WHAT IS SULTANATE OF WOMEN?
This era was marked by the political dominance of wives and mothers of Ottoman sultans. From 1566, following the death of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, until 1683, nine different sultans ascended the Ottoman throne. Several of them were minors at the time of their accession. Consequently, their mothers governed the empire from the imperial harem as regents, exercising absolute authority.
This period is particularly compelling for two primary reasons:
- In a predominantly patriarchal Ottoman society, political power was traditionally vested in sultans and their viziers, while women were largely absent from public life
- With the exception of Mihrimah Sultan, all these women entered Topkapi Palace as young slaves. Through careful selection and in some cases fortune, they became the sultan’s favoured consorts, bore royal heirs and occasionally attained the status of legal wives. In effect, former slave women governed the empire along Grand Viziers, who themselves were often slaves too.
Viewed from this perspective, the Sultanate of Women emerges as an extraordinary historical phenomenon.
Most visitors to Istanbul tend to focus on its most renowned landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. However, Ottoman Istanbul extends far beyond these iconic monuments.
You can explore the city through many insightful historical lenses. I hope that this text will encourage readers to visit sites associated with Turhan Hatice Sultan, to gain a deeper understanding of their historical context and significance.
TURHAN HATICE SULTAN
Kösem Sultan and Turhan Hatice Sultan were the only women in Ottoman history to exercise direct political authority over the empire. In many ways, Turhan may have even surpassed Kösem in terms of her influence as the supreme ruler of the state.
She was the first Haseki Sultan of Sultan Ibrahim and later rose to become Valide Sultan as the mother of Sultan Mehmed IV.
When Sultan Ibrahim was dethroned and executed in 1648, his son with Turhan ascended to the throne. This should have elevated Turhan to the position of Valide Sultan. However, she was still young and lacked experience in state affairs, so Kösem continued to govern as Büyük Valide Sultan.
Naturally, Turhan was dissatisfied with this arrangement and, three years into Kösem’s rule, she may have orchestrated Kösem’s assassination. Kösem’s death cleared the path for Turhan to finally assume the role of Valide Sultan.
TURHAN HATICE VALIDE SULTAN
Sultan Mehmed IV deeply loved and respected his mother. As Valide Sultan, Turhan held immense authority. Due to her inexperience, she initially relied on the Grand Vizier and senior officials in managing the affairs of the Ottoman state.
YENI MOSQUE
One of the most recognisable Istanbul landmarks is the Yeni Mosque in Eminönü. Safiye Sultan first commissioned its construction in 1597.
By building a mosque in that part of the city, Safiye Sultan aimed to establish Islamic dominance over what was then a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood.
However, Safiye’s son, Sultan Mehmed III, died in 1603 and she lost her political power. The new sultan, Ahmed I, abandoned the project and redirected resources toward what would become the largest and most famous Ottoman imperial mosque in Istanbul – the Blue Mosque.
After these events, the construction site fell into ruin and was later severely damaged by the Great Fire of 1660.
That same year, the imperial architect Mustafa Ağa proposed to Turhan Hatice Sultan that the mosque be completed. She accepted and also ordered the construction of the Spice Bazaar as part of the imperial complex. The new mosque officially opened for prayers in 1665. Its original name was Yeni Valide Sultan Mosque, but over time it became widely known as the Yeni Mosque.
When I visited Istanbul in 2019, restoration work was underway at the mosque. Only a small section remained open for worship and tourists were not allowed inside. However, I had the opportunity to admire it in its full splendour during my stay in Istanbul in June 2024.
EGYPTIAN SPICE BAZAAR
The Egyptian Spice Bazaar was built at the same time as the Yeni Mosque and is, in fact, part of the complex commissioned by Turhan Hatice Sultan.
Its Turkish name is Mısır Çarşısı. “Misir” means Egypt in English. Revenues from the Ottoman Eyalet of Egypt were used to finance the market, which is how the bazaar earned its name.
Today, it remains the second-largest covered market in Istanbul, after the Grand Bazaar. It is also still considered one of the best and most important places for spice trading in the city.
TURHAN HATICE SULTAN FOUNTAIN
Not far from the Yeni Mosque complex, visitors will find the Turhan Hatice Sultan Fountain, which remains in use to this day.
TURHAN HATICE SULTAN MAUSOLEUM
Turhan Hatice Sultan died in 1683 in Edirne. Her body was brought back to Istanbul and buried in her mausoleum next to the Yeni Mosque.
Six Ottoman sultans are also buried in the same mausoleum alongside her – Mehmed IV, Mustafa II, Osman III, Ahmed III, Mahmud I and Murad V – as well as numerous other members of the Ottoman dynasty. In total, 82 people were laid to rest in this tomb.
Turhan’s death marked the end of the Sultanate of Women in Ottoman history. She was the last woman to rule the empire with supreme authority. Hers is an extraordinary life story, that of a slave girl abducted at the age of 12 and gifted to Kösem Sultan for the imperial harem at Topkapi Palace.
In fact, the same fate befell all formidable women who rose to prominence during the Sultanate of Women era. Such rise to power would have been unimaginable in any Western kingdom or empire, where no ordinary slave girl would have had the opportunity to rule the state.
There are many articles about Turhan Hatice Sultan available online. However, whether you are studying Ottoman history or simply fascinated by this unique period, this post aims to help you better understand Turhan’s life through her enduring legacy in modern-day Istanbul.
She will be remembered for generations to come or, at least, for as long as the magnificent structures built in her name continue to stand.
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