I Could Chuse my self, in Cittie or contrie” but Dallam replied back with an excuse: “I had wyfe and Childrin in Inglande, who did expecte my returne.“ This was an excuse; as Thomas Dallam then adds in his diary that he didn’t have a wife or children.

The beautiful instrument was later destroyed by Ahmed I who wanted to erase the traces of his grandmother Safiye Sultan.

Another clockmaker at the Ottoman capital: Sokollu's German clockmaker Oswald gave us a description of Ismihan Sultan.

Pic: Beyazid II accession

Selim II gets the worst reputation for being fond of drinking, but he wasn’t the online male member of Ottoman dynasty who had this habit, and his drinking habits never incapacitated him to the point of neglecting the state matters.

In late 15th century, there was another Ottoman Prince who had a serious drinking problem, which eventually led to health problems and serious corruption regarding state matters. However his mother Gülruh Hatun realized how dire the situation is; and contacted the Ottoman capital to let his father Sultan Beyazid II know about the misconduct of the statesmen they had entrusted their son. Personally I think this is why despite Prince Alemsah eventually succumbing to health issues later on due to alcoholism, Gülruh was still allowed to live her life as the respected mother of a late Prince. Her letter also provides us some insight into the “one concubine one son” period before the Sultanate of Women era, and the role of these slave concubine mothers in the provinces they were sent to—they weren’t detached from the state matters as you can see.

⭐️Gülruh Hatun’s letter to Sultan Beyazid II addresses their son Prince Alemsah’s drinking habits:

“You have commanded that I raise my son; and from that time until now, by the grace of Allah the Almighty and through the sovereignty of my sultan, I have raised and protected him to the best of my ability. Praise be to Allah, he has become a brave man under my sultan’s rule. Now, during these days of his bravery, my sultan needed a Muslim tutor who would be a source of admiration, one who would strive to cultivate my son’s faith and world, always guiding him toward good, and to ward off the corrupters at his doorstep so that order might prevail among the people and the subjects might be well cared for. At present, however, he has a tutor who is the source of all corruption; no matter how many corrupters there are, he is the worst of them all. [This tutor] does not follow the command of Allah the Almighty or the Sharia of the Messenger, but instead follows his own whims, constantly violating my son’s rights and custom, and since my son, your servant, did not accept certain unlawful and unknown desires, they incited him to drink wine with his other tutor—that corruptor—and the hypocrite physician, and made him drink…”

Gülruh Hatun wrote that she argued with her son quite a bit but they couldn’t find a compromise and that his health had deteriorated; she then noted that the officials around him had led the prince astray. His Lala (the said “tutor” in the letter) and defterdar took advantage of the Prince’s drunk state and forged official papers.
Gülruh Hatun struggled financially for a year as she complained about not being able to receive her stipend for a year because of the incompetence of these statesmen.

Prince Alemsah’s birthday is recorded as 1466-67 or 1477 is some sources. After Alemsah’s early death, his mother Gülruh Hatun moved to the Old Palace as customary. In 1513, she received a stipend of 100 akçe at the Old Palace.

According to the kitchen expenses records covering the period from February 19th 1512, to April 5th 1513, a monthly amount of 2,746 akçe was recorded as food allowance paid to Alemşah’s mother from the funds allocated for those residing in the Old Palace.

⭐️Prince Alemsah’s death:

Prince Alemsah had health issues, probably exacerbated by his alcoholism and he passed away latest in early 1503.
On 10 Shaban 908 or February 8th 1503, Gülruh Hatun endowed 7,000 dirhams so that the Quran might be recited for her son’s soul. She requested that with the sale of the necklace she had donated, prime properties in a neighborhood shall be purchased and incorporated into her other endowments. (I’m very curious about the story behind this necklace.)
A report sent to the Venetian government on March 29th 1503, indicates that he died before that date. Following the prince’s death in his bed in early 1503, his father closed shops in Istanbul for three days and distributed alms to the poor for several weeks in memory of Alemsah’s soul.

⭐️Gülruh Hatun’s daughter Kamer / Kamersah:

The village of Dudaklu, which was donated by Davud Pasha to his wife Kamerşah in 1491, was purchased by Gülruh Hatun and endowed as a waqf. (Beyazid II and Gülruh Hatun also had a daughter named Kamer or Kamersah who was Alemsah’s full sister, she was likely born before her full brother as per one concubine one son rule) Kamersah Sultan and her mother Gülruh Hatun passed away before 1528-29. Kamersah Sultan’s husband Nisanci Kara Davud Pasha passed away in 1505.

⭐️Gülruh Hatun mausoleum is the final resting place for the following members of Gülruh Hatun’s family:

Sultan Osman bin Alemşah (Prince Osman)
Kamer Sultan binti Sultan Bayezid (Beyazid II’s daughter Kamersah Sultan)
Sultan Alemşah validesi (Gülruh Hatun)
Fatıma Hatun binti Sultan Alemşah (Prince Alemsah’s daughter Fatma) in the records she is only mentioned as “duhter-i Sultan Alemşah” or “zevce-i Mehmed Çelebi bin Sufi Sultan”

BOA, TS.MA.d. 8380.

After Gülruh Hatun’s passing, Hafsa Hatun petitioned on behalf of Gulruh Hatun’s granddaughters and secured financial assistance for them.

This is one of my favorite things I’ve read about Hafsa Hatun by the way, she was technically rivals with this branch of the family as her master Selim (I) and Prince Alemsah were rivals to the throne, but after Gülruh Hatun’s passing, she graciously helped her granddaughters. Such a loving, maternal woman!

⭐️Prince Alemsah’s daughters:

On 29 Zilkade 913 or March 31st 1508, 1,249,147 akçe was reserved for the dowry of Prince Alemsah’s daughter Fatma Sultan. On September 18th 1509, Mehmed Çelebi became late Prince Alemsah’s son in law, he served as the Sanjakbey of Kocaeli on February 9th 1510 and as the “Mirliva” of Biga on October 11th 1511.

In a register dated October 24th 1511 - April 2nd 1513, Hanzade Sultan was mentioned as daughter of Sultan Alemşah.

TL;DR: I was able to trace Hanzade Sultan and a Fatma Sultan who could be Prince Alemsah’s daughters.

⭐️Prince Alemsah’s son Osmansah or Osman Celebi:

Osman was born in 1492 in Menteşe. After his father’s death, he was summoned by Sultan Beyazid II. After a period of education he was sent off to Kangiri / Çankırı province as a Sanjakbey: On March 16th 1507 he was given 100.000 akce as cash plus some gifts. Until December 16th 1512 he governed his Sanjak and sadly, he was executed in 1513 because Selim I took the throne the previous year.

Osman Celebi / Osmansah is an interesting example of the grandson of a reigning Sultan, that is Beyazid II in this particular example, who survived his father [Alemsah] who was a Prince/Sehzade, yet executed some years later once his uncle took the throne.

Source: Ilme ve eglenceye duskun bir şehzadenin hayati, II’s Beyazid’in oğlu Alemsah, by Hamit Safakci