#Perestu Valide Sultan

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(Almost) Every Costume Per Episode + Rahime Perestu’s brown gown and brown fur kaftan in 1x08

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(OTTOMAN) WOMEN’S HISTORY MEME | 5 valide sultans: Rahime Perestu

The lady Perestû Kadınefendi raised my father as her adoptive child, since his own mother died while he was but a boy. When he ascended the throne she took the title Mehd-i Ulyâ-yı Saltanat-ı Seniyye [Most High Mother of the Exalted Sultanate]. Even in her old age one could see that she had been strikingly beautiful in her youth. She was Circassian, as were all the ladies of my grandfather, and from the Ubykh clan. She was a beautiful woman, possessing a petite and slender figure with translucent white skin, blue eyes, golden blonde hair, and truly lovely hands and feet. One could see how worthy she was of the rank of Princess Mother from her refined comportment as well as her dignity and charming disposition. This esteemed lady’s luminous face, graciousness, delicate manner, and elegance inspired respect and affection in everyone’s heart, so that all those living in the palace loved her deeply. Hers was a most melodious voice, though she spoke softly and infrequently. — Ayşe Osmanoğlu, My father, Sultan Abdülhamid

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Sultan Abdul Hamid II consorts and children, take your time I won’t hurry you

I'm sorry for being late but the man had so many children they just would never end.

Consorts

Nâzik-edâ Başkadınefendi (1848-1895): the mother of Ulviye Sultan, the violent death of her only child was a shock from which she never recovered. She gained a lot of weight in a short period of time and died on 11 April 1895. She was buried in the mausoleum of Murad V in the Yeni Mosque.

Sâfi-nâz Nûr-efzûn 2. Kadınefendi (1850-1915): her real name was Ayşe and she was the youngest sister of Abdülmecid I's consort Yıldız Hanım. When Yıldız Hanım married Abdülmecid, Ayşe was sent to the household of Şehzade Abdülaziz. According to Harun Açba, Abdülaziz was fascinated by her beauty and wanted to marry her but she declined because she was in love with Şehzade Abdülhamid. The feeling was mutual and the young prince asked his step-mother Perestu Kadınefendi's help. She told Abdülaziz that Safinaz was ill and that she needed a change of air; later, Abdülaziz was informed that she had passed away. Abdülhamid therefore married Safinaz, now Nurefsun, in October 1868. She could not get used to life in the harem, though, and wanted to be Abdülhamid's only wife. She therefore asked for a divorce, which she was granted in 1879. She died in 1915.

Bedr-i Felek Başkadınefendi (1851-1930): she was a Circassian princess who entered the Palace service after fleeing Caucasus. She married the future Abdülhamid II on 15 November 1868 and had three children with him: Şehzade Mehmed Selim, Şehzade Ahmed Nuri and Zekiye Sultan. It is said that Abdülhamid II greatly disliked his son Mehmed Selim and it is for this reason that he never visited Bedrifelek in her apartments. Nevertheless, she took over Rahime Perestu Valide Sultan's duties in the harem after her death. Following the 31 March Incident, there was the concrete possibility for Bedrifelek to become Valide Sultan because her son Mehmed Selim had been chosen as his father's successor. In the end this did not happen and maybe for this reason she did not follow Abdülhamid to Thessaloniki. After the fall of the Empire, she settled in a mansion in Serencebey which she never left. She was described as always melancholic and with tears in her eyes whenever she mentioned the old times in the Palace. She died on 8 February 1930.

Bîdâr 2. Kadınefendi (1855/8-1918): considered the most beautiful and charming of Abdülhamid II's consorts, she was born a Kabardian princess. She was tall, with brown hair and green penetrating eyes. She was the mother of Fatma Naime Sultan and Şehzade Abdülkaadir. Her beauty was talked about in Europe as well, to the point that when in 1918 Empress Zita visited Istanbul, she asked to visit Bidar. The consort, unfortunately, had died in January of the same year.

Dil-pesend 3. Kadınefendi (1861/5-1901): there is not much information about her, Ayşe Sultan even mistook her for Fatma Pesend in her memoirs. She seems to have been Georgian and given to the Palace at a young age but there is no information about her parents. She married Abdülhamid II in 1884 in Yıldız Palace; a year later she gave birth to Naile Sultan. She died young and was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery.

Mezîde Mestân 3. Kadınefendi (1869-1909): her real name Kadriye or Kamile, she was the aunt of Mehmed VI Vahideddin's Senior Consort Emine Nazikeda. Described as very timid, she was apparently tall, with brown eyes and hair. She married Abdülhamid in 1885 and in the same year gave birth to her only child, Şehzade Mehmed Burhaneddid, Abdülhamid II's most beloved son. As the mother of the sultan's favourite son she was very influential but never abused her position; instead, she was known for helping everyone and even her step-children loved her. She died three months before Abdülhamid II's deposition and was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery.

Emsâl-i Nûr 3. Kadınefendi (1866-1952): she entered the harem with her sister Tesrid Hanım. Abdülhamid II noticed Emsalinur because of her beauty and married her in 1885. A year later she gave birth to her only child, Şadiye Sultan. She built a mosque in Kırkpınar in 1907 and was gifted a mansion in Nişantaşı, where she lived after her husband's deposition. She took the surname Kaya after the Surname Law of 1934. In 1948, her mansion was put on sale by the Ministry of Finance and therefore had to live in a public hospice until her death on 20 November 1952. Her sister Tesrid married Şehzade İbrahim Tevfik Efendi.

Ayşe Dest-i Zer Müşfika “Kayısoy” 4. Kadınefendi (1867-1961): her real name was Ayşe and she was of Abkhazian origin. Her father was a soldier and her mother took Ayşe and her sister to Pertevniyal Valide Sultan, who liked them very much. The valide sultan changed her name to Destizer. She moved to Dolmabahçe Palace when Pertevniyal Sultan died and there attracted Abdülhamid II's attention, who changed her name into Müşfika. She married him on 12 February 1886 and a year later she gave birth to her only child, Ayşe Sultan. After Mezîde Mestân's death she was raised to the rank of Fourth Imperial Consort. She followed Abdülhamid II in his exile to Thessaloniki and afterwards in Beylerbeyi Palace, where she stayed until his death. it is said that the former sultan died in her arms. She settled in Gazi Osman Paşa's mansion in Serencebey after the expulsion of the Ottoman Dynasty. She died on 16 July 1961 and was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery.

Sâz-kâr Başhanımefendi (1873-1945): her real name Fatma, she belonged to the Abkhazian aristocracy and entered Palace service at a young age. After receiving a thorough education, she married Abdülhamid II in 1890; a year later she gave birth to her only child, Refia Sultan. She was considered very beautiful: tall, with blond hair and blue eyes, she was very elegant. She followed Abdülhamid II to Thessaloniki and then returned to Istanbul, where she settled down with her fellow wife Peyveste Hanım. In 1924 she chose to go in exile with her daughter and died in 1945 in Damascus. She was buried in the Sultan Selim Mosque in Damascus.

Hadîce Râbi’a Peyveste 2. Hanımefendi (1873-1943): her real name Rabia, she was the daughter of an Abkhazian prince. She was introduced to palace service by a relative; she first served Nazikeda BaşKadınefendi with her sisters and then became Chief Harem Treasurer. Abdülhamid II married her in 1893. She was the aunt of Leyla Açba and this is how her niece described her in her memoirs: "My aunt was a tall, green-eyed, brown-haired, delicate, beautiful woman. Her real name was Rabia, and she was the youngest of five siblings ..." In 1894 she gave birth to her only child, Şehzade Abdürrahim Efendi. Peyveste was so respected and admired by her husband that she was given the Hanedan-ı Ali Osman Order even though it was usually reserved to members of the Dynasty. Peyveste had a personal mansion in which she lived until Abdülhamid II's dethronement, when she followed him to Thessaloniki. When they returned to Istanbul, she settled down in Şişli with Sâz-kâr Başhanımefendi, her favourite among her husband's consort. Their rooms were on the same floor and every day they took coffee together and reminisced about the past. As Şehzade Abdürrahim lived close by, he used to visit often. In 1924, Peyveste Hanım left Turkey with her son and settled down in Paris, where he had bought a nice flat in Boulevard Murat. She died in 1943 and was buried in the Muslim cemetery of Bobigny.

Fatma Pesend 3. Hanımefendi (1876-1924): her real name Fatma Kadriye, she was a member of the aristocratic Açba family. Her mother was a Tatar Princess. Fatma Pesend was highly educated: she spoke Italian and French, she was a great pianist and painter, she enjoyed horseback riding and she loved reading. She met Abdülhamid II during a visit to the Palace and they got married in 1896, when her name was changed into Pesend. Her only child, Hatice Sultan, was born in 1897 but died at seven months of smallpox. In his grief, Abdülhamid had the first paediatric hospital of the empire built; Fatma Pesend was left in charge of its administration. She was one of the favourite consorts of the sultan and was known for her kindness and tolerance. She used to visit the Şişli Etfal Hospital every week, paying particularly good attention to the treatment of orphans. Once she took off the necklace she was wearing and gifted it to a poor woman. She was one of the consorts that followed Abdülhamid II in exile in Thessaloniki but when they returned to Istanbul she wasn't allowed to live in Beylerbeyi Palace with him and instead moved in with her father. When Abdülhamid II died, she braided her hair, cut it off and threw it into the sea. She died in 1924 and was buried next to her mother in the Karacaahmet Cemetery.

Behîce “Maan” 4. Hanımefendi (1882-1969): her real name Behiye, she was Sazkar Hanımefendi's cousin. She was brought to the Palace to be a potential bride for Şehzade Burhaneddin but Abdülhamid II was so enthralled by her beauty that he married her himself on 10 May 1900 even though Behiye didn't want to. A year later she gave birth to the twins Nûreddîn and Bedreddîn, but Bedreddîn died at the age of two. She was blonde with blue eyes. She was also very arrogant and proud. After Abdülhamid II's dethronement, she stayed in Istanbul with her son until 1924, when they moved in Naples, Italy, in an apartment in Via Generale Orsini. She fell on hard times in Naples because she had no money and what she was sent from Turkey was being embezzled by her servant. A relative who visited her in Italy was appalled by the conditions she lived in: her hair was unkempt, her nails had grown extremely long and she had not washed herself in weeks. Thankfully, Behice Hanım was brought back to Istanbul by the Maan family but she was so ill that she died only months later, on 22 October 1969. She was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery.

Sâliha Nâciye Kadınefendi (1882/7-1923): her real name Zeliha, she changed her name into Saliha Naciye when she entered palace service. She was noticed by Abdülhamid II three years after arriving in Yıldız Palace and married him in 1904. She gave birth to Şehzade Mehmed Abid Efendi a year later and to Samiye Sultan in 1908. Upon the birth of Samiye Sultan, she was granted the unusual title of V Kadınefendi. She was known for her kindness and it is said that she attracted the sultan with her modesty. After Abdülhamid II's deposition, she followed him first to Thessaloniki and then to Beylebeyi Palace in Istanbul, where she refused to leave his side. After Abdülhamid II's death, she settled in a mansion in Erenköy, where she passed away in 1923. She was buried in the mausoleum of Mahmud II.

Children

Ulviye Sultan (1868-1875): Abdülhamid II's eldest daughter, she died at the age of 7 while she played with matches. Her mother was playing the piano and the servants were having dinner so Ulviye was left unsupervised. Her dress caught fire and Nâzikedâ Başkadın tried to take it off her and burnt her hands while trying to open the metallic belt the child was wearing. Ulviye Sultan died burning alive, nothing could be done for her. Her death was a tremendous shock for her mother, from which she never recovered.

Şehzâde Mehmed Selîm Efendi (11.1.1870 - 5.5.1937): son of Bedrifelek Başkadınefendi, he was Abdülhamîd II's eldest son. He famously did not get along with his father. He had two consorts: Deryâl (İryâle) Başhanımefendi (1870-1904) and Nîlûfer Eflâkyâr Başhanımefendi (1887-1930s). He had three children: Şehzâde Mehmed Efendi (1887-1890), Emine Nemika Sultan (1888-1969) and Şehzâde Mehmed Abdülkerîm Efendi (1906 - 1935)

Zekiye Sultan (1872-1950): here 

Fatma Naime Sultan (5.9.1876-1944/45): the eldest child of her mother Bidar, Naime was one of her father's favourite children, who used to call her "my accession daughter" because she had been born close to his accession to the throne. Abbas II Hilmi, the last Khedive of Egypt, asked for her hand but Abdülhamid did not approve of the match and turned him down. Naime Sultan married Mehmed Kemaleddin Paşa, Gazi Osman Paşa's second born son and brother of Zekiye Sultan's husband Alì Nureddin Paşa, in Ortaköy Palace on 17 March 1898. They had two children together: Sultânzâde Dâmad Mehmed Câhid Beyefendi (1899-1977) and Âdile Hanım-Sultan (1900-1979); both had very advantageous marriages. Abdülhamid II annulled the marriage in 1904 when it was discovered that Kemaleddin Paşa had been carrying out an affair with another princess, Hatice Sultan. Naime Sultan therefore re-married on 11 July 1907, this time to İşkodralızâde Mahmûd Celâleddîn Paşa, but had no children with him. After 1924, they left the Empire for France, Italy and lastly Albania, where Celâleddîn Paşa had family lands. After his death and the advent of communist rule in Albania, Naime Sultan lost her income and died in poverty either in 1944 or 1945. She was buried in Tirana. 

Şehzâde Mehmed Abdülkadir Efendi (1878 - 1944): son of Bidar Kadınefendi, he was the first son to be born during the sultanate of Abdülhamid II. He played the piano and the violin. He had three consorts: Mihribân Hanımefendi, Hadîce Mâcide Hanımefendi and Fatma Meziyyet Hanım. His third marriage was not recognised by Mehmed V because he had got married without the sultan's permission. He had six children: Mehmed Orhan Efendi (12.10.1909 - 13.3.1994), later head of the Ottoman family; Necîb Ertuğrul Efendi (27.3.1914 - 7.2.1994), a doctor; Alâeddîn Efendi (2.1.1917 - Sofya, 21.11.1999); Bîdâr Sultan (1924-1924), clearly named after her paternal grandmother; Osman Efendi (1925 - 1934?); Safvet Nesl-i Şah Sultan (25.12.1925).

Şehzâde Ahmed Nûrî Efendi (12.2.1878 - 7.8.1944): son of Bedrifelek Başkadınefendi, he was only 27 days younger than his brother Abdülkadir. He married Fahriye Hanımefendi but had no children with her. He died in Nice, France but was buried in the Sultan Selim Mosque in Damascus.

Naile Sultan (9.2.1885-25.10.1957): daughter of Dilpesend Kadınefendi, she learned to play the piano, the harp and the violoncello from Lombardi Bey. In 1901 she was engaged to Gazi Osman Paşa's third son, Cemaleddin Bey, but Kemaleddin Paşa's affair with Hatice Sultan made the wedding fall through. She therefore married Germiyânoğlu Arif Hikmet Paşa on 27 February 1905 in Kuruçeşme Palace. The marriage was childless. In 1924 they settled in Beirut, where Hikmet Paşa died in 1942. She was allowed to return to Istanbul, where she eventually died. She was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery.

Şehzâde Mehmed Burhâneddîn Efendi (19.12.1885 - 15.6.1949): son of Mezîde Mestân Kadınefendi, he was a composer, a painter, a piano and a cello virtuoso. He was circumcised with his elder brothers Abdülkadir and Ahmed Nûrî in 1890. He was named after Abdülhamid II's favourite brother and for a while he was his favourite son, sitting next to him in carriages, to the point that there were talks that he would be named Crown Prince. He was offered the Kingdom of Albania in 1913 but he refused because he did not want to waive his rights to the Ottoman throne. In the summer of 1921 he was offered the throne of Iraq but Great Britain had another candidate in mind and instead enthroned Faysal, former King of Syria. He had 4 wives: Hidâyet Hanımefendi, Aliyye Melek Nazlıyâr “Yalçın” Hanımefendi, Lady Georgina Leonora Mosselmans, Marquess of Queensberry (the marriage was not recognised by the Caliph of Islam and was therefore morganatic) and lastly Elsie Deming Jackson (another morganatic marriage not recognised by the head of the Ottoman dynasty). Burhâneddîn Efendi had two sons: Mehmed Fahreddin Efendi (14.11.1911 - 13.7.1968) and Ertuğrul Osman Efendi (13/31.8.1912-23.9.2009), later head of the Ottoman dynasty. Burhâneddîn Efendi died in New York at the age of 63 but when his family asked for permission to bury him in Istanbul, the Turkish government denied it and was therefore buried in the Sultan Selim Mosque in Damascus. 

Şadiye Sultan (1886/87-20.11.1977): daughter of Emsâl-i Nûr Kadınefendi, she learned to play European music from Lombardi Bey and Turkish music from Tanburi Cemil Bey. In 1909 she was engaged to Ali Namik Bey, Grand Vizier Küçük Mehmed Saïd Paşa's son, but before the marriage could take place, Abdülhamid II was dethroned. Şadiye Sultan did not like the Grand Vizier's behaviour during the 31 March Incident and therefore broke the engagement with his son in 1910. Enver Bey asked for her hand but she refused him as he worked to depose her father. In the end she married Fahir Beyefendi in 1910, a diplomat. With him she had her only child: Sâmiye Hanım-Sultan (1918-1992). Fahir Beyefendi died in 1922 and two years later, Şadiye and her daughter were expelled from Turkey. They settled in Paris, where Şadiye married Reşâd Hâlis Beyefendi in 1931. Her second marriage produced no children. Left a widow in 1938, she first followed her daughter to the USA and then travelled extensively in Europe before going back to Istanbul 1953. She died there in 1977 and, with the permission of the government, she was buried in the mausoleum of Mahmud II. 

Hamîde Ayşe Sultan (1/2.11.1887-10.8.1960): daughter of Müşfika Kadınefendi, she was born in Yıldız Palace. She received her education with her sister Şadiye in a special room in Yeniköşk which had been built to be a classroom. Their education plan was extensive: the Qur'an, history of the Empire, geography, music, French, and even painting. She learned how to play the Hamidiye March (the anthem of the Ottoman Empire) and also composed lullabies. She was engaged to Ahmed Nâmî Beyefendi in 1908 and married him 1911 in a double ceremony with her younger sister Refia Sultan. With him, she had three children: Ömer Nâmî Beyefendi (1911-17.3.1993), Aliyye Namiye Hanım-Sultan (1913-1913) and Osman Nâmî Beyefendi (13.1.1918-2010). In 1921 she met Lieutenant Colonel Mehmed Ali Bey, son of Mehmed Raûf Paşa and aide to Sultan Mehmed VI, at a feast in Dolmabahçe Palace. The two fell in love at first sight but Mehmed Ali Bey was married with children. Nevertheless, they both divorced their spouses and got married on 3 April 1921 in Nişantaşı Palace. A year later, Sultânzâde Abdülhamîd Raûf Beyefendi (1921–3.1981) was born. After 1924 she moved to Paris with her family, where they rented a small apartment near Versailles. In 1937, Mehmed Ali Bey died and, according to Ayşe Sultan, because of homesickness. In 1950, female members of the dynasty were allowed to go back to Turkey and in 1952 Ayşe Sultan went back to Istanbul and adopted Osmanoğlu as surname. She lived with her mother Müşfika Kadınefendi, now called Müşfika Kayısoy, and worked at her memoirs My father, Abdülhamid. Ayşe Osmanoğlu died at the age of 73 and was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery. 

Refia Sultan (13/15.6.1891-1938/1945): daughter of Sâzkâr Başhanımefendi, she was born in Yıldız Palace. She married Ali Fuâd Beyefendi in 1912, the son of Müşir Ahmed Eyüb Paşa, and had two daughters with him: Rabî’a Hanım-Sultan (13.7.1911 - 19.6.1988) and Ayşe Hamide Hanım-Sultân (1918 - 1936) 

Şehzâde Abdürrahîm Hayrî Efendi (15.8.1894 - 1.1.1952): son of Hadîce Râbia Peyveste Hanımefendi, he was an extraordinary musician, being able to play several instruments among which the piano, the cello and the mandolin. He received 2 votes at the Grand Assembly of Turkey but in the end it was Abdülmecîd Efendi who was elected Caliph. He married Princess Emîne Hanımefendi of Egypt and had a daughter with her: Mihr-i Mâh Selçuk Sultan (15.6.1920 - 1982). Abdürrahîm Hayrî Efendi died on the night of New Year's Eve after ingesting too many sleeping pills. He was buried in Pairs. 

Hadîce Sultan (10.7.1897 - 14.2.1898): daughter of Fatma Pesend Hanımefendi, she died of smallpox and was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery. 

Aliyye Sultan: died a couple of days after her birth, around 1900. 

Cemile Sultan: died a couple of days after her birth, around 1900. 

Şehzâde Ahmed Nûreddîn Efendi (22.6.1901 - 1944): son of Behîce Hanımefendi and twin brother of Mehmed Bedreddîn Efendi, he was a very good pianist. He was studied in Germany until the end of 1918, when he settled in Paris. He wrote some memoirs and sent them to his sister Ayşe. He never married and died in Paris, where he was buried.

Şehzâde Mehmed Bedreddîn Efendi (22.6.1901-13.10.1903): son of Behîce Hanımefendi and twin brother of Ahmed Nûreddîn Efendi, he died of meningitis and was buried in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery. 

Şehzâde Mehmed Âbid Efendi (17.5.1905 - 8.12.1973): son of Sâliha Nâciye Kadınefendi, after 1924 he first asked to go to Egypt but was denied entry, therefore he lived for a while with his brother Mehmed Selim in Beirut. In 1935, he arrived in France, where he attended the Sorbonne and graduated in Political Sciences. The Japanese emperor considered him a candidate for the throne of Turkistan; Zog I of Albania also thought of making him Crown Prince, as at the moment he had no issue. Mehmed Abid Efendi was Albania's ambassador to Paris until 1939, when Zog I was overthrown by Fascist Italy. He married an Albanian princess, Seniyye Hanımefendi (born Sanije Zogu) but had no issue. After divorcing in 1951 he settled in Beirut, where he died. He was buried in the Sultan Selim Mosque in Damascus. 

Sâmiye Sultan (16.1.1908 - 24.1.1909): daughter of Sâliha Nâciye Kadınefendi, she died of pneumonia at the age of one. She was buried either in the Şehzâde Kemâleddîn Mausoleum or in the Yahya Efendi Cemetery.

sources: Harun Açba - Kadın Efendiler, Yılmaz Öztuna - II. Abdülhamid, Zamanı ve Şahsiyeti, Necdet Sakaoğlu - Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları

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Did anyone of the dynasty adopt children?

It happened, yes. The problem is that sometimes they weren't adopted in the sense we mean; Atike Sultan "raised" the future Mihnea III of Wallachia when he was in Istanbul and she is called his "spiritual mother" but we don't exactly know what this means.

In any case, the most famous case of adoption is Rahime Perestu's. She was adopted by Esma Sultan the younger, who raised her from the age of 2. She later married Abdülmecîd I and was Valide Sultan for 30 years.

An interesting case was Bezmiara V. Kadınefendi's who herself had been adopted. She had been adopted by the wife of a Pasha, and therefore was a free Muslim woman when she married Abdülmecîd I.

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Uluçay claims that Düzdidil Kadın had five daughters, Mevhibe, Neyyire, Münire, Cemile Sultan and Samiye Sultan, and Mevhibe Sultan eldest child of Abdulmejid, was the daughter of Düzdidil, not Hoşyar, he don’t mentions that there was a Hoşyar who was the wife of Abdulmejid. What do you think about this?

I don't know where you read that Uluçay said that because in Padişahların Kadınları ve Kızları he says this about Düzdidil:

Düzdidil Kadın: She was the third kadın of Abdülmecid. She gave birth to Cemile Sultan on August 17, 1843 (21 Recep 1259). She died two years later (18 August 1845-14 Shaban 1261). This woman also very likely died of tuberculosis. Abdülmecid gave her daughter, who was orphaned at the age of two, to the fourth Imperial Consort Perestû. Düzidil Kadın was buried in the Turhan Sultan Tomb in Yeni Mosque.

For the sake of being thorough, this is what Sakaoğlu and Öztuna say instead:

DÜZDİDİL KADINEFENDİ [d. Istanbul, 18 August 1845] Düzdidil, who died at the age of 20-25, was the third kadın. She gave birth to Neyyire Sultan (d.1844) in 1841. She died on the second birthday of Cemile Sultan, whom she had given birth to in 1843. Samiye Sultan, who lived for 2 months in 1845 (23 February-1 April), was probably her daughter. However, at that time, this coincidence was probably not noticed, since the Gregorian calendar was not used and there was no birthday tradition. Düzdidil was the first woman to die in was Abdülmecid's harem and was buried in the Havatin Mausoleum in the courtyard of the New Mosque, Abdülmecid had given Cemile Sultan, who was orphaned at the age of 3, to his childless wife Perestu Kadınefendi. — Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları

the discrepancy in Cemile Sultan's age on the death of her mother is due to the Ottoman way of counting age: since she had passed her second birthday, for the Ottomans she was three.

Sakaoğlu ascribes Neyyire and Samiye Sultan to her because in the Almanach de Gotha (1845) is said that they were born to "Her Highness the Third Kadınefendi". The problem is we don't know when she acquired the title of Third Kadınefendi so we don't know who the Third Kadınefendi was at the time of those births. I tried to do a timeline of Abdülmecid's consorts' ranks but it was impossible for me because it looked like there were two consorts with the same title at the same time.

Düzd-i Dil Hanımefendi (1825?-18.8.1845 = 20?): Başıkbâl, 3. kadın for a while. She died of tuberculosis, buried in the Yeni Câmî, Refîa Sultân Türbe. Cemile Sultân's mother. — Devletler ve Hanedanlar

On the other hand, Açba says that Düzdidil married Abdülmecid I in 1842 so she couldn't have been Neyyire Sultan's mother (or Mevhibe’s). She also doesn't say that she acquired the title of Third Kadınefendi but that she was Başhanımefendi (ie. Başıkbâl).

As for Münire Sultan, even Uluçay says that she was Verdicenan’s daughter so, again, I don’t know where you found that claim because it is certainly not in Padişahların Kadınları ve Kızları. 

Hoşyar II. Kadınefendi

It is true that Uluçay doesn't mention her, and this is because she doesn't figure in Alderson or in Sicill-i Osmani.

Harun Açba says of her:

Hoşyar was the daughter of a Georgian nobleman, Zurab Bey Tuskia. She was born in Zugdidi in 1825. She too may have been brought to the palace by Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan. Her marriage with Abdülmecid Han took place in the Topkapı Palace in 1839. One year after their wedding, Hoşyar gave birth to the first child of Abdülmecid Han, Mevhibe Sultan. She was honoured for giving birth to the sultan's first child. It is said that she always got along well with Servet-seza BaşKadınefendi and with Hüsn-i Cenan Hanım, the real first wife of the sultan. Mevhibe Sultan died when he was a baby. After this painful incident, we don't know much else about Hosyar. She likely died of tuberculosis because she died in 1849 at the age of 25. — Kadın Efendiler

Before anyone asks me: Hüsn-i Cenan Hanım was the first concubine that Abdülmecid had. It was 1835 and he was still a prince. She was older than him, being born in 1818 and was Circassian. She died of tuberculosis in 1843 and was buried in the Laleli Mosque.

Sakaoğlu:

HUŞYAR KADlNEFENDİ [d. İstanbul, 1849] also called Hoşyar. When she was the Third Kadınefendi, she gave birth to Abdülmecid's first daughter, Mevhibe Sultan, on May 8, 1840. She is not included in Sicill-i Osmani and Alderson. In some sources, Huşyar, who had an income from the Süle farm in Mıhalıç, was also confused with Mahmud II's Kadınefendi with the same name. For example, İ. H. Tanışık wrote in the Fountains of Istanbul that she had renewed the fountain of the Kasımpaşa Hacıahmet Mosque (because of Abdülmecid's tuğra). — Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları

Öztuna:

Hoş-yâr 2. Kadınefendi (1824?-1849?=25?): 2. Kadın 7.1839 - 1849? = 10?, 1? year younger than her husband. Sülü farm in Mihaliç, she built a fountain. Mother of Mevhibe Sultan, born 0,11,6 after the beginning of Sultân Mecîd's rule, at the age of 17,1,7. — Devletler ve Hanedanlar

As you can see there are some discrepancies. Sakaoğlu claims that she was Third Imperial Consort but not Açba or Öztuna. Indeed Öztuna is quite clear about this: she was Second Imperial Consort from the beginning of Abdülmecid's reign till her death.

This is everything I could do with what I have.

[ottomanladies]

Hey I love your blog!! I wanted to ask if there were any sultanas who maybe adopted children to raise them or sultanas who had good relationships with the Sultan’s children from other concubines? I recall you mentioning Nurbanu had adopted a boy and that Turhan protected Ibrahim’s other sons with her life for as long as she lived

Sure! There’s plenty of them, especially after the practice of fratricide died out:

Kösem had a good relationship with Osman II, and would take him on carriage rides with her sons

Rahime Perestu raised Abdülhamid II and his half-sister Cemile when their mothers died. Abdülhamid II also had a warm relationship with Pertevniyal Valide Sultan; on the contrary, he couldn’t stand Şevkefza Valide Sultan

Abdülaziz was in such good relationship with Tiryâl Hanım, one of his father’s consorts, that during his reign she was referred to as “the second valide sultan”

Servetseza Kadın loved Murad V like a son, and was also step-mother of Mehmed V, Refia and Fatma Sultan

Neveser Hanım raised Şehzade Mehmed Burhaneddin, son of Abdülmecid I and Nükhetseza Hanım

Şayeste Hanım raised Mehmed VI when his mother died

Mehmed II called Mara Brankovic “mother”, suggesting a close relationship between the two

the Venetian ambassador once saw Handan with little Mustafa I in the gardens of Topkapi Palace... maybe she ensured that he was well looked after

[ottomanladies]

Can you list some information about Abdulmecid I’s children with some information about them just like you did for Ahmed III harem + children.

Sorry for the long wait but... the guy had 42 children

Mevhibe Sultan (1840-1841), with Hoşyar Kadın: lived for only 8 months, was buried in the Hamidiye Mausoleum

Sultan V. Murad Han (1840-1904), with Şevkefza Valide Sultan: 33rd Ottoman sultan, he reigned for only 93 days, after which he was deposed on the grounds of "perpetual insanity"

Naime Sultan (1840-1843), with Tirimüjgan Kadın: Abdülhamid II's elder sister, she died of smallpox

Fatma Sultan (1840-1884), with Gülcemal Kadın: Mehmed V's eldest sister and Murad V's favourite sister. She had two husbands: Dâmâd'Alî Gaalib Paşa and Dâmâd Mehmed Nûrî Paşa, which she outlived. Her three children died in infancy and she spent the last years of her life confined in her villa in Istanbul because she had tried to reinstate Murad V on the throne. She died at the age of 44 and was buried in Murad V's mausoleum.

Behiye Sultan (1841-1847), mother unknown: she died at the age of 6 and was buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan. Her mother was "Her Highness, the Second Ikbal"

Neyyire Sultan (1841-1843), with Şayeste Hanım: she died at the age of 3 and was buried in the Nurosmaniye Mosque.

Refia Sultan (1842-1880), with Gülcemal Kadın: Mehmed V's elder sister. She was married to Dâmâd Mahmûd Edham Paşâ and had a daughter with him. Refia was extremely educated, like her sisters, as her father had insisted for them to be educated both in traditional and western subjects. Contrary to her younger sister Cemile, whom her father constantly lauded, Refia was a true spendthrift and her debts were staggering for just one person.

Hatice Sultan (1842-1842), with Gülcemal Kadın

Sultan II. Abdülhamid Han (1842-1918), with Tirimüjgan Kadın: 34th Ottoman Sultan, he was deposed by the Young Turks in 1909 and exiled to Thessalonika. None of his sons would ascend the throne.

Aliye Sultan (1842-1845), with Şevkefza Valide Sultan: younger sister of Murad V, she was 2 when she died and was buried in the New Mosque

Mehmed Ziyaeddin Efendi (1842-1845), with Nesrin Hanım:

Cemile Sultan (1843-1915), with Düzdidil Hanım: her mother died when she was 3, so she was raised by Rahime Perestu, future Valide Sultan. She was therefore very close to her older brother Abdülhamid II, who had been raised by Rahime Perestu as well. She married Dâmâd Mahmûd Celaleddîn Paşa in 1858, when she was fifteen. Her husband was the second son of Dâmâd Ahmed Fethî Paşa (husband of Mahmud II's daughter, Atiye Sultan) from his first wife. Fındıklı Palace was built for them. Together they had 6 children: Fethiye Hanım-Sultân (1859 - 1887), Sultân-zâde Besim Beyefendi (died at the age of 2), Sultân-zâde Sâkıb Beyefendi (1864 - 1897), Sultân-zâde Mehmed Mahmûd Celâleddîn Beyefendi (1864 - 1916), 'Ayşe Şıdıka Hanım-Sultân (1875 - 1937?), Fatma Hanım-Sultân (1879 - 1890)

Sultan V. Mehmed Reşad Han (1844-1918), with Gülcemal Kadın: 35th Ottoman Sultan, he was enthroned by the Young Turks after the deposition of Abdülhamid II and was the last sultan to die in office.

Münire Sultan (1844-1862), with Verdicenan Kadın: she firstly married the son of the Egyptian Khedive, İbrahim İlhami Paşa, and the costly wedding ceremony attracted a lot of criticism because the Imperial Army had just been defeated in Montenegro. The marriage lasted only two years, as İbrahim İlhami Paşa died at only 24 years old. She therefore married Lieutenant General Dâmâd İbrahim Paşa, with whom she had a son: Sultân-zâde 'Alâeddîn Beyefendi (1861 - 1915?). She was buried in the mausoleum of her great-grandmother, Nakşıdil Valide Sultan.

Samiye Sultan (1845-1845), mother unknown: she was buried in the New Mosque. Her mother had been listed as "Her Highness, the Third Kadinefendi"

Ahmed Efendi (1846-1846), with Nükhetseza Hanım: he was buried in the New Mosque inside the mausoleum of Refia Sultan

Fatma Nazime Sultan (1847-1847), mother unknown: she was buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan

Sabiha Sultan (1848-1849), with Mehtab Kadın: she was buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan

Mehmed Abid Efendi (1848-1848), with Tirimüjgan Kadın: he was buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan

Ahmed Kemaleddin Efendi (1848-1905), with Verdicenan Kadın: he was a supporter of Murad V's rights to the throne and was in a bad relationship with her other older brother, Abdulhamid II. He married his only consort, Fatma Sezâ-dil Hanımefendi, in 1876, and had two daughters with her: Atiyetullah Sultan (1878-1878) and Münire Sultan (1880-1939). His daughter married Dâmâd Mehmed Sâlih Paşa in 1907 and had a son, Sultân-zâde Ahmed Kemâleddîn (Keredin) Beyefendi (1908-1987), clearly named after her father.

Atiyetullah Efendi (?-?)

Mehmed Fuad Efendi (died in infancy), with Nergizu Hanım: he was buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan

Behice Sultan (1848-1876), with Nesrin Hanım: she lost her mother at the age of 3 and contracted tuberculosis in childhood. She lived secluded all her life and her sisters Refia and Seniha always sent her letters to cheer her up, even though they knew that Behice's illness had reached the final stage by the time she had turned 20. In her letters, Behice came across as frustrated, jealous of her sisters' freedom and extremely sensitive. Her dowry had been prepared by her father but her illness always prevented her from getting married, even though that was her dream. Finally, her uncle Abdülaziz consented, and Behice married Dâmâd Halil Hamîd Beyefendi on 16 November 1876. Unfortunately, the princess died just 20 days later at the age of 28. She was buried in the mausoleum of Münire Sultan.

Mehmed Burhaneddin Efendi (1849-1876), with Nükhetseza Hanım: he was Abdülhamîd II's favourite brother, who also named a warship after him. He had two consorts: Mest-i Niyâz Hanımefendi and Şâd-rûy Hanımefendi. From his first consort, he had an unnamed daughter (1876? -1890?) and Ibrahim Tevfik Efendi (1874-1931). He was buried in the mausoleum of his father Abdülmecid

Rukiye Sultan (1850-1850), with Gülcemal Kadın:

Mukbile Sultan (1850-1850), mother unknown: buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan, her mother had been listed as "Her Highness, the Fourth Ikbal"

Mehmed Vamık Efendi (1850-1850), mother unknown: buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan

Nizameddin Efendi (1850-1853), with Nesrin Hanım: twin of Bahaeddin Efendi, he was buried in the mausoleum of Murad V

Bahaeddin Efendi (1850-1852), with Nesrin Hanım: twin of Nizameddin Efendi, he was buried in the mausoleum of Refia Sultan

Ahmed Nureddin Efendi (1852-1885), with Mehtab Kadın: he had two consorts, Nazlı Emşâl Hanımefendi and an unnamed one, but no children. He died at the age of 33 and was buried in the mausoleum of Murad V

Mehmed Rüşdü Efendi (1852-1852), with Ceylanyar Hanım: buried in the Hamidiye Tomb.

Osman Safiyeddin Efendi (1852-1855), with Ayşe Serfiraz Hanım: buried in the mausoleum of Abdülmecid I

Seniha Sultan (1853-1931), with Nalandil Hanım: she married Dâmâd Âsaf Mahmûd Celaleddîn Paşa (the son of Dâmâd Halil Rifat Paşa after the death of Saliha Sultan, daughter of Mahmud II) in 1877. Celaleddîn Paşa wasn't particularly trusted by Abdülhamid II but was nevertheless appointed vizier. Seniha and her husband participated in the Ali Suavi Incident, actually a conspiracy to dethrone Abdulhamid II and re-instate Murad V, the failure of which - among other things - prompted Celaleddîn Paşa to leave the Ottoman empire and settle in Bruxelles. Together, they had two sons: Sultân-zâde Mehmed Sabâhaddîn Beyefendi (1877-1948) and Sultân-zâde Ahmed Lutfullâh Beyfendi (1880-1973). Her son Sabâhaddîn was a vocal critic of Abdülhamid II's regime and was actually the leader of a faction inside the Young Turks movement which advocated some of the same liberal principles of the CUP but instead favoured administrative decentralization and European assistance. At the time of the Dynasty's exile from Turkey, Seniha Sultan was the eldest princess alive. She lived with Mehmed VI in Sanremo until his death, then moved to Nice, where the last Caliph Abdülmecid II had settled down but was not in favour because she was part of the "Mecid branch" of the family. She spent her last years bedridden in a room inside the caliph's villa and Nice and died there in 1931. She was buried in the Sultan Selim Mosque in Damascus.

Abdullah Efendi (1853-1853), with Şayeste Hanım: stillborn

Mehmed Abdüssamed Efendi (1853-1855), with Nalandil Hanım: buried in the mausoleum of his father

Zekiye Sultan (1855-1856), with Gülistu Kadın: twin of Fehime Sultan, was buried in the mausoleum of Münîre Sultân

Fehime Sultan (1855-1856), with Gülistu Kadın: twin of Fehime Sultan, was buried in the mausoleum of Münîre Sultân

Mediha Sultan (1856-1928), with Gülistu Kadın: elder sister of Mehmed VI, she fell in love with the son of Sâmi Paşa and started corresponding with him. When Abdülhamid II found out, he sent Necib Bey at the embassy in Paris. Mediha was devastated: she would not drink, eat or sleep. Her step-mother Verdicenan asked Rahime Perestu Valide Sultan's help, and together they were able to convince Abdülhamid to let the princess marry Necib Bey, which she did in 1879. Mediha had a son with him, Sultân-zâde 'Abdurrahmân Sâmî Beyefendi (1880-1961), but her happiness was short-lived: her husband died in 1885 at the age of 29. In 1886, she married her second husband, Dâmâd Mehmed Ferîd Paşa, but had no children with him.

Naile Sultan (1856-1882), with Şayeste Hanım: she married Dâmâd Çerkes Kabasakâl Mehmed Paşa who, according to Ayşe Osmanoğlu, was a brother of Abdülhamid II's consort Bidar Kadın. They had no children. She was buried in the mausoleum of Murad V

Bedia Sultan (1857-1858), with Ayşe Serfiraz Hanım: she was buried in the mausoleum of  Münîre Sultân.

Selim Süleyman Efendi (1860-1909), with Ayşe Serfiraz Hanım: he had 5 consorts:  Filiz-san Hanımefendi, Emîne Câvidân Hanımefendi, Fatma ikbâl Hanımefendi, 'Ayşe Tarz-ı ter (Tarz-ender) Hanımefendi and Zât-ı Melek Hanımefendi. His children were: Mehmed 'Abdülhalîm Efendi (1894-1926), Emine Naciye Sultan (1896-1961), and Damad Mehmed Şerefeddin Efendi (1904-1966)

Sultan VI. Mehmed Vahideddin Han (1861-1926), with Gülistu Kadın: last sultan of the Ottoman Empire, he was deposed in 1922 when the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed and exiled in 1924. He died in Sanremo, Italy

[ottomanladies]

Why didn’t Rahime Perestu Valide Sultan have any children was she infertile or did she never consummate her marriage with Abdülmecid I.

Mmh I think the marriage was definitely consummated since Abdülmecid I basically begged his aunt to marry her. Also: “That evening, according to custom, the couple entered the bridal chamber, where Princess Esma kissed the bride and groom on their foreheads and said a prayer on their behalf, then returned to her villa, giving praise to God that she had lived to see such a magnifi cent wedding feast for her little girl.”

“[H]e chose the Fourth Consort, Perestû Kadınefendi, who ranked as the most estimable of his consorts, and who was known in the palace for her piety, serious-mindedness, and experience. The fact that the lady Perestû had no children of her own also lay behind his choice. One day Grandfather summoned Papa to his rooms where he sat him down and off ered him a wide range of advice, then took him under his cape to the apartments of the Fourth Consort. As he entered he said, “Look, my lady, what a beautiful child I have brought you,” and drew Papa out from under his cape. To Papa he declared, “From now on this is your mother. Now kiss her hand, my son,” while to his consort he said, “After God, I entrust him to you,” and also had her kiss her adoptive son. He admonished Papa to obey his new mother.”

Ayşe Sultan does not say why Perestu did not have children of her own.

[ottomanladies]

I love your gifset on Rahime Perestu Valide Sultan❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

thank you!! it was actually quite a challenge bc i didn’t know who to use as a fancast

[ottomanladies]

Hi,I know this is probably a weird questions,but could you list some of the luxurious weddings in the Ottoman Empire,I know Sultan Ibrahim i and Haseki Telli Humasah Sultan was very luxrious and heavily celebrated,beating Suleiman and Hurrem's wedding.

Hello! This is quite a difficult question because after Süleyman I (and especially after the Ottomans stopped winning wars) weddings were one of the biggest celebrations designed to display the grandeur of the dynasty.

Therefore they were all more or less magnificent.

the wedding of Pargali Ibrahim Paşa and Muhsine Hatun: it was the first big celebration in Suleyman's reign and the whole affair lasted 15 days. The historian Peçevi, not a contemporary, described it like this: "spread before the eyes was such abundance and merriment as had never before been observed at the wedding of a princess.'', which is why later historian presumed that Ibrahim's wife was an imperial princess.

the wedding of Mihrimah Sultan and Said Mehmed Paşa: she was one of the daughters of Mahmud II and the wedding was described by Julia Pardoe, who was there at the time. I don't know if it was expecially grand compared to other weddings or if the retelling is influenced by the author, who had never seen an ottoman wedding before, but the huge quantity of jewels given to the princess is outstanding: “But the most gorgeous display was yet to come; embroidered handkerchiefs whose gold and silver threads were mingled with silks of many hues, and whose texture was almost as impalpable as the gossamer — jackets of velvet worked on the sleeves and breasts with precious stones—trowsers sprinkled with stars of gold and silver — anteries of white silk, wrought with coloured jewels — robes of satin powdered with seed-pearl —slippers as diminutive as that of Cinderella, fringed with floss silk, and powdered with rubies ; and finally, sixteen bearers, balancing upon their heads cages of silver wire, resting on cushions of crimson velvet, whereon were displayed the bridal diamonds. The sunshine was flashing on them as they passed us, and at times it was impossible to look upon them. It seemed as though the trees of the Serai must have dropped diamonds, to supply the profusion of the Imperial Father. It is impossible to describe them — the diadems and bracelets, the necklaces and wreaths, the rings and clasps: suffice it that every female article of dress or ornament, for which this costly stone could be made available, was here in its magnificence ; and assuredly the gifts of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon must have sunk into insignificance before the bridal trousseau of the Princess Mihirmah—” The Glory of the Moon ! “

the wedding of Abdülmecid I and Rahime Perestu (future valide sultan): I'm going to include this one since it's almost an anomaly. Ottoman sultans - after Süleyman I - tended to keep their wedding ceremonies as private as possible, but Princess Ayşe recorded it in her memoirs so we have a glimpse of what a wedding with the sultan looked like towards the end of the empire: "Within the week the marriage ceremony was celebrated with all due tradition in Princess Esma’s villa in the presence of the Sultan’s ministers. One week after that, [the lady Perestu] was ushered into Princess Esma’s silver-lined carriage in her pearl-trimmed red dress, tiara, and bridal veil, and sent off  to the palace. In those days Sultan Abdülmecid still resided in Topkapı Palace, and he greeted his bride at the main entrance gate into the harem, wearing a splendid uniform with an aigrette plume atop his fez. He took her by the arm and escorted her into the Sovereign’s Hall in the palace harem, having her take a seat in the nook that had been prepared for the bride. Grandfather’s children were young then. Sultan Mahmud’s daughters and consorts came in and joined in the ceremony, as did the wives of important personages. Gold coins were scattered as Grandfather and his bride passed by, and the band, composed of forty ladies from Sultan Abdülmecid’s harem, all dressed in men’s costumes, played marches. Sultan Mecid’s other consorts attended as well, scattering coins. Until evening they passed the time listening to the ensemble playing traditional Ottoman music, after which sherbet was served, followed by a banquet. It was quite a splendid wedding celebration in the palace. Th at evening, according to custom, the couple entered the bridal chamber, where Princess Esma kissed the bride and groom on their foreheads and said a prayer on their behalf."

Peirce says that the weddings of Murad III's daughters were especially splendid but does not describe them, unfortunately. We only know that they were celebrated in the Old Palace, which had become the standard place for imperial weddings, and that from there the bride was taken to the palace of her husband. "The historian Selaniki described the excitement of the crowds who turned out to watch the elaborate processional that carried Fatma Sultan, who was concealed behind a screen of red satin, to the palace of her new husband. On such festive occasions, the lucky onlooker might receive one of the coins distributed as tokens of the dynasty's beneficence (and perhaps also as a means of ensuring a sizeable and appreciative audience): Selaniki wrote that at the wedding of Fatma Sultan "skirtfulls of shiny new coins were distributed . . . those who did not receive any sighed with longing." -- Leslie P. Peirce. The Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire

[ottomanladies]

Hello! Do you think it was possible, that one of the Sultan's concubine became friend with the imperial princesses like Atike and Farya? Do we know the whole title of the members of the Sultanate of Women? Do the concubines have to bow to high ranking statesmen? If not, did they have to respont to his presence somehow? Did the Sultana's went to the outside world? If yes, what did they have to wear?

Hello!

Why not? Sometimes princesses raised future consorts in their own household before presenting them to the sultan so it wasn’t impossible for them to develop some kind of relationship.

Atike Sultan remained close to both Mehmed IV and Turhan Hatice but, admittedly, we don’t know whether they were friends or they just shared the same political views.

You mean the Devletlu Ismetlu titles? I must admit I have never seen them in full in any book I own, but apparently they are Devletlû İsmetlu (given name) Vâlide Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri

Hürrem’s was Devletlû İsmetlu Hürrem Haseki Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri

I’m not sure what titles Ottoman princesses had, I don’t think they had the Devletlu Ismetlu ones.

Concubines did not meet high-ranking statesmen, though… Contrary to what MC depicts, statesmen did not enter the third courtyard, the residence of the sultan and his family, so there weren’t many occasions for a concubine and a statesman to meet.

Valide Sultans communicated through letters, but the regents (Kosem and Turhan) participated to Divan meetings so let’s say they had to be acknowledged by the viziers who entered the room: they were bowed to, without a doubt. They were Queens Mother, they were regents, their rank was clearly higher than anyone in the room except for the sultan.

I’d say, though, that every mother of a child outranked a statesman. Well, it was polite to respond to someone bowing to you with something like a nod, but I think this happens everywhere in the world.

Yes, sultanas left the palace from time to time. Valide Sultans attended prayers in the major mosques in the city, they had palaces on the Bosphorus (Nurbanu did not die in Topkapi but in one of her residences on the sea), they sometimes went out to check their building projects (Turhan Hatice had a spot, opposite to the site of her mosque, where she could observe the construction behind gilded windows)

They were completely veiled, of course, and wore their hotozes on the head. Tiaras were used only towards the end of the Empire and not to go out, they were worn just during official celebrations (like any tiara in a royal family, I guess). The hotoz was “a kind of headgear that is a bit higher in front, lower in back, and made of fine silk fabric in a color that complements the color of the dress. One could wear jewels on the hotoz, if one wished.”

Rahime Perestu Valide Sultan would wear one during formal occasions: “atop her hennaed hair a calpac-shaped hotoz worked in the most exquisite lace-like embroidery, and wearing the emerald pin called the Valide Tacı [Mother’s Crown], which she flanked with the two emerald pins from the same set.”

The cloak women wore outside was called ferace.