Legend one. “About the forty offspring of Sultan Suleiman and infanticide”
The legend says: “Hurrem Sultan decided to kill her two sons. Moreover, she convinced her husband, the Sultan, of the need for such a step. Their youngest son Bayazid was saved by the warning of a faithful man: he managed to leave Istanbul and took refuge in Iran. But it is known that, in addition to Roxolana’s sons, the Sultan’s children, born to other wives and concubines, were killed. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska ordered to find in the harem and throughout the country the other sons of Suleiman, whom wives and concubines gave birth to, and to take the lives of all of them! As it turned out, the Sultan had about forty sons - all of them, some secretly, some openly, were killed on Roksolana’s orders.”
Historical facts:
As you know, all births, deaths, and even more so when it came to ruling dynasty, was subject to clear accounting and control both in harem books and in other documents. Everything was described - from how much flour it took to make dessert for the shekhzade and ending with the main expenses for their maintenance. Moreover, all the descendants of the ruling dynasty necessarily lived at court, in case it was he who had to inherit the throne, because one should not forget about the high infant mortality rate that took place in those days. Also, since the Ottoman dynasty and its possible heirs were in the area of close attention not only of the Muslim East, but also of Christian Europe, their ambassadors informed the European kings about the birth of a child to one or another shah, on the occasion of which they were supposed to send congratulations and a gift. These letters have been preserved in the archives, thanks to which it is possible to restore the number of heirs of the same Suleiman. Therefore, each descendant, and even more so the shehzade, was known, the name of each was preserved in history.
So, Suleiman had 8 sons shehzade, which is recorded in the family tree of the Ottoman family:
1) Mahmud (1512 – October 29, 1521 in Istanbul) Proclaimed heir to Vali Ahad on September 22, 1520. Son of Fülane.
2) Mustafa (1515 - November 6, 1553 in Eregli in Karaman Iran) Proclaimed heir to Vali Ahad on October 29, 1521. Governor of the province of Karaman 1529-1533, Manisa 1533-1541, and Amasya 1541-1553. Son Makhidevran.
4) Mehmet (1521 - November 6, 1543 in Manisa) Proclaimed heir to Vali Ahad on October 29, 1521. Governor of Kutahya 1541-1543. Son of Hurrem.
6) Selim II (1524-1574) eleventh Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Son of Hurrem.
7) Bayezid (1525 - July 23, 1562) in Iran, Qazvin. Proclaimed 3rd heir of Vali Ahad on November 6, 1553. Governor of Karaman 1546, governor of the provinces of Kutahya and Amasya 1558-1559. Son of Hurrem.
8) Jihangir (1531- November 27, 1553 in Aleppo (in Arabic Aleppo) Syria) Governor of Aleppo 1553. Son of Hurrem.
It is also worth remembering that it was Suleiman, and not Hurrem, who executed his two sons, namely Mustafa and Bayazid. Mustafa was executed along with his son (the remaining of the two, since one of them died a year before the death of Mustafa himself), and his five little sons were killed along with Bayezid, but this happened already in 1562, 4 years after the death of Hurrem .
If we talk about the chronology and causes of death of all the descendants of Kanuni, it looked like this:
Şehzade Mahmud died of smallpox on November 29, 1521,
Şehzade Murad died of smallpox before his brother on 11/10/1521.
Şehzade Mustafa ruler of Manisa province since 1533. and the heir to the throne was executed along with his children by order of his father on suspicion of plotting against his father in alliance with the Serbs.
Şehzade Bayezid "Şahi" was executed along with his five sons by order of his father for rebelling against him
Accordingly, about what mythical forty descendants from Sultan Suleiman, killed by Hurrem, we're talking about remains a mystery not only for skeptics, but also for history itself. Or rather, a bike. One of the 1001 tales of the Ottoman Empire.
Legend two. “About the marriage of twelve-year-old Mihrimah Sultan and fifty-year-old Rustem Pasha”
The legend says: “As soon as her daughter was twelve years old, Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska offered Mihrimah as a wife to Rustem Pasha, who took the place of Ibrahim, who at that time was already fifty. The difference between the bride and groom of almost forty years did not bother Roksolana.”
Historical facts: Rustem Pasha also Rustem Pasha Mekri (Ottoman: رستم پاشا, Croatian: Rustem-paša Opuković; 1500 - 1561) - Grand Vizier of Sultan Suleiman I, Croatian by nationality.
Rustem Pasha married one of the daughters of Sultan Suleiman I - Princess Mihrimah Sultan
In 1539, at the age of seventeen, Mihrimah Sultan (March 21, 1522-1578) married the beylerbey of the province of Diyarbakir, Rustem Pasha. At that time, Rustem was 39 years old.
For those who find simple arithmetic operations of adding and subtracting dates unconvincing, we can only advise using a calculator to instill greater confidence.
Legend three. “About castration and silver tubes”
The legend says: “Instead of a sweet and cheerful laughing enchantress, we see a ferocious, insidious and ruthless survival machine. With the execution of the heir and his friend, a wave of repressions unprecedented in Istanbul began. One could easily pay with one's head for one too many words about bloody palace affairs. They cut off their heads without even bothering to bury the body...
Roksolana’s effective and terrifying method was castration, carried out in the most cruel way. Those suspected of sedition were completely cut out. And after the “operation” the unfortunate people were not supposed to bandage the wound - it was believed that the “bad blood” should come out. Those who still remained alive could experience the Sultana’s mercy: she gave the unfortunate people silver tubes that were inserted into the opening of the bladder.
Fear settled in the capital; people began to fear their own shadow, not feeling safe even near the hearth. The name of the sultana was pronounced with trepidation, which was mixed with reverence.”
Historical facts: The history of mass repressions organized by Hurrem Sultan has not been preserved in any way, either in historical records or in the descriptions of contemporaries. But it should be noted that historical information has been preserved that a number of contemporaries (in particular Sehname-i Al-i Osman (1593) and Sehname-i Humayun (1596), Taliki-zade el-Fenari presented a very flattering portrait of Hurrem, as a woman revered "for her numerous charitable donations, for her patronage of students and respect for learned men, experts in religion, as well as for her acquisition of rare and beautiful things." If we talk about historical facts which took place in the life of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska, she went down in history not as a repressive politician, but as a person involved in charity, she became known for her large-scale projects. So, with the donations of Hurrem (Külliye Hasseki Hurrem) in Istanbul, the Aksaray district, the so-called Avret Pazari (or women's bazaar, later named after Haseki), was built in Istanbul, containing a mosque, a madrasah, an imaret, primary school, hospitals and fountain. This was the first complex built in Istanbul by architect Sinan in his new position as chief architect ruling family. And the fact that it was the third largest building in the capital, after the complexes of Mehmet II (Fatih) and Süleymanie, testifies to the high status of Hurrem. She also built complexes in Adrianople and Ankara. Among other charitable projects, one can name the construction of hospices and a canteen for pilgrims and the homeless, which formed the basis of the project in Jerusalem (later named after Haseki Sultan); a canteen in Mecca (under the Haseki Hurrem Emirate), a public canteen in Istanbul (in Avret Pazari), as well as two large public baths in Istanbul (in the Jewish and Aya Sôfya quarters, respectively). At the instigation of Hurrem Sultan, slave markets were closed and a number of social projects were implemented.
Legend four. “About the origin of Hurrem.”
The legend says: “Deceived by the consonance of names - proper and common nouns, some historians see Roksolana as Russian, others, mainly French, based on Favard’s comedy “The Three Sultanas,” claim that Roksolana was French. Both are completely unfair: Roksolana, a natural Turkish woman, was bought for the harem as a girl at a slave market to serve as a servant for the dalist women, under whom she held the position of a simple slave.
There is also a legend that pirates of the Ottoman Empire in the suburbs of Siena attacked a castle belonging to the noble and wealthy family of Marsigli. The castle was plundered and burned to the ground, and the daughter of the castle owner - beautiful girl with hair the color of red gold and with green eyes, they brought him to the Sultan's palace. IN Family tree The Marsigli family is listed as: Mother - Hannah Marsigli. Hannah Marsigli - Margarita Marsigli (La Rosa), so nicknamed for her fiery red hair color. From her marriage to Sultan Suleiman she had sons - Selim, Ibrahim, Mehmed."
Historical facts: European observers and historians referred to Sultana as "Roksolana", "Roxa", or "Rossa", since she was assumed to be of Russian origin. Mikhail Lituan, Lithuania's ambassador to Crimea in the mid-sixteenth century, wrote in his chronicle of 1550 "... the beloved wife of the Turkish emperor, the mother of his eldest son and heir, was at one time kidnapped from our lands." Navaguerro wrote of her as "[Donna]... di Rossa", and Trevisano called her "Sultana di Russia". Samuel Twardowski, a member of the Polish embassy to the Court of the Ottoman Empire in 1621-1622, also indicated in his notes that the Turks told him that Roksolana was the daughter of an Orthodox priest from Rohatyn, a small town in Podolia near Lviv. The belief that Roksolana was of Russian rather than Ukrainian origin probably arose as a result of a possible misinterpretation of the words "Roksolana" and "Rossa". At the beginning of the 16th century in Europe, the word "Roxolania" was used to refer to the province of Ruthenia in Western Ukraine, which was at various times known as Red Rus', Galicia or Podolia (that is, located in Eastern Podolia, which was under Polish control at that time time), in turn, modern Russia at that time was called the Moscow State, Muscovite Rus' or Muscovy. In ancient times, the word Roxolani denoted the nomadic Sarmatian tribes and settlements on the Dniester River (currently in the Odessa region in Ukraine).
Legend five. "About a Witch at Court"
The legend says: “Hurrem Sultan was an unremarkable woman in appearance and very quarrelsome by nature. She became famous for her cruelty and cunning for centuries. And, naturally, the only way she kept the Sultan by her side for more than forty years was through the use of conspiracies and love spells. It’s not for nothing that she was called a witch among the common people.”
Historical Facts: Venetian reports claim that Roksolana was not so much beautiful as she was sweet, graceful, and elegant. But, at the same time, her radiant smile and playful temperament made her irresistibly charming, for which she was named “Hurrem” (“joy-giving” or “laughing”). Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska was known for her singing and musical abilities, her ability to do elegant embroidery, she knew five European languages, as well as Farsi, and was an extremely erudite person. But the most important thing was that Roksolana was a woman of great intelligence and willpower, which gave her advantage over other women in the harem. Like everyone else, European observers testify that the Sultan was completely smitten with his new concubine. He was in love with his Haseki for for long years life together. Hence, evil tongues accused her of witchcraft (and if medieval Europe and in the East the existence of such a legend in those days can be understood and explained, but in our time the belief in such speculation is difficult to explain).
And logically we can move on to the next legend directly related to this
Legend six. "About the infidelity of Sultan Suleiman."
The legend says: “Despite the fact that the Sultan was attached to the intriguer Hurrem, nothing human was alien to him. So, as you know, at the Sultan’s court there was a harem, which could not but interest Suleiman. It is also known that Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska ordered to find in the harem and throughout the country other sons of Suleiman, whom wives and concubines gave birth to. As it turned out, the Sultan had about forty sons, which confirms the fact that Hurrem was not the only love of his life.”
Historical facts: When the ambassadors, Navaguerro and Trevisano wrote their reports to Venice in 1553 and 1554, indicating that “she is very loved by her master” (“tanto amata da sua maestà”), Roxolana was already about fifty and she was next to Suleiman for a long time. After her death in April 1558, Suleiman remained inconsolable for a long time. She was the greatest love of his life, his soul mate and his lawful wife. This great love of Suleiman for Roksolana was confirmed by a number of decisions and actions on the part of the Sultan for his Haseki. For her sake, the Sultan violated a number of very important traditions of the imperial harem. In 1533 or 1534 (the exact date is unknown), Suleiman married Hurrem in a formal wedding ceremony, thereby breaking a century and a half of Ottoman custom in which sultans were not allowed to marry their concubines. Never before had a former slave been elevated to the rank of legal wife of the Sultan. In addition, the marriage of Haseki Hurrem and the Sultan became practically monogamous, which was simply unheard of in the history of the Ottoman Empire. Trevisano wrote in 1554 that once he met Roxolana, Suleiman “not only wants to have her as a legal wife, always keep her next to him and see her as a ruler in a harem, but he also does not want to know any other women: he did something that none of his predecessors had done, because the Turks were accustomed to hosting several women in order to have as many children as possible and satisfy their carnal pleasures.” For the sake of love for this woman, Suleiman violated a number of traditions and prohibitions. In particular, it was after his marriage to Hurrem that the Sultan dissolved the harem, leaving only service personnel at court. The marriage of Hurrem and Suleiman was monogamous, which surprised contemporaries a lot. The real love between the Sultan and his Haseki is also confirmed Love letters, sent by them to each other and preserved to this day. Thus, one of Kanuni’s many farewell dedications to his wife after her death can be considered one of the indicative messages:
“The skies are covered with black clouds, because I have no peace, no air, no thoughts and no hope. My love, the thrill of this strong feeling, so squeezes my heart, destroys my flesh. Live, what to believe in, my love...how to greet a new day. I am killed, my mind is killed, my heart has stopped believing, your warmth is no longer in it, your hands, your light are no longer on my body. I am defeated, I am erased from this world, erased by spiritual sadness for you, my love. Strength, there is no greater strength that you betrayed to me, there is only faith, the faith of your feelings, not in the flesh, but in my heart, I cry, I cry for you my love, there is no ocean greater than the ocean of my tears for you, Hurrem ..."
Legend seven. “About the conspiracy against Shehzade Mustafa and the entire Universe”
The legend says: “But the day came when Roxalana “opened the eyes” of the Sultan to the allegedly treacherous behavior of Mustafa and his friend. She said that the prince had developed close relations with the Serbs and was plotting against his father. The intriguer knew well where and how to strike - the mythical “conspiracy” was quite plausible: in the East, during the times of the sultans, bloody palace coups were the most common thing. In addition, Roksolana cited as an irrefutable argument the true words of Rustem Pasha, Mustafa and other “conspirators” that her daughter allegedly heard... A painful silence hung in the palace. What will the Sultan decide? Roxalana’s melodious voice, like the chime of a crystal bell, murmured caringly: “Think, O lord of my heart, about your state, about its peace and prosperity, and not about vain feelings...” Mustafa, whom Roxalana knew from the age of 4, becoming adults, had to die at the request of his stepmother.
The Prophet forbade shedding the blood of the padishahs and their heirs, therefore, by order of Suleiman, but by the will of Roxalana, Mustafa, his brothers and children, the grandchildren of the Sultan, were strangled with a silk cord."
Historical facts: In 1553, Suleiman's eldest son, Prince Mustafa, was executed, at that time he was already under forty years old. The first sultan to execute his adult son was Murad I, who ruled at the end of the 14th century, and ensured that the rebellious Savji was put to death. The reason for Mustafa's execution was that he planned to usurp the throne, but, as in the case of the execution of the Sultan's favorite, Ibrahim Pasha, the blame was placed on Hurrem Sultan, who was a foreigner who was near the Sultan. There was already a case in the history of the Ottoman Empire when a son tried to help his father leave the throne - this is what Suleiman’s father, Selim I, did with Suleiman’s grandfather, Bayezid II. After the death of Prince Mehmed several years earlier, the regular army really considered it necessary to remove Suleiman from affairs and isolate him in the Di-dimotihon residence located south of Edirne, in direct analogy with what happened with Bayezid II. Moreover, letters from the shehzade have been preserved, on which the personal seal of the shehzade Mustafa is clearly visible, addressed to the Safavid Shah, which Sultan Suleiman later learned about (this seal has also been preserved and Mustafa’s signature is inscribed on it: Sultan Mustafa, see photo). The last straw for Suleiman was the visit of the Austrian ambassador, who, instead of visiting the Sultan, first went to Mustafa. After the visit, the ambassador informed everyone that Shehzade Mustafa would be a wonderful Padishah. After Suleiman found out about this, he immediately called Mustafa to his place and ordered him to be strangled. Shehzade Mustafa was strangled by order of his father in 1553 during the Persian military campaign.
Legend eight. “About the origin of Valide”
The legend says: “Valide Sultan was the daughter of the captain of an English ship that was wrecked in the Adriatic Sea. Then this unfortunate ship was captured by Turkish pirates. The part of the manuscript that has survived ends with the message that the girl was sent to the Sultan’s harem. This is an Englishwoman who ruled Turkey for 10 years and only later, without finding common language with his son’s wife, the well-known Roksolana, returned to England.”
Historical facts: Ayse Sultan Hafsa or Hafsa Sultan (from Ottoman Turkish: عایشه حفصه سلطان) was born around 1479. - 1534) and became the first Valide Sultan (queen mother) of the Ottoman Empire, being the wife of Selim I and the mother of Suleiman the Magnificent. Although the year of birth of Ayşe Sultan is known, historians still cannot definitively determine the date of birth. She was the daughter of the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey.
She lived in Manisa with her son from 1513 to 1520, in a province that was the traditional residence of the Ottoman shehzade, future rulers, who studied there the basics of government.
Ayşe Hafsa Sultan died in March 1534 and was buried next to her husband in the mausoleum.
Legend nine. “About soldering Shehzade Selim”
The legend says: “Selim acquired the nickname “Drunkard” due to excessive consumption of wine. Initially, this love for alcohol was due to the fact that at one time Selim’s mother herself, Roksolana, periodically gave him wine, so her son was much more manageable.”
Historical facts: Sultan Selim was nicknamed the Drunkard, he was so cheerful and did not shy away from human weaknesses - wine and a harem. Well, the Prophet Muhammad himself admitted: “Most of all on earth I loved women and fragrances, but I always found complete pleasure only in prayer.” Do not forget that alcohol was in honor at the Ottoman court, and the lives of some sultans were shorter precisely because of their passion for alcohol. Selim II, being drunk, fell in the bathhouse and then died from the consequences of the fall. Mahmud II died of delirium tremens. Murad II, who defeated the crusaders at the Battle of Varna, died of apoplexy caused by heavy drinking. Mahmud II loved French wines and left behind a huge collection of them. Murad IV caroused from morning to night with his courtiers, eunuchs and jesters, and sometimes forced the chief muftis and judges to drink with him. Falling into binges, he committed such harsh acts that those around him seriously thought that he had gone crazy. For example, he loved to shoot with arrows at people who were sailing on boats past the Topkapi Palace or to run at night in his underwear through the streets of Istanbul, killing anyone who got in his way. It was Murad IV who issued a seditious decree from an Islamic point of view, according to which alcohol was allowed to be sold even to Muslims. In many ways, Sultan Selim’s addiction to alcohol was influenced by a person close to him, in whose hands were the main threads of control, namely the vizier Sokolu.
But it should be noted that Selim was not the first and not the last sultan who revered alcohol, and this did not prevent him from participating in a number of military campaigns, as well as in the political life of the Ottoman Empire. So from Suleiman he inherited 14,892,000 km2, and after him this territory was already 15,162,000 km2. Selim reigned prosperously and left his son a state that not only did not decrease territorially, but even increased; for this, in many respects, he owed the mind and energy of the vizier Mehmed Sokoll. Sokollu completed the conquest of Arabia, which had previously been only loosely dependent on the Porte.
Legend tenth. “About thirty campaigns in Ukraine”
The legend says: “Hurrem, of course, had influence on the Sultan, but not enough to save her fellow countrymen from suffering. During his reign, Suleiman undertook campaigns against Ukraine more than 30 times.”
Historical facts: Restoring the chronology of the conquests of Sultan Suleiman
1521 - campaign in Hungary, siege of Belgrade.
1522 - siege of the fortress of Rhodes
1526 - campaign in Hungary, siege of the Petervaradin fortress.
1526 – battle near the city of Mohacs.
1526 – suppression of the uprising in Cilicia
1529 – capture of Buda
1529 - storming of Vienna
1532-1533 - fourth trip to Hungary
1533 – capture of Tabriz.
1534 - capture of Baghdad.
1538 – ruin of Moldova.
1538 - capture of Aden, naval expedition to the shores of India.
1537-1539 - the Turkish fleet under the command of Hayreddin Barbarossa ravaged and imposed tribute on more than 20 islands in the Adriatic Sea that belonged to the Venetians. Capture of cities and villages in Dalmatia.
1540-1547 - fighting in Hungary.
1541 - capture of Buda.
1541 – capture of Algiers
1543 - capture of the Esztergom fortress. A Janissary garrison was stationed in Buda, and the Turkish administration began to function throughout the territory of Hungary captured by the Turks.
1548 – passage through the lands of Southern Azerbaijan and capture of Tabriz.
1548 – siege of the Van fortress and capture of the Lake Van basin in Southern Armenia. The Turks also invaded Eastern Armenia and Southern Georgia. In Iran, Turkish units reached Kashan and Qom and captured Isfahan.
1552 – capture of Temesvar
1552 - the Turkish squadron headed from Suez to the shores of Oman.
1552 - In 1552, the Turks took the city of Temesvár and the Veszprém fortress
1553 - capture of Eger.
1547-1554 – capture of Muscat (a large Portuguese fortress).
1551 - 1562 the next Austro-Turkish war took place
1554 – naval battles with Portugal.
In 1560, the Sultan's fleet won another great naval victory. Near the coast of North Africa, near the island of Djerba, the Turkish armada entered into battle with the combined squadrons of Malta, Venice, Genoa and Florence
1566-1568 – Austro-Turkish war for the possession of the Principality of Transylvania
1566 – capture of Szigetvár.
During his long, almost half-century rule (1520-1566), Suleiman the Magnificent never sent his conquerors to Ukraine.
It was at that time that the construction of fences, castles, fortresses of the Zaporozhye Sich, the organizational and political activities of Prince Dmitry Vishnevetsky arose. In Suleiman’s letters to the Polish king Artykul August II there are not only threats to punish “Demetrash” (Prince Vishnevetsky), but also a demand for a quiet life for the inhabitants of Ukraine. At the same time, in many ways, it was Roksolana who contributed to the establishment of friendly relations with Poland, which at that time controlled the lands of Western Ukraine, the native lands of the Sultana. The signing of the Polish-Ottoman truce in 1525 and 1528, as well as the “perpetual peace” treaties of 1533 and 1553, is very often attributed to her influence. So Piotr Opalinski, the Polish ambassador to Suleiman’s court in 1533, confirmed that “Roksolana begged the Sultan to forbid the Crimean Khan to disturb the Polish lands.” As a result, the close diplomatic and friendly contacts established by Hurrem Sultan with King Sigismund II, as confirmed by surviving correspondence, made it possible not only to prevent new raids on the territory of Ukraine, but also helped to interrupt the flow of slave trade from those lands
Historians have differing opinions about the origins of Roksolana Hurrem Sultan. The only thing is that almost no one doubts its Slavic origin. It is believed that Hurrem was born in western Ukraine, in the family of an Orthodox priest. After 15 years, the young Slav woman was taken captive by the Crimean Tatars and sold on the slave market.
Biography
The life of Hurrem Sultan in her homeland remains largely a mystery to historians. However, the main milestones of her biography as a concubine of Suleiman and his wife are, of course, still known to researchers:
1502 (according to other sources 1505) - date of birth of Hurrem;
1517 (or 1522) - captured by the Crimean Tatars;
1520 - Sehzade Suleiman becomes Sultan;
1521 - birth of first son Khyurrem Mehmed;
1522 - birth of Mikhrimah, the only daughter of Roksolana;
1523 - birth of Abdullah, second son of Hurrem (died at the age of 3);
1524 - birth of Shehzade Selim.
1525 - birth of Shehzade Bayezid;
1534 - wedding of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hurrem Sultan;
1536 - execution of Roksolana’s worst enemy Ibranim Pasha;
The biography of the great Haseki, the wife of Sultan Suleiman, nicknamed the Lawgiver in his homeland, and the Magnificent in Europe, was, of course, full of others important events. However, it is not possible to find out about them for obvious reasons. Almost no accurate historical information about Roksolan has been preserved.
Anastasia Lisovskaya: truth and fiction
It is believed that in her homeland Hurrem Sultan, whose history has been exciting the minds of the inhabitants of both Europe and Asia for many centuries, her name was Anastasia Lisovskaya. Perhaps it was so. However, historians are still inclined to think that Anastasia or Alexandra Lisovskaya is a fictitious name. The fact is that this was the name of the heroine of the popular novel about the Ukrainian woman Roxalana from the city of Rohatyn, published in Europe in the century before last. The exact historical information about the name of the legendary Haseki has not been preserved. Apparently, the name Anastasia Lisovskaya was invented by the author of the novel himself. The researchers only managed to find out that Hurrem Sultan was born, most likely, in 1502. She was captured by the Crimean Tatars, according to legend, at the age of 14-17 years.
The Slavic slave did not tell her name either to the Tatars or to the owners who bought her from them. Subsequently, no one in the harem managed to find out practically anything about her past. Therefore, Suleiman’s new slave received the name Roksolana. The fact is that this is what the Turks traditionally called the Sarmatians, the ancestors of the modern Slavs.
How Roksolana ended up in the Sultan's harem
How exactly Hurrem Sultan got to Suleiman’s palace is also unknown for certain. What is known is that his friend and vizier Ibrahim Pasha chose the Slavic slave for the Sultan. Most historians believe that Roksolana was bought by him at the slave market with his own money as a gift for the Lord. From that time on, Hurrem Sultan’s busy life in the palace began. If she had been purchased directly for Suleiman’s harem and with his personal funds, he would hardly have been able to marry her. According to Muslim laws, marriage at that time was allowed only with a gift of an odalisque.
Life in the palace and children
The title Haseki, or beloved wife, was introduced by Suleiman specifically for Hurrem. Roksolana had a truly enormous influence on the Sultan. The love of the greatest ruler of that time for his Haseki is evidenced by the fact that after marrying her, he dispersed his entire harem. Roksolana, as in the series, never actually had any rivals. However, despite all this, the family of Suleiman the Magnificent, most likely, still did not like the suddenly elevated slave, as in the TV movie. The Sultan's mother, according to historical data, greatly respected Muslim traditions. And her son’s marriage to a slave could really be a real blow for her.
The life of Hurrem Sultan in the palace, as in the series “The Magnificent Century,” was full of dangers. In fact, several attempts were made on her life. It is believed that it was her intrigues that led to the execution of Ibrahim Pasha and Mustafa, the son of Suleiman’s first wife, Mahidevran Sultan. According to legend, Roksolana initially sought to make her beloved son Bayazid heir. However, the Sultan's army was more supportive of her other son, Selim, who, after the death of Suleiman, ascended the throne.
As contemporaries testify, Haseki Roksolana was an attractive, but at the same time also a very smart woman. The life of Hurrem Sultan was not only about raising children and palace intrigues. Roksolana read a lot of books and was interested in politics and economics. She certainly had managerial talent. For example, in the absence of Suleiman, she managed to patch up a huge hole in the Sultan’s treasury in a rather cunning way, rather traditional for Slavic rulers. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska simply ordered the opening of wine shops in the European quarter of Istanbul.
Due to the strong influence exerted on the Sultan, contemporaries considered Roksolana a witch. Perhaps the suspicions of witchcraft were not in vain. There is even historical information (though not entirely reliable) that Roksolana, already being Suleiman’s favorite concubine, ordered various kinds of witchcraft artifacts from Ukraine.
The cause of death of Hurrem Sultan also still remains a mystery to historians. It is officially believed that the great Haseki died of a common cold. Although there is information that she could have been poisoned. Also, some historians believe that the Haseki ended her life due to an illness that doctors of that time called simply fatal. Today this disease is known as cancer. It was this version that was presented in the series “The Magnificent Century”.
Roksolana, or Anastasia Gavrilovna Lisovskaya (1506-1562) - the first and only woman who had a title in the harem of Sultan Suleiman. The history of this Ukrainian woman is surrounded by legends; several films and TV series were made based on her biography. For her sake, Suleiman the Magnificent dissolved his harem, and at the last reception in the palace Roksolana appeared with her face open. She was involved in charity work and helped the Sultan manage the vast Ottoman Empire. The Turks called her Hurrem, which translated meant “joyful, cheerful, laughing.” It was thanks to her persistent character and optimism that the simple girl Nastya was able to survive in captivity and gain the love of the ruler.
Life before captivity
The girl was the daughter of the priest Gavrila Lisovsky. She was born in the city of Rohatyn. At that time it was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Crimean Tatars often attacked that territory. One day they captured Lisovskaya. She was then barely fifteen years old.
The Tatars brought the slave to Istanbul on a ship, then put her on the market. It was there that Ibrahim Pasha saw Anastasia. The girl was not beautiful, but somehow she attracted attention. The vizier decided to give it to the Sultan. At first he bargained with the “owner” of the captive, but he refused the money when he found out who the girl was destined for. It is thanks to this that Roksolana was never in the status of a slave.
Other sources claim that the girl had already been captured once, even before meeting the Sultan. According to unverified data, in the fall of 1520 she studied at a school for slaves. It was there that Anastasia mastered the skill of dancing, playing the musical instruments and poetry.
Meeting with the Sultan
Suleiman the Magnificent was respected by all inhabitants of the empire. He was a fair padishah, fought against corruption, and issued many practical laws. The Sultan was also interested in philosophy and art, and was a comprehensively educated person.
Roksolana was a smart and talented girl. She wrote poetry, read a lot, sang and danced. The Ukrainian woman was able to interest Suleiman at the very first meeting. During the performance of the slaves, she unexpectedly broke the circle of dancing slaves, began to laugh and sing in her native language. Usually in such cases the girls were killed or sent to the Sultan's bedroom. The ruler felt sympathy for Nastya, so he chose the second option.
The young and attractive Suleiman did not disgust Lisovskaya, their first night went well. After her, the beauty turned to the man with only one request - she wanted to visit the library. Within a few months, she managed to independently master several languages, including Persian, Turkish and Arabic. The girl wrote poems and books, dedicating them to her lover. This caused fear among the inhabitants of the empire, so they often called her a witch. Many townspeople said that Anastasia bewitched the Sultan.
Lisovskaya was a good psychologist. She often observed those around her without saying anything. The girl quickly learned the behavior of the inhabitants of the empire and their laws, so she had to convert to Islam. She always knew what and to whom she needed to say in order to survive in the current situation.
Marriage and intrigue
The Sultan quickly realized that Lisovskaya was capable of independently ruling the empire. In 1530 they officially married. Thanks to this, the girl received the necessary powers, and soon the ruler’s wealth increased. Roksolana had the same rights as the padishah. She was dating statesmen and foreign ambassadors without wearing a burqa.
Anastasia gave birth to her husband four sons - Mohammed, Bayazet, Selim and Jehangir. Later, a daughter was born, she was named Khamerie. From the outside, the woman’s life seemed absolutely happy, but she was in constant fear. At any moment, the husband could leave the aged Lisovskaya for a new hobby, and the inheritance should not have gone to her son.
Suleiman's direct heir was Mustafa, the son of another slave, Makhidevran. To eliminate him, Roksolana married her daughter (12 years old) to the chief vizier. Thanks to this marriage, she was able to collect all the necessary information and convince the ruler of a conspiracy being prepared against him. As a result, the vizier was executed, then Mustafa was strangled.
The Sultan's mother suspected her daughter-in-law of complicity, but after the claims were made, she did not live even a month. Many believed that it was Nastya who poured poison into her mother-in-law. After the death of all the undesirables, she could breathe a sigh of relief. But the woman did not live to see the moment when her son Selim became the Sultan. In 1562 she died of a cold. In honor of his deceased beloved, Suleiman built a mausoleum, under the dome of which roses were carved. They were decorated with Lisovskaya's favorite stones - emeralds.
There are many dark spots in Roksolana’s biography, but this does not make people’s love for her fade away. A district in Istanbul is named after the girl, and her tomb is located next to the tomb of Suleiman. In the entire history of the empire, not a single woman has received such an honor.
He became, if not the greatest, then one of the greatest monarchs of Turkey in its entire history. In Europe he is known as the “Magnificent” conqueror, remembering large-scale military campaigns, conquests in the Balkans, Hungary, and the siege of Vienna. At home, he is also known as a wise legislator.
Family and children of Suleiman the Magnificent
As befits a Muslim ruler, the Sultan had many wives and concubines. Any Russian-speaking reader is familiar with the name of Roksolana, a slave-concubine who became the ruler’s beloved wife and an important person in government state affairs. And thanks to the incredible popularity of the series “The Magnificent Century,” the intrigues of the Sultan’s harem and the long-term confrontation between the Slav Khyurrem Sultan (Roksolana) and the Circassian Makhidevran Sultan became widely known. Of course, over time, all the children of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent were drawn into this long-term feud. Their fates turned out differently. Some remained in the shadow of their blood relatives, while others managed to brightly write their name into the pages of Turkish history. Below is the story of the children of Suleiman the Magnificent. Those of them who managed to leave any significant mark.
Children of Suleiman the Magnificent: Sehzade Mustafa and Selim II
These princes became rivals in a dispute begun by their mothers. These are those of Suleiman the Magnificent who were drawn into the bitter feud between Hurrem and Mahidevran. Both were not the firstborn of their mothers and were not initially considered direct contenders for the throne. But the twists and turns of fate made them so. However, it was largely resolved by those who started it. Roksolana managed to win the Sultan's sympathy and become his beloved wife. Makhidevran was actually exiled to Manisa along with her son Mustafa. However, the tragic vicissitudes of Prince Mustafa's fate were only just beginning. Soon rumors begin to spread throughout the empire that Mustafa is preparing a conspiracy against his father. Suleiman believed these rumors and ordered the execution of his son when they were both on one of their military campaigns. Thus, Selim's rival for the throne was eliminated. did not subsequently become such a wise and decisive ruler as his father. On the contrary, it is with his reign that historians associate the beginning of the decline of the majestic Ottaman port. And the reason for this was not only objective socio-economic prerequisites, but also the personal qualities of the heir: weak character, laziness, short-sightedness and, most importantly, heavy drinking. He was remembered by the Turkish people as a drunkard.
Children of Suleiman the Magnificent: Shehzade Mehmed and Shehzade Bayezid
Both of them were the sons of the Sultan by Roksolana. Mehmed was her first son, but could not be considered an heir, since his son Mahidevran Mustafa was older than him. However, when the latter fell into disgrace, it was Mehmed who became his father’s favorite. He was appointed governor of the city of Manisa in 1541. However, he was never destined to become a great sultan, nor did he die of illness in 1543. The heir is Bayezid. early years grew up as a brave and desperate young man. Already in the early
aged he took part in military campaigns, establishing himself as a talented commander. After Mustafa's death, he began to be considered the main contender for his father's legacy. In subsequent years, a real war broke out between the brothers Bayezid and Selim for the throne, in which the latter won.
Mihrimah Sultan
She became the only daughter of the magnificent Sultan. Her mother was Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska. Mihrimah received an excellent education, thanks to which she later became an important assistant to her mother in managing state affairs (at a time when Suleiman was on his countless campaigns).
Interest in historical legendary figures most often awakens among people after the release of TV series, films or books about a particular character who lived long before us. And, of course, curiosity intensifies when the story is permeated with bright and pure love. For example, like the story of the Russian Roksolana, which aroused the curiosity of viewers after the series “The Magnificent Century”.
Unfortunately, this Turkish series, although beautiful and captivating the viewer from the first frames, is still far from the truth in many aspects. And it definitely cannot be called historically truthful. Who, after all, is this Hurrem Sultan, and why did she so captivate Sultan Suleiman?
Origin of Roksolana - where did Hurrem Sultan really come from?
In the series, the girl is presented as cunning, daring and wise, cruel to her enemies, sparing no effort in the struggle for power.
Was this really so?
Unfortunately, there is too little information about Roksolana for anyone to write an accurate biography of her, but still, many aspects of her life can be understood from her letters to the Sultan, from paintings by artists, and from other evidence that has survived from those times.
Video: What were Hurrem Sultan and Kösem Sultan like - “Magnificent Century”, history analysis
What is known for sure?
Who was Roksolana?
The true origin of one of the greatest Mistresses of the East still remains a mystery. Historians still argue about the mystery of her name and place of birth.
According to one legend, the captive girl’s name was Anastasia, according to another - Alexandra Lisovskaya.
One thing is certain - Roksolana had Slavic roots.
According to historians, the life of Hurrem, Suleiman’s concubine and wife, was divided into the following “stages”:
- 1502: the birth of the future queen of the East.
- 1517: the girl is captured by the Crimean Tatars.
- 1520: Shehzade Suleiman receives the status of Sultan.
- 1521: The first son, Khyurrem, was born, who was named Mehmed.
- 1522: a daughter, Mikhrimah, was born.
- 1523rd: second son, Abdullah, who did not live to be 3 years old.
- 1524th: third son, Selim.
- 1525: fourth son, Bayezid.
- 1531: fifth son, Cihangir.
- 1534: the Sultan's mother dies, and Suleiman the Magnificent takes Hurrem as his wife.
- 1536: one of Hurrem's worst enemies is executed.
- 1558: death of Hurrem.
The mystery of the name Roksolana
In Europe, Suleiman’s beloved woman was known precisely by this sonorous name, which was mentioned in his writings by the ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire, who also noted the Slavic roots in the girl’s origin.
Was the girl's original name really Anastasia or Alexandra?
We will never know for sure.
This name appeared for the first time in a novel about a Ukrainian girl who was taken away from her native Rohatyn by the Tatars at the age of 15 (14-17) years. The name was given to the girl by the author of this fictional (!) novel of the 19th century, so to claim that it was conveyed historically accurately is completely incorrect.
It is known that the slave Slavic origin So she didn’t tell anyone her name - neither to her captors, nor to her masters. No one in the harem itself managed to find out the name of the Sultan’s new slave.
Therefore, according to tradition, the Turks dubbed her Roksolana - this name was given to all Sarmatians, the ancestors of today's Slavs.
Video: Truth and fiction of the series “The Magnificent Century”
How did Roksolana become Suleiman's slave?
The Crimean Tatars were known for their raids, in which, among the trophies, they also captured future slaves - for themselves or for sale.
The captive Roksolana was sold several times, and the final destination of her “registration” was the harem of Suleiman, who was the crown prince, and by that time was already involved in matters of national importance in Manisa.
There is an opinion that the girl was given to the 26-year-old Sultan in honor of the holiday - his accession to the throne. The gift was made to the Sultan by his vizier and friend Ibrahim Pasha.
The Slavic slave received the name Hurrem as soon as she entered the harem. The name was given to her for a reason: translated from Turkish, the name means “cheerful and blooming.”
Marriage with the Sultan: how did the concubine become Suleiman’s wife?
According to the Muslim laws of those times, the Sultan could only marry a gifted odalisque - who, in fact, was only a concubine, a sexual slave. If Roksolana had been bought personally by the Sultan, and with his personal funds, he would never have been able to make her his wife.
However, the Sultan still went further than his predecessors: it was for Roksolana that the title “Haseki” was created, meaning “Beloved Wife” (the second most important title in the empire after “Valide”, which the Sultan’s mother had). It was Hurrem who had the honor of giving birth to several children, and not just one, as befits a concubine.
Of course, the Sultan’s family, which sacredly respected the laws, was dissatisfied - Hurrem had plenty of enemies. But everyone bowed their heads before the Lord, and his love for the girl could only be silently accepted, in spite of everything.
Hurrem's influence on Suleiman: who was Roksolana really for the Sultan?
The Sultan passionately loved his Slavic slave. The strength of his love can be determined even by the facts that he went against the customs of his country, and also dispersed his beautiful harem immediately after he took his Haseki as his wife.
The life of a girl in the Sultan's palace became more dangerous the stronger her husband's love became. They tried to kill Hurrem more than once, but the beautiful, intelligent Roksolana was not just a slave, and not just a wife - she read a lot, had managerial talents, studied politics and economics, built shelters and mosques, and had a huge influence on her husband.
Hurrem Sultan and Sultan Suleiman, series “Magnificent Century”
It was Hurrem who managed to quickly plug the hole in the budget during the Sultan’s absence. Moreover, purely Slavic simple method: Roksolana ordered the opening of wine shops in Istanbul (and more specifically, in its European quarter). Suleiman trusted his wife and her advice.
Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska even received foreign ambassadors. Moreover, she received them, according to many historical records, with an open face!
The Sultan loved his Hurrem so much that it was with her that a new era started, which was called “ female sultanate».
Cruel and treacherous - or fair and smart?
Of course, Hurrem was an outstanding and intelligent woman, otherwise she would not have become for the Sultan what he allowed her to become.
But the writers of the series clearly overdid it with Roksolana’s insidiousness: the intrigues attributed to the girl, as well as the cruel conspiracies that resulted in the execution of Ibrahim Pasha and Shahzade Mustafa (approx. – the eldest son of the Sultan and heir to the throne) are just a legend that has no historical basis.
One of the most likely images of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska. Unknown artist
Although it should be noted that Hürrem Sultan clearly had to be one step ahead of everyone, to be careful and insightful - considering how many people hated her simply because, through the love of Suleiman, she became the most influential woman in the Ottoman Empire.
Video: What did Hurrem Sultan really look like?
All sultans are submissive to love...
Most of the information about the love of Hurrem and Suleiman is based on memories set forth by foreign ambassadors based on gossip and rumors, as well as their own fears and speculations. Only the Sultan and the heirs were included in the harem, and the rest could only fantasize about events in the “holy of holies” of the palace.
The only historically accurate evidence of the tender love of Hurrem and the Sultan are their surviving letters to each other. At first, Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska wrote them with outside help, and then she mastered the language herself.
Considering that the Sultan spent a lot of time on military campaigns, they corresponded very actively. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska wrote about how things were in the palace - and, of course, about her love and painful melancholy.
Broken traditions of the Ottoman Empire: everything for Hurrem Sultan!
For the sake of his beloved wife, the Sultan easily broke centuries-old traditions:
- Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska became both the mother of the Sultan's children and his favorite , which has never happened before (either the favorite or the mother). The favorite could have only 1 heir and after his birth she was no longer concerned with the Sultan, but exclusively with the child. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska not only became the wife of the Sultan, but also bore him six children.
- Adult children (shehzade), according to tradition, left the palace with their mother. Everyone goes to their own sanjak. But Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska remained in the capital.
- Sultans before Hurrem did not marry their concubines . Roksolana became the first slave who did not accept slavery - and achieved freedom from the label of a concubine and received the status of a wife.
- The Sultan always had the right to have intimate relations with an unlimited number of concubines, and sacred custom allowed him to have many children from different women. This custom was due to the high mortality rate of children and the fear of leaving the throne without heirs. But Hurrem prevented any attempts by the Sultan to enter into an intimate relationship with other women. Roksolana wanted to be the only one. It has been noted more than once that possible rivals of Hurrem (including slaves given to the Sultan) were removed from the harem only because of her jealousy.
- The love of the Sultan and Hurrem only grew stronger over the years: over the decades, they practically merged with each other - which, of course, went beyond the scope of Ottoman customs. Many believed that Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska bewitched the Sultan, and under her influence he forgot about the main goal - expanding the country’s borders.
If you are in Turkey, be sure to visit the Suleymaniye Mosque and the tombs of Sultan Suleiman and Hurrem Sultan, and you can get acquainted with culinary Turkey in
According to some historians, it was the female sultanate that caused the collapse of the Ottoman Empire from within - the rulers weakened and “shrinked” under the “female heel.”
After the death of Hurrem (it is believed that she was poisoned), Suleiman ordered the construction of a Mausoleum in her honor, where her body was subsequently buried.
The Sultan’s poems dedicated to his beloved Hurrem were painted on the walls of the Mausoleum.
For approximately 5 centuries, the couple has been resting in peace in neighboring turbes in Istanbul. On the right is Suleiman's turbe, on the left is Hürrem Sultan
