For centuries, Topkapi Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and home to the sultans, was not merely a fortress of power ruled solely by men. Behind the high walls of the Harem lived exceedingly intelligent, ambitious, and powerful women who influenced the fate of the empire, shaped politics, and altered the course of history. These influential women of Topkapi Palace, through their struggles on the challenging path from concubine to Valide Sultan, left their mark on an extraordinary period known as the “Sultanate of Women”. This era, beginning with Hürrem Sultan and culminating with figures like Kösem Sultan, was a time when women held unprecedented power in state administration. In this article, we will follow the stories of these powerful women and their traces within the palace, from the mysterious corridors of the Harem to the pinnacle of the empire.
Power Behind the Walls of the Harem: What is the Sultanate of Women?
The Sultanate of Women is a term used to describe the period in Ottoman history, lasting approximately from the mid-16th century to the end of the 17th century, during which the mothers (Valide Sultan) and wives (Haseki Sultan) of the sultans established extraordinary political influence over state administration. This period, also influenced by factors such as sultans ascending the throne at a young age or having weak characters, witnessed the Harem transform from merely the sultan’s private living space into one of the empire’s most important political decision-making centers. Sultan mothers holding the title of Valide Sultan acted as regents (sultan’s deputies), observed Divan meetings from behind a screen, conducted diplomatic correspondence with foreign ambassadors, and played a decisive role in many critical decisions, from the appointment to the dismissal of grand viziers.
The Birth of a Legend: Hürrem Sultan
Considered the founder and first major figure of the Sultanate of Women, Hürrem Sultan brought about a revolution in Ottoman history. Her story is one of how she influenced Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the most powerful man in the empire, with her intelligence, charm, and strategic mind, and how she broke traditions.
Her Rise from Concubine to Haseki Sultan
Although there is no definitive information about her origins, Hürrem, believed to be Ruthenian (present-day Ukraine), entered the palace as a concubine but quickly captured the sultan’s attention with her beauty and cheerful character. She did not content herself with merely being the sultan’s favorite; she also solidified her position within the dynasty by bearing him five sons and one daughter. Her greatest revolution was breaking the centuries-old tradition of “sultans not marrying concubines” by marrying Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. With this marriage, she received the title “Haseki Sultan” and rose to a status equivalent to a queen in the palace hierarchy.
Her Role in Politics and Legacy
Hürrem Sultan’s power was not limited to her personal influence over the sultan. She was the first sultan’s consort to actively participate in politics. She advised the sultan on state affairs, conducted diplomatic correspondence with foreign states like the Kingdom of Poland, and cleared the path for her own sons to ascend the throne by eliminating her rivals within the palace. Furthermore, she demonstrated her philanthropic identity and architectural patronage by having large complexes (külliyes) built, consisting of mosques, madrasahs, hammams, and hospitals in cities such as Istanbul, Mecca, and Jerusalem. Hürrem Sultan set an example for powerful women who would follow her, such as Nurbanu Sultan and Safiye Sultan, and laid the foundations for the Harem to become a political center.
A Valide Sultan in the Corridors of Power: Nurbanu and Safiye Sultans
Following the path paved by Hürrem Sultan, her daughter-in-law Nurbanu and granddaughter Safiye continued the Sultanate of Women with the power they attained as Valide Sultans. During their era, Ottoman Harem life became entirely a center for political intrigues and diplomatic maneuvers.
The Struggle for Power from Venice to the Palace
Believed to have both originated from noble Venetian families, Nurbanu and Safiye Sultans managed to survive in the ruthless competitive environment of the Harem. Nurbanu Sultan became Valide Sultan when her son Murad III ascended the throne, becoming de facto influential in state administration. Safiye Sultan, who took over the same power after her, was one of the most effective figures of the empire during the reign of her son Mehmed III. These two women formulated their own political agendas and took steps that would shape the internal and foreign policy of the state.
Diplomatic and Political Influence
Nurbanu Sultan is known for pursuing a pro-Venetian foreign policy due to her origins. She contributed to maintaining peaceful relations between the two states through continuous correspondence with the Republic of Venice. Safiye Sultan went even further, establishing a direct diplomatic relationship with Queen Elizabeth I of England. The correspondence and exchange of gifts between these two powerful female rulers played a significant role in the development of Ottoman-English relations. Safiye Sultan is also known to have had great control over the state’s finances and played a key role in the appointment of high-ranking state officials.
The Shadow Queen of the Empire: Kösem Sultan
If Hürrem Sultan was the initiator of this period, Kösem Sultan was undoubtedly its pinnacle. Witnessing the reigns of her two sons (Murad IV and Sultan Ibrahim) and one grandson (Mehmed IV), Kösem was referred to by titles such as “Valide-i Muazzama” (Great Mother) and “Sahibet-ül Makam” (Owner of the Position), and she effectively governed the empire.
The Institution of Regency and Absolute Power in State Administration
The peak of Kösem Sultan’s power began with her regency period when her grandson Mehmed IV ascended the throne at just 7 years old. She was the first woman in Ottoman history to officially use the title “Naibe-i Saltanat” (Regent of the Sultanate). With this title, she became the absolute ruler of the state. She presided over the Imperial Council (Divan-ı Hümayun) meetings from behind a screen, used the state’s seal, and personally appointed and dismissed grand viziers. Her rule has gone down in history for demonstrating the limits of political power that women could achieve.
Her Philanthropy and Political Intrigues
Kösem Sultan was, on one hand, a generous figure who helped the poor, paid the debts of debtors, married off orphan girls, and had large charitable institutions built. The Çinili Mosque in Istanbul is one of her most well-known works. However, behind this philanthropic identity was also a ruthless politician who did not hesitate to engage in all kinds of intrigues to protect her power. She eliminated anyone she saw as a threat to her authority and was at the center of countless bloody events in the palace. Ultimately, she was strangled and killed in the palace by her daughter-in-law Turhan Hatice Sultan, with whom she did not wish to share power, and this tragic end marked the conclusion of the most powerful period of the Sultanate of Women.
For more information on the architectural structure of Topkapi Palace and the Harem section ->
Traces of the Sultanate of Women in the Palace: Which Spaces Witnessed What?
The extraordinary stories of the women of Topkapi Palace are ingrained in the stone walls of the palace. Today, while touring the palace, it is possible to see the spaces where they lived, made decisions, and struggled:
- Harem: This labyrinth, consisting of dozens of rooms, hammams, and corridors, was the main stage for the entirety of women’s lives, rivalry, friendship, and intrigue.
- Valide Sultan Apartments: This was the unofficial administrative center of the empire, particularly during the periods of Nurbanu, Safiye, and Kösem Sultans. The Valide Sultan would receive statesmen and make political decisions here.
- Hünkar Sofası (Imperial Hall): As the largest ceremonial hall in the Harem, this space witnessed important events such as Bayram (feast) celebrations. It is believed that powerful Valide Sultans observed these ceremonies from hidden compartments.
- Apartments of the Favorites (Gözdeler Dairesi): These apartments, where hasekis (the sultan’s favorites) like Hürrem Sultan lived, were the first steps on the path to power.
The power of these women was not confined solely within the palace walls; they also left their mark on Istanbul’s silhouette with the mosques, complexes (külliyes), and fountains they had built. They were not silent inhabitants of the Harem but powerful actors who changed the course of history.
