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The magnificent age of jewelry. Portraits. Female Sultanate of the Ottoman Empire Sultans of the Ottoman Empire portraits

On April 27, 1494, the 10th ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent, was born, one of the most popular Turkish TV series "The Magnificent Century" is dedicated to the period of his reign. Its appearance on the screens caused an ambiguous reaction from the public: ordinary viewers followed with interest the twists and turns of the plot, historians indignantly commented on a large number of deviations from the historical truth. What was Sultan Suleiman really like?

The main characters of the series * Magnificent century *

The series is designed primarily for a female audience, therefore, the central plot line in it was the relationship of the Sultan with the numerous inhabitants of the harem. Descendant of the 33rd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Murad V, Osman Salahaddin objects to such an emphasis: “He ruled for 46 years. Over the years, he covered almost 50 thousand kilometers during the campaigns. Not in a Mercedes, but on horseback. It took a long time. Therefore, the sultan simply physically could not be so often in his harem. "

Francis I and Sultan Suleiman

Of course, the film did not initially pretend to be a historical documentary film, so the share of fiction in it is really great. The consultant of the series, Doctor of Historical Sciences E. Afyondzhi explains: “We have shoveled a lot of sources. We translated the records of the Venetian, German, French ambassadors who were visiting the Ottoman Empire at that time. In the "Magnificent Age" events and personalities are taken from historical sources. However, the personal life of the padishah had to be thought out by ourselves due to lack of information. "

Sultan Suleiman receives the ruler of Transylvania, Janos II Zapolyai. Antique miniature

It was not by chance that Sultan Suleiman was called the Magnificent - he was the same figure as Peter I in Russia: he initiated many progressive reforms. Even in Europe he was called the Great. The empire during the time of Sultan Suleiman conquered vast territories.

Fragment of engraving * Bath of the Turkish Sultan *

The series softened the true picture of the mores of that time: society is shown more secular and less violent than it really was. Suleiman was a tyrant, according to G. Weber, neither kinship nor merits saved him from suspicion and cruelty. At the same time, he fought against bribery and severely punished officials for abuses. At the same time, he patronized poets, artists, architects and wrote poetry himself.

Left - A. Khikel. Roksolana and the Sultan, 1780. On the right - Halit Ergench as Sultan Suleiman and Meriem Uzerli as Khyurrem

Of course, on-screen characters look much more attractive than their historical counterparts. The surviving portraits of Sultan Suleiman captured a man with delicate features of the European type, who can hardly be called beautiful. The same can be said about Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska, known in Europe as Roksolana. Women's outfits in the series reflect more European fashion than Ottoman - there were no such deep necklines during the "magnificent century".

Meryem Uzerli as Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska and traditional Ottoman outfit

Intrigues and squabbles between Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska and the third wife of the Sultan Mahidevran, to whom much attention is paid in the film, took place in real life: if the heir to the throne, the son of Mahidevran Mustafa came to power, he would have killed the children of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska to get rid of competitors. Therefore, Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska was ahead of her rival and did not hesitate to give the order to kill Mustafa.

S. Oreshkova, an employee of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, draws attention to the fact that the harem is shown not exactly what it really was: “It is surprising that Suleiman's concubines and wives walk so freely in the series. The harem had a garden, and only eunuchs could be there with them! In addition, the series does not show that the harem in those days was not only the place where the sultan's wives with children, servants and concubines lived. Then the harem was partly like an institution for noble maidens - it contained many pupils who did not mark the ruler as a wife. They studied music, dance, poetry. " Therefore, it is not surprising that some girls dreamed of getting into the sultan's harem.

Since the creation of the Ottoman Empire, the state has been continuously ruled by the descendants of Osman through the male line. But despite the fertility of the dynasty, there were those who ended their lives childless.

The founder of the dynasty Osman Gazi (ruled 1299-1326) was the father of 7 sons and 1 daughter.

The second ruler was the son of Osman Orhan Gazi (project 1326-59gg) had 5 sons and 1 daughter.

God also did not deprive Murad of the offspring of 1 Hudavendigur (son of Orhan, pr. 1359-89) - 4 sons and 2 daughters.

The famous Bayazid Lightning (son of Murad 1, project 1389-1402) was the father of 7 sons and 1 daughter.

Bayazid's son Mehmet 1 (1413-21) left behind 5 sons and 2 daughters.

Murad 2 Big (son of Mehmet1, project 1421-51) - 6 sons and 2 daughters.

The conqueror of Constantinople Fatih Mehmet 2 (r. 1451-1481) was the father of 4 sons and 1 daughter.

Bayazid 2 (son of Mehmet 2, project 1481-1512) - 8 sons and 5 daughters.

The first Caliph of the Ottoman dynasty Yavuz Sultan Selim-Selim the Terrible (pr. 1512-20) had only one son and 4 daughters.

2.

The famous Suleiman the Magnificent (Legislator), the husband of no less famous Roxola (Khyurrem Sultan, 4 sons, 1 daughter), was the father of 8 sons and 2 daughters from 4 wives. He ruled for so long (1520-1566) that he outlived almost all of his children. The eldest son Mustafa (Mahidevan) and the 4th son Bayazid (Roksolana) were strangled by order of Suleiman 1 on charges of conspiracy against his father.

The third son of Suleiman and the second son of Roksolana Selim 2 (Red Selim or Selim the Drunkard, 1566-1574) had 8 sons and 2 daughters from 2 wives. Despite his love of wine, he was able to expand his holdings from 14.892.000 km2 to 15.162.000 km2.

And now let's welcome the record holder - Murad 3 (pr. 1574-1595). He had one official wife, Safiye Sultan (Sofia Baffo, the daughter of the ruler of Corfu, was kidnapped by pirates) and many concubines, from whom 22 sons and 4 daughters survived (they write that at the time of his death, the heir Mehmet 3 ordered to strangle all his pregnant wives). But despite his love for the weaker sex, he was able to expand his possessions to 24.534.242 km2.

Mehmet 3 (pr. 1595-1603) was the record holder for another part - on the night of his father's death, he ordered all his brothers and sisters to be strangled. In terms of fertility, he was much inferior to his father - only 3 sons from 2 wives

The eldest son of Mehmet 3, Ahmet 1 (pr. 1603-1617, died of typhus at the age of 27), having ascended the throne, introduced a new dynastic law, according to which the eldest son of the deceased ruler became the ruler.

Mustafa1, who sat on the throne due to the minority of his son Akhmet 1 (pr.1617-1623, d. 1639), apparently had to pay for the sins of his father - he was not only childless, but 6 years after accession to the throne began fall into madness, and according to a fatwa, Sheikh-ul-Islam was removed from the throne.

Little-known facts from the life of the sultans ...

When they start talking about the Ottoman rulers, people automatically have an image of formidable, cruel conquerors in their heads who spent their free time in a harem among half-naked concubines. But everyone forgets that they were mere mortals with their own shortcomings and hobbies ...

OSMAN 1.

It is described that when he stood, his lowered arms reached his knees, on the basis of this, it was believed that he had either very long arms or short legs. Another distinctive feature of his character was that he never wore outerwear again. And not because of this. that he was a dude, he just loved to give his clothes to the commoners. If someone looked at his caftan for a long time, he would take it off and give it to that person. Osman was very fond of listening to music before a meal, was a good fighter and skillfully wielded weapons. The Turks had a very interesting old custom - once a year, ordinary members of the tribe took away from the chief's house everything that they liked in this house. Osman and his wife left the house empty-handed and opened the doors for their relatives.

ORKHAN.

Orhan's reign lasted 36 years. He owned 100 fortresses, and spent all his time bypassing them. He did not stay in any of them for more than one month. He was a great admirer of Mevlana-Jelaleddin Rumi.

MURAD 1.

In European sources, a brilliant ruler, a tireless hunter, is a very gallant knight and was a symbol of honesty. He was the first Ottoman ruler to set up a private library and was killed in the battle on the Kosovo field.

BAEZIT 1.

For his ability to quickly cover long distances with his army, and to appear in front of the enemy at the most unexpected moment, he received the nickname Lightning Fast. He was very fond of hunting and was an avid hunter, often took part in wrestling competitions. Historians also note his mastery of weapons and horsemanship. He was one of the first rulers to write poetry. He was the first to lay siege to Constantinople, and more than once. He died in captivity with Timur.

MECHMET CHELEBI.

He is considered the revivalist of the Ottoman state as a result of the victory over the Timurils. When he was with him, he was nicknamed the wrestler Mkhemet. During his reign, he introduced the custom of sending gifts to Mecca and Medina every year, which was not abolished even in the most difficult times until the First World War. Every Friday night he cooked food with his own money and distributed it to the poor. Like his father, he loved hunting. While hunting a boar, he fell from his horse and broke his hip bone, which is why he soon died.

And tell us how it happened in general that there are portraits, because Islam prohibits the image of a person.
Have you found Italian infidels to perpetuate yourself, the greats?

Bayezid 1 Lightning fast, the 4th ruler ruled from 1389 to 1403. His father was Murat 1, and his mother was a Bulgarian Maria, after the adoption of Islam Gulchichek Khatun.

- Mehmet 1 elebi, 5th Sultan. His mother was also a Bulgarian, Olga Khatun.
  1382-1421
  
  Murat 2 (1404-1451) was born from the marriage of Mehmet elebi and the daughter of the ruler of the beylik Dulkadiroglu Emine Khatun. According to some unconfirmed sources, his mother was Veronica.
  
  Mehmet 2 the Conqueror (1432-1481)
  
  Son of Murat 2 and Hyuma Khatun, daughter of a bey from the Jandaroglu clan. It was believed that his mother was Despina, a Serb.
  
  Bayezid 2, was also no exception - his mother was also a Christian Cornelia (Albanian, Serbian or French). After accepting Islam, her name was Gulbahar Khatun. The father was Fatih Sultan Mehmet 2.
  
  SELIM 1. (1470-1520)
  
  Selim 1 or Yavuz Sultan Selim, the conqueror of Egypt, Baghdad, Damascus and Mecca, the 9th padish of the Ottoman state and the 74th Caliph was born of Bayezid II and the daughter of an influential bey in western Anatolia from the Dulkadiroglu Gulbahar Khatun clan.
  
  SULEMAN 1 (1495-1566).
  
  Suleiman Qanuni was born on April 27, 1495. He became sultan when he was 25 years old. An uncompromising fighter against bribery, Suleiman won the favor of the people with good deeds and built schools. Suleiman Qanuni patronized poets, artists, architects, wrote poetry himself, was considered a skillful blacksmith.
  
  Suleiman was not as bloodthirsty as his father, Selim I, but he loved conquest no less than his father. Moreover, neither kinship nor merits saved him from suspicion and cruelty.
  
  Suleiman personally directed 13 campaigns. A significant part of the wealth obtained from military booty, tribute and taxes was spent by Suleiman I on the construction of palaces, mosques, caravanserais, tombs.
  
  Also, under him, laws (kanun-name) were drawn up on the administrative structure and status of individual provinces, on finances and forms of land tenure, the duties of the population and the attachment of peasants to the land, on the regulation of the military-military system.
  
  Suleiman Kanuni died on September 6, 1566 during another campaign in Hungary - during the siege of the Sigetvar fortress. He was buried in the mausoleum at the cemetery of the Suleymaniye Mosque together with his beloved wife Roksolana.
  
  The 10th Ottoman ruler and 75th Muslim Caliph Suleman the Magnificent, also known for being the husband of Roksolana, was born of Selim 1 and the Polish Jewess Helga, later Havza Sultan.
  
  Havza Sultan.
  
  SELIM 2. (1524-1574)
  
  The son of the famous Roksolana (Khyurrem Sultan) Selim 2 ascended the throne after her death. Her real name was Alexandra Anastasia Lisovskaya, was the beloved wife of Suleiman.
  
  MURAT 3 (1546-1595).
  
  Born of Selim II and the Jewess Rachel (Nurbanu Sultan) Murat 3, he was their eldest son and heir to the throne.
  
  MEKHMET 3 (1566-1603).
  
  He ascended the throne in 1595 and ruled until his death. His mother was also no exception, she was also kidnapped and sold into the harem. She was the daughter of a wealthy Buffo family (Venice). She was taken prisoner while traveling by ship when she was 12 years old. In the harem, the father of Mehmet III fell in love with Cecilia Buffo and married her, her name became Safiye Sultan.
  Palace intrigues of the wives of the padishahs
  
  Khyurem Sultan (Roksolana 1500-1558): thanks to her beauty and intelligence, she not only managed to attract the attention of Suleiman the Magnificent, but also became his beloved woman. Her struggle with Suleiman's first wife, Mahidevan, was the most famous intrigue of that time, such a struggle was not for life, but for death. Roksolana bypassed her in all respects and finally became his official wife. As her influence on the ruler intensified, her influence increased in state affairs. Soon she managed to remove the veziri-i Azam (Prime Minister) Ibrahim Pasha, who was married to Suleiman's sister. He was executed for adultery. She married the next vizier-i Azam Rustem Pasha to her daughter and with the help of which she managed to discredit, by substituting letters, accuse of hostile ties with the main enemies of the Iranians the eldest son of Suleiman Shahzade Mustafa. For his intelligence and great abilities, Mustafa was predicted to be the next padishah, but on the orders of his father he was strangled during the campaign to Iran.
  
  Over time, during the meetings, being in the secret department, Khyurem Sultan listened and shared her opinion with her husband after advice. From the poems dedicated to Suleiman Roksolana, it becomes obvious that his love for her was dearer to him than anything else in the world.
  
  Nurbanu Sultan (1525-1587):
  
  At the age of 10, she was kidnapped by corsairs and sold at the famous Pera market in Istanbul to slave traders. The traders, noting her beauty and intelligence, sent her to a harem, where she managed to attract the attention of Khyurem Sultan, who sent her to be raised in Manisa. From there she returned. a real beauty and managed to win the heart of her son Khyurrem Sultan Selim 2, who soon married her. The poems written by Selim in her honor were included as fine examples of lyrics. Selim was the youngest son, but as a result of the death of all his brothers, he becomes the only heir to the throne, to which he ascended. Nurbanu became the only mistress of his heart and, accordingly, the harem. There were other women in Selim's life, but none of them could win his heart like Nurbanu. After the death of Selim (1574), her son Murat 3 became the padishah, she becomes Valide Sultan (the root mother) and for a long time held the threads of government in her hands, despite the fact that this time her rival was the wife of Murat 3 Safiye Sultan.
  
  Safiye Sultan
  
  A life of intrigue became the theme of many novels after her death. Just like Nurbanu Sultan, she was kidnapped by corsairs and sold to a harem, where she was bought by Nurbanu Sultan for a lot of money for her son Murat 3.
  
  The son's fervent love for her shaken the mother's influence on her son. Then Nurbanu Sultan begins to introduce the son of other women into life, but the love for Safiya Sultan was unshakable. Soon after the death of the mother-in-law, he actually ruled the state.
  
  Kosem Sultan.
  
  Murad's mother 4 (1612-1640) Kosem Sultan became a widow when he was still little. In 1623, at the age of 11, he was elevated to the throne and Kosem Sultan became regent under him. Actually ruled by the state.
  
  As her son grew up, she receded into the shadows, but continued to influence her son until his death. Her other son, Ibrahim (1615-1648), was elevated to the throne. The beginning of his reign was the beginning of the struggle between Kosem Sultan and his wife Turhan Sultan. Both of these women sought to establish their influence in public affairs, but over time this struggle became so obvious that it served to form opposing groups.
  
  As a result of this long struggle, Kosem Sultan was found strangled in his room, and her supporters were executed.
  
  Turhan Sultan (Hope)
  
  She was kidnapped in the steppes of Ukraine and donated to the harem. Soon she became the wife of Ibrahim, after whose death her young son Menmet 4 was placed on the throne. Although she became regent, her mother-in-law Kosem Sultan was not going to let go of the threads of government. But she was soon found strangled in her room, and her supporters were executed the next day. The regency of Turhan Sultan lasted 34 years and this was a record in the history of the Ottoman Empire.

All sultans of the Ottoman Empire and the years of the rule of history are divided into several stages: from the period of creation to the formation of the republic. These time periods have almost precise boundaries in the history of Osman.

Formation of the Ottoman Empire

It is believed that the founders of the Ottoman state arrived in Asia Minor (Anatolia) from Central Asia (Turkmenistan) in the 20s of the 13th century. The Sultan of the Seljuk Turks Keykubad II provided them with areas for living near the cities of Ankara and Segut.

The Seljuk Sultanate perished in 1243 under the blows of the Mongols. Since 1281, Osman comes to power in the possession (beylik) allocated to the Turkmen, who pursues a policy of expanding his beylik: he captures small towns, proclaims gazzavat - a holy war with the infidels (Byzantines and others). Osman partially subjugates the territory of Western Anatolia, in 1326 he takes the city of Bursa and makes it the capital of the empire.

In 1324 Osman I Gazi dies. They buried him in Bursa. The inscription on the grave became the prayer that the Ottoman sultans recited when they ascended the throne.

Continuers of the Ottoman dynasty:

Expanding the boundaries of the empire

In the middle of the 15th century. the period of the most active expansion of the Ottoman Empire began. At this time, the empire was headed by:

Mehmed II the Conqueror - ruled 1444-1446 and in 1451 - 1481. At the end of May 1453 he captured and plundered Constantinople. Moved the capital to the plundered city. Sophia Cathedral was converted into the main temple of Islam. At the request of the Sultan, the residences of the Orthodox Greek and Armenian patriarchs, as well as the chief Jewish rabbi, were located in Istanbul. Under Mehmed II, the autonomy of Serbia was terminated, Bosnia was subordinated, the Crimea annexed. The death of the Sultan did not allow the capture of Rome. The Sultan absolutely did not value human life, but wrote poetry and created the first poetic duvan.
Bayazid II Saint (Dervish) - ruled from 1481 to 1512. He practically did not fight. He stopped the tradition of personal Sultan leadership of the troops. Patronized culture, wrote poetry. He died, having transferred power to his son.
Selim I the Terrible (Merciless) - ruled from 1512 to 1520. He began his reign with the destruction of the closest competitors. Brutally suppressed the Shiite uprising. Captured Kurdistan, western Armenia, Syria, Palestine, Arabia and Egypt. Poet, whose poems were later published by the German Emperor Wilhelm II.
Suleiman I Qanuni (Legislator) - ruled from 1520 to 1566. Expanded the borders to Budapest, the upper Nile and the Strait of Gibraltar, the Tigris and the Euphrates, Baghdad and Georgia. Spent many state reforms... The last 20 years have passed under the influence of the concubine, and then the wife of Roxolana. Most prolific among the sultans in poetry. He died during a campaign in Hungary.
Selim II the Drunkard - ruled from 1566 to 1574. An addiction to alcohol was inherent. A talented poet. During this reign, the first conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Moscow principality took place and the first major defeat at sea. The only expansion of the empire was the capture of Fr. Cyprus. He died from hitting his head on stone slabs in a bathhouse.
Murad III - on the throne from 1574 to 1595 "Lover" of numerous concubines and a corrupt official who practically did not manage the empire. Under him, Tiflis was captured, the imperial troops reached Dagestan and Azerbaijan.
Mehmed III - ruled from 1595 to 1603 The record holder for the destruction of competitors to the throne - by his order, 19 brothers, their pregnant women and their son were killed.
Ahmed I - ruled from 1603 to 1617 The board is characterized by a leapfrog of senior officials, who were often replaced at the request of the harem. The empire lost the Transcaucasia and Baghdad.
Mustafa I - ruled from 1617 to 1618 and from 1622 to 1623. He was considered a saint for dementia and sleepwalking. He spent 14 years in a dungeon.
Osman II - ruled from 1618 to 1622 He was enthroned at the age of 14 by the Janissaries. He was pathologically cruel. After the defeat at Khotin from the Zaporozhye Cossacks, he was killed by the Janissaries for attempting to escape from the treasury.
Murad IV - ruled from 1622 to 1640 At the cost of a lot of blood, he restored order in the Janissary corps, destroyed the dictatorship of the viziers, cleared the courts and the state apparatus of corrupt officials. Returned Erivan and Baghdad to the empire. Before his death, he ordered to kill his brother Ibrahim - the last of the Ottomanids. Died of wine and fever.
Ibrahim - ruled from 1640 to 1648. Weak and weak-willed, cruel and wasteful, greedy for female affection. Displaced and strangled by the Janissaries with the support of the clergy.
Mehmed IV the Hunter - ruled from 1648 to 1687. He was proclaimed sultan at the age of 6. The true government of the state was carried out by the great viziers, especially in the early years. During the first period of its reign, the empire strengthened its military power, conquered Fr. Crete. The second period was not so successful - the Battle of Saint Gotthard was lost, Vienna was not taken, the revolt of the Janissaries and the overthrow of the Sultan.
Suleiman II - ruled from 1687 to 1691 Enthroned by the Janissaries.
Ahmed II - ruled from 1691 to 1695 Enthroned by the Janissaries.
Mustafa II - ruled from 1695 to 1703 Enthroned by the Janissaries. The first partition of the Ottoman Empire under the Karlovytsky Peace Treaty in 1699 and the Constantinople Peace Treaty with Russia in 1700.
Ahmed III - ruled from 1703 to 1730 She sheltered Hetman Mazepa and Karl XII after the Battle of Poltava. During his reign, the war with Venice and Austria was lost, part of the possessions in Eastern Europe, as well as Algeria and Tunisia, were lost.

WOMEN OF SULTAN SULEIMAN It is not known how many women were in the life of Sultan Suleiman I, but his relationship with some of them is provable. The first woman of Suleiman was the Montenegrin woman Mukrim (Mukarrem), who was introduced to him by the Hafsa valid in Kaffa in 1508/09. Mukrim was born in Shokdra in 1496 (or 1494), she was the daughter of Prince Stefan (Stanish) Chernoevich from the Montenegrin royal family of Crnoevichs (Chernoevichs) and the Albanian princess; it was given to the Sultan's court in 1507 as a tribute. Stefan Chernoevich converted to Islam after the conquest of Montenegro by the Turks (about 1507) and called himself Iskender. Selim I gave him one of his daughters in marriage and gained control over Montenegro. Thanks to his family connection with the Sultan's dynasty, Stefan Chernoevich (Iskender) remained the governor in Montenegro until his death in 1530. Mukrim gave birth to three children: Neslihan (1510) and Meryem (1511) were born in Kaffa: both girls died during a smallpox epidemic in 1512. Seven years later, Mukrimé gave birth to a son, Murad, in Sarukhan - he also died of smallpox in 1521 in the summer palace of Edirne. As a childless sultana, Mukrim until 1534 remained in the shadows. After the death of her mother-in-law Hafsa, she was expelled from Istanbul along with two other women of Suleiman - Gulbahar and Mahidevran. Suleiman provided Mukrima with a mansion in Edirne and she remained there until her death in 1555. Suleiman's second wife was the Albanian Gulbahar Melekdzhikhan (also called Kadriye), who became the concubine of the Sultan around 1511 in Kaffa. She is often mistakenly identified with Mahidevran. Gulbahar came from an Albanian noble family and, thanks to her kinship with the Ottoman dynasty, became a servant of Hafsa. It is not known how many children she gave birth to Suleiman: there must be at least two. As a childless concubine, after the appearance of Roksolana in the harem, she lost her influence, and in 1534 she was expelled from Istanbul along with Mukrim and Mahidevran. At first she lived in a mansion in Edirne, then in a manor near Arnavutkoy near the capital, and died there in 1559 at the age of 63. Suleiman's third wife, Makhidevran (one of the most famous wives of the Sultan), was the daughter of the Circassian prince Idar. She was born in Taman in 1498; her mother, princess Nazkan-Begum, was the daughter of the Crimean Tatar ruler Mengli 1st Giray. Makhidevran met Suleiman in the winter of 1511 in Kaffa, where she visited her mother. Suleiman married Mahidevran a little later, on January 5, 1512 in Kaffa. At the end of the same year, she gave birth to her first child, Shehzade Mahmud, in 1515 - Shehzade Mustafa, in 1518 - Shehzade Ahmed, in 1521 - Fatma Sultan and, finally, in 1525 - Razie Sultan: at this time Mahidevran already was not the first favorite of Suleiman, since the Slavic slave Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska became his favorite concubine. It was assumed that Makhidevran was also called Gulbahar, however, the middle name was not named in the certificate on the issuance of monetary reward to her. Historical documents refer to Mahidevran as Valide-i Şehzade-Sultan Mustafa Mahidevran Hatun. From the expenditure documentation (1521) it can be seen that Gulbahar Khatun, the mother of the deceased Shehzade Abdullah (orig .: Gülbahar Hatun mader-i mürdü Şehzade Sultan Abdullah), spent 120 acce on her stables. Another document from 1532 says that 400 akche were given to the brother of Gulbahar Khatun - Takhir agha from Okhrit. (orig .: padişah-ı mülkü alem Sultan Suleyman Han Hazretlerinin halile-i muhteremeleri Gülbahar Hatunun karındaşı Ohritli Tahir Ağa'nın şahsi hükmüne atayayı seniyyeden 400 Akça ihsan edildi) A letter dated 1554 says: "Gulbahar Qadriye, daughter of Hasan Bey and highly respected wife of Suleiman, shah of the world, asks from her native state for an amount of 90 asper." (orig. Gülbahar Kadriye binti Hasan Bey, harem-i muhtereme-i Cıhan-ı Şehinşah-ı Cihan-ı Suleyman Han, hane-i ahalisi içün 90 Asper mercuu eyler). This important document shows that Gulbahar's middle name was Kadriye. This proves that Mahidevran and Gulbahar are two completely different women. In a document dated 1531, Gulbahar is referred to as Melekcihan (orig .: Padişah-ı mülk Sultan Suleyman Han harem-i Arnavut nesebinden Kadriye Melekcihan Hatun). Around 1517 or 1518, a woman named Kumru Khatun appears in the harem, who is said to have been Suleiman's concubine. In a document of 1518, Kumru Khatun is mentioned among the influential ladies of the harem. But since 1533, her name has not been found in any of the historical documents, perhaps she died or was exiled. A certain Kumru Memduh Khatun (died in 1561) was a servant of Mukrim Khatun. Presumably, these two Kumru Khatuns are identical. Alexandra Lisowska, whose real name is Aleksandra Lisowska, was the daughter of a peasant from Ruthenia and was born in 1505 in eastern Poland. At a very young age, she was kidnapped by the Cossacks and sold to the court of the Crimean Tatars in Bakhchisarai. There she stayed for a short time, and then was sent along with other slaves to the Sultan's court. As soon as she arrived at the imperial harem, she became the sultan's mistress. In the fall of 1520, she was already pregnant with her first child, and at the beginning of 1521 gave birth to Shehzade Mehmed. For the next five years she was constantly pregnant and gave birth every year: at the end of 1521, Mihrimah Sultan was born, in 1523 - Abdullah, in 1524 - Selim, and in 1525 - Bayazid. After the birth of Bayazid, six years passed, and she again gave birth to a son, Jihangir (in December 1530). The boy probably suffered from scoliosis, which progressed throughout his life and caused severe pain. With this group of children, Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska strengthened her position at court and replaced her rival Makhidevran, becoming the first favorite of the Sultan. A struggle began between the two women for the future of their sons. Makhidevran lost this war, because Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska, with the help of her daughter Mihrimah and son-in-law Rustem Pasha, convinced the Sultan that Mahidevran's son, Prince Mustafa, was a traitor. Suleiman executed Mustafa. After the assassination of Prince Mustafa on October 6, 1553 in Aktepe near Konya, the way to the throne for the sons of Khyurrem was free, but she did not live up to the time when her son Selim II became the 11th Ottoman sultan. She died after a short illness on April 15, 1558 in Istanbul. Suleiman fell into a deep depression and allegedly mourned his beloved wife until his death. Little is known about Suleiman's last women. They say that even during the life of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska, he took two concubines, from whom he had children. About 1555 he chose Merziban Khatun, an Albanian woman, as his concubine, and about 1557 Melexime Khatun, a Bosnian from Mostar. The Venetian wife of Selim's heir, Nurbanu, thirsty for power, did not tolerate rivals in the palace, especially since Suleiman had a son from Meleksime Khatun, and the boy could be considered a contender for the throne. Soon after the execution of Bayezid and his sons in 1561, the little prince died unexpectedly at the age of about seven, and his mother Melexime, as well as Merziban, were forced to leave the palace. Apparently, Suleiman did not mind, because since 1564 Meleksima lived in Edirne, and Merziban - in Kyzylagach. Suleiman had 22 children from 6 women: From Mukrim Khatun: 1. Meryem (1510 - 1512) 2. Neslihan (1511 - 1512) 3. Murad (1519 - 1521) Gulbahar Khatun: 1. daughter - name unknown (1511 - 1520) 2. Abdullah (1520 - 1521) died of smallpox 3. Hafiza (1521 - about 1560) died a widow, the name of her husband is unknown. Makhidevran Khatun: 1. Mahmud (1512 - 1521) died of smallpox 2. Mustafa (1515 - 1553) 3. Ahmed (1518 - after 1534) the date of death is unknown, possibly around 1540 or later. Whether Prince Ahmed died a natural death is unknown, murder is possible. 4. Fatma (1520 - 1572) was married to Gazi Khoja Mehmed Pasha (died in 1548). Mehmed Pasha was the son of Gazi Yahya Pasha and Princess Shahzadi (daughter of Sultan Bayazid II). 5. Razie (1525 - 1556) died a widow, the name of her husband is unknown. Khyurrem Haseki Sultan: 1. Mehmed (1521 - 1543) 2. Mihrimah (1522 - 1578) 3. Abdullah (1523 - 1523) died in infancy 4. Selim II (1524 - 1574) 5. Bayazid (1525 - 1561) 6. Jihangir (1531 - 1553) Merziban Khatun: 1. Hatice (about 1555 - after 1575) died in his youth 2. son, whose name is unknown (ca. 1556 - about 1563) this prince may have been killed. Melexime khatun: 1. Orkhan? (about 1556 - 1562) in other sources he is called Mehmed. However, Shehzade Bayazid also had a son named Orhan, who was killed in Bursa around 1562. Confusion is possible. 2. Shahikhuban (1560 - about 1595) presumably she was married and had children.

Suleiman I, the tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire, endowed his state with unprecedented power. The great conqueror became famous also as a wise author of laws, the founder of new schools and the initiator of the construction of architectural masterpieces.

In 1494 (according to some reports, in 1495), a son was born to the Turkish Sultan Selim I and the daughter of the Crimean Khan Aisha Hafsa, who was destined to conquer half the world and transform his native country.

The future Sultan Suleiman I received a brilliant education at that time at the palace school in Istanbul, spent his childhood and youth reading books and practicing spiritual practices. From an early age, the young man was trained in administrative matters, having been appointed governor of three provinces, including the vassal of the Crimean Khanate. Even before ascending to the throne, young Suleiman won the love and respect of the inhabitants of the Ottoman state.

The beginning of the reign

Suleiman took the throne when he was barely 26 years old. Description of the appearance of the new ruler, penned by the Venetian ambassador Bartolomeo Contarini, was included in the famous book in Turkey by the English Lord Kinross "The Rise and Decline of the Ottoman Empire":

“Tall, strong, with a pleasant expression on his face. His neck is slightly longer than usual, his face is thin, and his nose is aquiline. The skin tends to be excessively pale. It is said of him that he is a wise ruler, and all people hope for his good government. "

And Suleiman at first met expectations. He started with humane actions - he returned freedom to hundreds of prisoners chained in chains from noble families of states captured by his father. This helped to renew trade relations with the countries.

The Europeans were especially happy about the innovations, hoping for a long-term peace, but, as it turned out, early. Balanced and fair at first glance, the ruler of Turkey still cherished the dream of military glory.

Foreign policy

By the end of his reign, the military biography of Suleiman I consisted of 13 major military campaigns, of which 10 campaigns of conquest were in Europe. And that's not counting the small raids. The Ottoman Empire had never been so powerful: its lands stretched from Algeria to Iran, Egypt and almost to the threshold of Vienna. At that time, the phrase "Turks at the gates" became a terrible horror story for Europeans, and the Ottoman ruler was compared to the Antichrist.

A year after ascending to the throne, Suleiman went to the borders of Hungary. The Sabac fortress fell under the pressure of the Turkish troops. Victories poured like a cornucopia - the Ottomans established control over the Red Sea, took Algeria, Tunisia and the island of Rhodes, conquered Tabriz and Iraq.

The Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean have also taken their place on the rapidly growing map of the empire. The Sultan was subordinate to Hungary, Slavonia, Transylvania, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1529, the Turkish ruler swung at Austria, storming its capital with an army of 120 thousand soldiers. However, Vienna was helped by an epidemic that claimed a third of the Ottoman army. The siege had to be lifted.

Only on the Russian lands Suleiman did not seriously encroach, considering Russia a remote province, which is not worth the effort and money spending. The Ottomans occasionally staged raids on the possessions of the Moscow state, the Crimean Khan even reached the capital, but a large-scale campaign never happened.

By the end of the reign of the ambitious ruler, the Ottoman Empire had become the greatest and strongest state in the history of the Muslim world. However, military measures depleted the treasury - according to estimates, the maintenance of an army of 200 thousand soldiers, which also included janissary slaves, ate two-thirds of the state budget in peacetime.

Domestic policy

It was not for nothing that Suleiman received the nickname Magnificent: the ruler's life is filled not only with military successes, the sultan also succeeded in the internal affairs of the state. On his behalf, Judge Ibrahim of Aleppo updated the code of laws that was in force until the twentieth century. Mutilation and the death penalty were reduced to a minimum, although criminals caught forging money and documents, bribery and perjury continued to lose their right hand.

The wise ruler of the state, where representatives of different religions coexisted, considered it necessary to weaken the pressure of the Sharia and made an attempt to create secular laws. But some of the reforms never caught on due to constant wars.

The education system has also changed for the better: one after another began to appear primary schools, and graduates, if desired, continued to receive education in colleges, which were located within the eight main mosques.

Thanks to the sultan, the architectural heritage was replenished with masterpieces of art. According to the sketches of the beloved architect ruler, Sinan, three luxurious mosques were built - Selimiye, Shehzade and Suleymaniye (the second largest in the capital of Turkey), which became an example of the Ottoman style.

Suleiman was distinguished by his poetic talent, so he did not ignore literary creation... During his reign, Ottoman poetry with Persian traditions was polished to perfection. At the same time, a new position appeared - a rhythmic chronicler, it was occupied by poets who clothed current events in poems.

Personal life

Suleiman I, in addition to poetry, was fond of jewelry, was known as a skillful blacksmith and even personally cast cannons for military campaigns.

How many women were in the sultan's harem is unknown. Historians know only about the official favorites who gave birth to Suleiman's children. In 1511, Fülane became the first concubine of the 17-year-old heir to the throne. Her son Mahmud died of smallpox before he was 10 years old. The girl disappeared from the forefront of palace life almost immediately after the death of the child.

Gulfem Khatun, the second concubine, also gave the ruler a son, who was also not spared by the smallpox epidemic. The woman, excommunicated from the Sultan, remained his friend and advisor for half a century. In 1562, Gulfem was strangled by order of Suleiman.

The third favorite, Mahidevran Sultan, approached the acquisition of the status of the official wife of the ruler. For 20 years she had a great influence in the harem and in the palace, but she also failed to create a legal family with the Sultan. She left the capital of the empire with her son Mustafa, who was appointed governor of one of the provinces. Later, the heir to the throne was executed for allegedly going to overthrow his father.

The list of women of Suleiman the Magnificent is headed by Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska. The favorite of Slavic roots, a captive from Galicia, as she was called in Europe, charmed the ruler: the sultan granted her freedom, and then took her as a legal wife - a religious marriage was concluded in 1534.

Roksolana received the nickname Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska (“laughing”) for her cheerful disposition and smile. The creator of the harem in the Topkapi Palace, the founder of charitable organizations inspired artists and writers, although she did not have an ideal appearance - her subjects appreciated the intelligence and cunning of everyday life.

Roksolana skillfully manipulated her husband, at her behest the sultan got rid of the sons born by other wives, became suspicious and cruel. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska gave birth to a daughter Mihrimah and five sons.

Of these, after the death of his father, the state was headed by Selim, who, however, did not differ in the outstanding talent of the autocrat, he loved to drink and take a walk. During the reign of Selim, the Ottoman Empire began to fade away. Suleiman's love for Khyurrem did not fade over the years, after the death of his wife, the Turkish ruler never went down the aisle.

Death

The Sultan, who brought powerful states to their knees, died, as he himself desired, in the war. It happened during the siege of the Hungarian fortress Szigetavr. 71-year-old Suleiman has long been tormented by gout, the disease progressed, and even riding a horse was already difficult.

He died on the morning of September 6, 1566, and did not live a couple of hours before the decisive assault on the fortress. The doctors who were treating the ruler were immediately killed so that information about the death did not reach the army, which, in the heat of disappointment, could raise an uprising. Only after the heir to the throne Selim established power in Istanbul, the soldiers learned about the death of the ruler.

According to legend, Suleiman felt the approaching end and voiced the last will of the commander-in-chief. A request with a philosophical meaning is known to everyone today: the sultan asked not to close his hands at the funeral procession - everyone should see that the accumulated wealth remains in this world, and even Suleiman the Magnificent, the great ruler of the Ottoman Empire, leaves empty-handed.

Another legend is connected with the death of the Turkish ruler. Allegedly, the body was embalmed, and the removed internal organs were placed in a vessel of gold and buried at the place of his death. Now there is a mausoleum and a mosque. The remains of Suleiman rest in the cemetery of the Suleymaniye mosque built by him, near the Roksolana mausoleum.

Memory

Several feature films and documentaries tell about the life of Suleiman I. The series "The Magnificent Century", which was released in 2011, became a vivid screen version of harem intrigues. In the role of the Ottoman ruler, he acts, whose charisma is felt even from the photo.

The image created by the actor is recognized as the best embodiment of the Sultan's power in cinema. He plays the concubine and the wife of the ruler, the actress with German-Turkish roots also managed to convey the main features of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska - spontaneity and sincerity.

Books

“Suleiman the Magnificent. Greatest Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. 1520-1566 ", G. Lamb
"Suleiman. Sultan of the East ", G. Lamb
“Sultan Suleiman and Roksolana. Eternal love in letters, poetry, documents ... "The prose of the great.
A series of books "The Magnificent Century", N. Pavlishcheva
"The Magnificent Age of Suleiman and Khyurrem Sultan", P.J. Parker
“The greatness and collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Lords of Endless Horizons ", Goodwin Jason, Sharov M
"Roksolana, Queen of the East", O. Nazaruk
Harem, B. Small
The Rise and Decline of the Ottoman Empire, L. Kinross

Movies

1996 - Roksolana
2003 - Khyurrem Sultan
2008 - “In Search of Truth. Roxolana: the bloody path to the throne "
2011 - "The Magnificent Century"

Architecture

Khyurrem Sultan Mosque
Shehzade Mosque
Selimiye Mosque