History of Kesem Sultan - the brilliant life of a brilliant woman

The history of Kesem Sultan surprisingly combines a dense historical canvas with a thin touch of artistic fiction. Historians who study the mores and chronicles of the Ottoman Empire hold different opinions about its influence on the Sultan. But at the same time, no one doubts the existence of this amazing woman, who went down in history under the name of Kesem Sultan.

Life story

This woman is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the Ottoman Empire. After the death of her husband, she enters into a political struggle and for some time actually led a huge state. In a country where Islam is the state religion, and the woman in all subordinated to a man, such a take-off became a dizzying success. We will try to collect those crumbs of real information on the basis of which it is possible to create an impression of the biography of this amazing woman who shaded with her beauty and talent the Ottoman gorgeous age.

The history of Kesem Sultan begins at the turn of the 16th to 17th centuries, in Bosnia, or to the south - on the Peloponnese Peninsula. At that time, the slave trade was not considered something special - on the vast territory that covered the southeast of Europe and north Africa, this occupation was just another trading direction - troublesome, but very lucrative. We were not informed about the reasons why the young Greek woman turned out to be a slave - whether she was captured as a result of a robbery raid on foreign lands, sold for debts or was simply born in slavery. Once she was in one of the huge slave markets as a living commodity.

Harem

In those days, the eunuchs were responsible not only to maintain order in the women's part of the Muslim house. He also had to regularly visit slave markets in order to find the most beautiful and healthy girls. So the future ruler fell into the harem of Sultan Ahmet 1 - so began the story of Kesem Sultan. In the new environment, she received not only a new position, but also a new name. It was called the Mahpeicher, which means "moon-faced." Such a nickname she received because of her smooth round face, which poets could compare to the shape of the full moon. But the character she was not at all equal - it showed the talent of the organizer and leader. For this in the harem she was given another nickname - Kesem. In the old-Turkic language, the sheep leading the herd were called so. Another etymology of the word is desirable, beloved. According to legend, the new surname received the slave from the sultan himself.

The Sultan's Wife

A young Greek woman managed to become so necessary to the Sultan that he soon married her. History Kesem Sultan made a new round. For all the time of her marriage she was a faithful and obedient wife, as Islam tells a woman. Ahmed 1 did not lose interest in his new wife - in a conjugal union four sons and three daughters were born. Contemporaries describe this woman as intelligent, astute and talented, very beloved Ottoman ruler. Despite Ahmed's complete love, 1 Kesem Sultan was neither the first favorite of the Sultan nor the mother of his first child - she did not enjoy special influence at court. In general, their marriage was quiet and prosperous. But everything changed after Ahmed's death.

Whirlpool of intrigues

In 1617 the old sultan dies, and the place of the chief ruler of the Ottoman Empire was to be occupied by the closest relative of the Sultan. Now we know how the winners in this race got rid of their less fortunate brothers - frequent deaths among descendants were accepted as a regularity, and not an exception. Kesem Sultan assured her husband's brother in his obedience, and he did not kill the son of Ahmed 1, the young Murad. Fortunately, the new ruler was neither wise nor healthy, and soon died very successfully. Prematurely, the next heir, Osman II, also died. To justify himself and prove his innocence in the death of the Sultan, Mahpayker had to appear before the judges, but influential friends and relatives did their job and the widow was acquitted.

Regency

History Kesem Sultan made a new turn - through numerous intrigues, bypassing the firstborn of Ahmed 1, she was able to grant her twelve-year-old son the throne of the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. But in fact, all power was in the hands of Mahpeicher. Until 1632, she actually led the country and enjoyed the great support of influential people.

Second attempt

When Murad became an adult and was able to take his father's throne, Mahdeyker modestly retreated into the shadows, content with the role of the Valid. But in 1640, after the death of her son, she again tried to organize a coup and deprive the power of a minor Mehmed, who at that time was only eight years old. But the detractors were stronger - and in 1651 Kesem Sultan was killed.

The history of the Ottoman Empire would be incomplete without describing the government of this woman. It is to her cautious advice that many of Ahmed's victories are indebted. A significant management as regency was marked by a number of successes in the foreign and domestic policy of the empire.