In the grand theater of the Ottoman Empire, few stories are as dramatic or consequential as that of Hürrem Sultan. Known to the West as Roxelana, she was a woman who arrived at Topkapi Palace in chains and rose to become not just the favorite concubine, but the legal wife of the most powerful man in the world, Suleiman the Magnificent. Her journey was not merely a romance; it was a revolution. Hürrem Sultan shattered centuries of tradition, redefined the role of women in the court, and wielded a political influence so profound that it ushered in the era known as the “Sultanate of Women.”
From Captive to Queen: The Unprecedented Rise
Captured during a raid in her native Ruthenia (modern-day Ukraine), the young woman named Anastasia or Alexandra Lisowska entered the Imperial Harem like countless others before her: as a slave, a gift to the Sultan. Yet, from the very beginning, she was different. Her fiery red hair, sharp intellect, and cheerful disposition—earning her the name Hürrem Sultan, “the joyful one”—quickly captivated Sultan Suleiman.
Unlike her rivals, Hürrem offered the Sultan not just beauty, but partnership. She became his confidante, his intellectual equal, and his most trusted advisor. Her influence grew so absolute that Suleiman broke with centuries of Ottoman tradition. He freed her from slavery and, in a move that stunned the entire empire, made her his legal wife (Nikah), elevating a former slave to the status of Empress. This unprecedented act gave her a security and legitimacy no concubine had ever known.
Hürrem Sultan: A Master of Power Politics
With her new status as the Sultan’s wife, Hürrem Sultan became a formidable political force. She moved her residence from the Old Palace into the heart of power, Topkapi Palace itself, establishing the Harem as the new center of the imperial family and, consequently, of court politics.
She was a masterful diplomat, corresponding directly with foreign kings and queens, such as the King of Poland and the sister of the Shah of Persia. She was a keen observer of the Divan’s politics, using her network of loyal eunuchs and officials to gather intelligence and influence the Sultan’s decisions on matters of state, including the appointments of Grand Viziers. Her rivals, most notably the Grand Vizier Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha and the Sultan’s firstborn son, Şehzade Mustafa, saw their influence wane and ultimately met tragic ends, events in which Hürrem Sultan’s subtle but undeniable influence is often cited by historians.
“By your side, I have found my paradise. My love, my Sultan.”
– Attributed to a letter from Hürrem to Suleiman.
Patron of Architecture and Lasting Legacy
Hürrem Sultan’s influence extended far beyond political intrigue. She was a prolific patron of public works, commissioning mosques, soup kitchens (imarets), schools, and hospitals from Istanbul to Jerusalem. Her most famous project, the Haseki Sultan Complex in Istanbul, built by the great architect Mimar Sinan, was a major charitable foundation that included a mosque, a madrasa, and a hospital for women, the first of its kind.
By undertaking these grand public projects, she not only engaged in pious charity but also cemented her legacy and power in a way that was visible to all subjects of the empire. When she died in 1558, she was buried in a magnificent mausoleum next to her beloved Suleiman at the Süleymaniye Mosque, a final testament to her unparalleled status. Hürrem Sultan was not just a woman who had lived in the palace; she was an empress who had forever changed it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hürrem Sultan
Was Roxelana a real person?
Yes. “Roxelana,” meaning “the Ruthenian one,” was the name given to her by European ambassadors, referring to her origins in what is now Ukraine. Her birth name is believed to be Anastasia or Alexandra Lisowska. Within the Ottoman court, she was known by the name the Sultan gave her: Hürrem, meaning “the joyful one.”
Was Hürrem Sultan the first wife of Suleiman the Magnificent?
No, but she was his only legal wife. Before Hürrem, Suleiman had other consorts, most notably Mahidevran Sultan, the mother of his firstborn son, Şehzade Mustafa. However, Hürrem was the only woman he freed from slavery and married in a formal, legal ceremony (Nikah), an act that broke centuries of imperial tradition.
Did Hürrem Sultan really kill her rivals?
There is no direct proof, but her influence is undeniable. Historians believe Hürrem was a masterful political strategist who played a significant role in the downfall of her main rivals, Grand Vizier Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha and Şehzade Mustafa. While she likely did not “order” their executions directly, her constant whispers and strategic maneuvers in the Sultan’s ear undoubtedly paved the way for their demise.
How many children did Hürrem Sultan have?
Hürrem Sultan gave birth to six children by Suleiman: five sons (Mehmed, Abdullah, Selim, Bayezid, and Cihangir) and one daughter (Mihrimah Sultan). Her son Selim would eventually ascend to the throne as Sultan Selim II, ensuring her legacy through the continuation of the dynasty.
Where is Hürrem Sultan buried?
Hürrem Sultan is buried in her own magnificent mausoleum (türbe) located within the complex of the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. Her tomb stands right next to the equally grand mausoleum of her husband, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, a final, eternal symbol of their unique and powerful bond.
