#gülfem hatun

[magnificentlyreused]

This purple and golden tiara was first worn by Hafsa Sultan in the second episode of the first season of Magnificent Century. It can be seen again on Gülfem Hatun in the seventh episode of the third season. The tiara was further embellished for the fourth season and worn by Mihrünnisa Sultan in the twenty-first episode as well as by Nurbanu Sultan in the twenty-fourth episode.

Atike Sultan also wore the tiara in the final episode of Magnificent Century: Kösem.

[dyingroses]

Magnificent Century + AO3 tags

[awkward-sultana]

(Almost) Every Costume Per Episode + Gülfem Hatun’s indigo gown and sheer black lace kaftan in 4x03

[redrosecut]

Watching the story of Mahidevran on the Youtube channel because I can't sleep and I think we were really let down after that promising start of a complicated relationship between Mahidevran and Gülfem. Instead we eventually got nothing but lap dog Gülfem and crying Mahidevran.

Also I still don't get why Hafsa, who seemed to adore Gülfem in these early episodes, never send her back to Süleyman. She wanted to get rid of Hürrem, so why not use the woman your son already has a relationship with and you trust instead of trying to send new inexperienced girls you don't really know yet? Even if Süleyman declines, this would be my very first shot as Valide tbh.

[hurremshiv]

I think the actual favourite concubine of Süleyman to the imperial family was Gülfem. All the sisters embrace her when they come to the palace and she was kept around despite being no longer of dynastic use. Did they treat her right? Not really but I think if Mahidevran or Hürrem had lost their children that young and were no longer a sexual partner of Süleyman (aka dynastic baby making machines), they would have been sent to the old palace a long time ago. Gülfem, meanwhile, is around for everything. Basically like an honorary aunt (Bayezid even refers to her as Sultan at least ones). I'm always surprised the sisters and Hafsa didn't try to push her back at Süleyman. Like why train a new concubine whose character you don't know when there is one perfectly suitable and apparently loyal right there?

We don't see much of what happened in Manisa and so the reasons why Gülfem stayed would probably be made clearer if we knew what transpired there. That said, she was a good and level headed friend to both Süleyman and Hatice so that probably played an important factor. That said I'm curious what @redxluna and @mc-critical make of this.

[womenoftheottomanempire]

~Gülfem Hatun~

The exact date of birth is unknown, she was roughly the same age as Süleyman I

She originally came from Greek islands or somewhere else in the Balkans. It was belived for centuries that Gülfem was one of the concubines of Süleyman, whose child died and after that Gülfem asked him to stay in harem as supervisor. This position would give her not only an status but a new meaning in life. But this theory seems unlikely. Usually the mothers of the heirs are mentioned as mother of (name of the eldest son or daughter). If the child died, they appeard in harem documents as mother of deceased Sultan X / valide - i merhum Sultan X. Gülfem simply appeard as Gülfem hatun. More about Gülfem on my YouTube Channel.

Sources: Leslie Peirce - The Imperial Harem and Empress of the East

[reusedaccessoriesjewellery]

This Headpice is worn three times in Magnificent Century, First on Selma Ergeç as Hatice Sultan Season 1 Episode 3 (2011) and second worn on Selen Öztürk: Gülfem Hatun in Season 2 Episode 29 (2012) and worn last time on Pelin Karahana Mihrimah Sultan in Season 3 Episode 10 (2012)

[recycledmoviecostumes]

This dark pink and golden kaftan was first worn by Nur Fettahoğlu as Mahidevran Sultan in the thirty-fourth episode of the second season of Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Magnificent Century).

The kaftan was reused twice in the fourth season, first on Selen Öztürk as Gülfem Hatun in the eleventh episode and then on Burcu Güner as Fahriye Kalfa in the twenty-fourth episode.

Costume Credit: Wardrobeoftime, 1533 Secrets from History

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[garnetbutterflysblog]

Madonna-Whore Complex: Mahidevran & Hürrem

While I’m sure anyone who reads this post has some idea of what the Madonna-Whore complex is, I am going to give a definition regarding it just to be thorough. Essentially, the Madonna-Whore complex is the idea that people will attempt to categorize women into two categories: the sacred (Madonna) and the profane (the Whore). The Madonna is admired and respected by all yet is not sexually desired while the Whore is deemed vulgar and unworthy of respect but is sexually desirable. 

I do believe Magnificent Century did attempt to subvert this but failed to do enough to successfully undermine the complex in their audience. The show’s main attempt to subvert the Madonna-Whore complex by establishing Hürrem as an underdog. To give credit where it’s due, I will list their attempts to do so. 

Out of the two women, the audience meets Hürrem (then known as Aleksandra) first and is given her backstory immediately to make her more sympathetic. 

Mahidevran’s background is mostly left unexplored with the only exception being that it is established she has been Süleyman’s favorite for some time despite attempts from others to take her place.

It is quickly established that Süleyman has little to no romantic/sexual interest in Mahidevran. (I believe this point may have backfired some as part of the Madonna is her undesirability as a sexual figure)

Hürrem's status as the underdog is further established when Hafsa is led to interfere and send Mahidevran to the sultan’s chambers in Hürrem’s place once Daye Hatun relays Hürrem and Maria’s conversation out-of-context.

Hürrem is unfairly imprisoned for disrespecting Mahidevran after being goaded into a fight (where, in a fit of irony, Mahidevran refuses to respect that Süleyman has re-named Aleksandra Hürrem). Hürrem is denied food and water during her imprisonment which is implied to last at least long enough to cause dehydration (24 to 48 hours is my guess) and which would’ve lasted longer if Süleyman hadn’t intervened.

After being severely beaten by Mahidevran, Hürrem is denied appropriate medical care by the harem staff in order to protect Mahidevran until Süleyman intervenes. 

An attempt is made to marry off Hürrem behind Süleyman’s back in the interest of protecting Mahidevran and Hafsa’s anger towards Süleyman’s intervention on Hürrem's behalf. 

Hürrem almost loses her life and that of her unborn child’s when she is poisoned by Mahidevran and then is subject to psychological manipulation by Hafsa to protect Mahidevran. 

While Hürrem is heavily pregnant, Hürrem’s attendant (Gülnihal) is taken away from her side by Ibrahim. Hafsa’s reaction to this is one of approval despite the danger this ended up posing to her unborn grandchild.

After the birth of Mehmet, Hafsa throws undeniably classist insults against Hürrem, further establishing the latter as the underdog.  

After Hürrem slaps Gülnihal for sleeping with the sultan, Hafsa threatens to remove Mehmet from his mother despite having advocated for Mahidevran to remain with Mustafa on two separate occasions. One of those occasions endangered the lives of two dynasty members- the unborn Mehmet and the Sultan himself. 

Hürrem is denied her title as the mother of şehzade after the birth of her son. She is referred to as Hürrem Hatun, the title of a favorite, even after Mihrimah and her second şehzade, Selim are born. 

Hafsa acts on incredibly circumstantial evidence against Hürrem after Ayse Hatun is murdered. Hafsa omits that this evidence is circumstantial when speaking with Süleyman. This results in Hürrem being unfairly separated from her son, Mehmet and exiled to the Old Palace. 

During Hürrem’s time in exile, it is made clear that Mahidevran’s troubles are far from over as she worries over Gülfem being summoned by the Sultan. 

In return for being exonerated, Hürrem is forced to apologize to Mahidevran, who has attempted to kill her twice. 

It is mentioned once or twice that Gülfem was Süleyman’s first favorite and gave him a son. It is further implied that Mahidevran took her place. 

Yet apparently establishing Hürrem as the underdog and establishing that Süleyman no longer had any interest in Mahidevran was not enough to subvert the Madonna-Whore complex as many in the audience viewed Hürrem as a “homewrecker” and “the other woman” in this scenario. I propose this is because the show is making a clear attempt to cast the characters as complex and thus the audience is given reason to sympathize with Mahidevran as well. She suffers a miscarriage and admits she hasn’t been struggling to conceive these last several years (casting her as the wronged woman whose fault (infertility) is beyond her control in this scenario). So what could the show have done differently in order to preserve sympathy for Mahidevran while also ensuring that most audience members would not apply the Madonna-whore complex to the situation the show presents? {the one is bold requires less re-structuring of the show and thus might be the easiest way to do so}

The show could have utilized the one son per concubine rule as would be found historically. Mahidevran would have the sympathy of the viewers for being in love with Süleyman but the fact the system requires this would exonerate Hürrem (hopefully) of wrong-doing.

An impartial Hafsa or at least, a Hafsa who overlooks her personal dislike for Hürrem for protocol and tradition, ensuring she is treated as the mother of a prince. With Hafsa insisting both Mahidevran and Hürrem be respected as their positions demand, there would be one less person whose actions can be interpreted as applying the Madonna-whore complex to Mahidevran and Hürrem in-universe. 

Mahidevran not having the Haseki Sultan title might show a more equal playing field (and give Hürrem back her historical achievement).

Allow Hafsa to be angry at Mahidevran after the poisoning incident (but still advocating for her to remain for Mustafa’s benefit). Hafsa’s and Ibrahim's attempts to brush this under the rug implies that the Madonna-Whore complex is somewhat justified. (IT ISN'T) 

Emphasizing Gülfem and Mahidevran’s history. Let the audience see the cycle and that the blame for both Mahidevran and Gülfem's pain falls on Süleyman. I believe this could happen in various ways.

Hürrem is often told that she will suffer what Mahidevran did (Parallel 1, 2, 3) by Mahidevran and other people. How difficult would it be for Gülfem to confront Mahidevran in a similar manner? I don’t think it would be out of character for Gülfem to remark that everything beautiful has its end and Mahidevran needs to accept that (Parallel 4). 

Hatice’s moment where she defends Hürrem to Mahidevran could also be utilized to this effect. Hatice could point out that she never treated Mahidevran unfairly despite the fact Mahidevran was Gülfem's Hürrem.

Or allow Gülfem to be Hürrem’s friend as historically accurate. She can still comfort Mahidevran when Hürrem is tactless or goes too far, but at least have Gülfem be openly accepting of Hürrem as this is part of the cycle to her.

The parallels are linked to their creator, the lovely @awkward-sultana. I would love feedback on this so I'm tagging @shivrcys, @starbabe569, @mc-critical and @redxluna for their opinions on if the show successfully subverted the trope enough to their liking and to see if they have their own suggestions.

[magnificentlyreused]

This golden and turquoise tiara was first worn by Mahidevran Sultan in the ninth episode of the first season of Magnificent Century. It was worn again by Hürrem Sultan in the seventeenth episode of the same season. The tiara also very briefly appears on Gülfem Hatun in the ninth episode of the second season.

The tiara was altered by adding stones to its golden parts before it was used twice in the fourth season. First it was worn by Mihrünnisa Sultan in the nineteenth episode and then by Nurbanu Sultan in the twenty-fourth episode.

[faintingheroine]

Gülfem to Huricihan: “The circumstances changed. And you have to adjust to these changed circumstances my Sultana”.

Gülfem spells out her life motto. But oh there is more:

“I remember your late father, he wouldn’t act out according to friends and foes but according to his own interests”.

I mean I am happy that the Season 4 is apparently occasionally capable of acknowledging that Ibrahim had unsavory characteristics too. But when did Ibrahim pick his friends and foes according to his own interests? Especially in the political arena? He swore loyalty to Mahidevran and Mustafa in Episode 6 or so and never wavered. In his personal life I guess I could say that he stayed with Hatice due to his own interests but I doubt that that would be Gülfem’s point of view lol (though it could be too, maybe she only supported Hatice and Ibrahim staying married for the sake of Hatice’s happiness and mental health, who the fuck knows).

Also write down Huricihan as a second generation member who is much dumber than either of her parents. And I am saying this as someone who doesn’t have a super high opinion on Hatice’s intelligence. But Hatice at least had her intuitions and presentiments, and you sometimes got the feeling that she was smarter than she looked but deliberately suppressed her knowledge about the world to be happy. Huricihan just seems to have not much going on up there.

[dyingroses]

This was so evil. Gülfem and Hatice had no justifiable reason to do this.

[awkward-sultana]

(Almost) Every Costume Per Episode + Gülfem Hatun’s purple gown in 1x03

[redrosecut]

My pet peeve in the Magnificent Century fandom is when people write Hurrem, Gulfem and Kosem instead of Hürrem, Gülfem or Kösem.

I know most languages probably don't have separate keys for the letter ü or ö as I'm fortunate enough to have with my German keyboard but it changes the entire way of how my brain wants to pronounce these names because my native German clearly distinguishes between u and ü as well as o and ö. I don't know about Turkish, so I should probably shut up, especially since I tend to be ignorant myself when I'm on desktop and I have to write Şah's name because I don't have an ş key.

[hurremshiv]

Gülfem is the most waisted and useless character in the inter series.

I don't think that she was the most wasted character. And I wouldn't necessarily use that language. But it is true that for much of the series she didn't do much aside from being Hatice's friend and enabling her ongoing downward spiral. In spite of the fact that she was his first 'love', her relationship with Süleyman is extremely underdevelopped. As is her dynamic with Mahidevran. And the show is completely uninterested in the affects that her experiences would have had on her. She gets reduced to Hatice's spokeswoman and little else. Which to me speaks to the aristocratic bias that the show has, particularly in the later seasons. She does get kudos for trying to kill Süleyman though. Good on her.