#humasah sultan daughter of murad iii

[ottomanladies]

reallifesultanas Thank you very much for your answer! Yes I meant Dumas not Alderson sorry for that! Is there a reason for the illogical amount of salaries? I mean the earlier salary lists of registers clearly help us to indentify the sultanas. The 1555-1556 registers are 100% logical; the 1603-1604 registers are still logical: Safiye, Handan, aunts of Ahmed, great-aunt of Ahmed, great-great aunt's daughter (Ayse Hümasah), cousin of Mehmed III, far relatives. But then there is this one.. highest salary for the full sisters of the sultan is logical, but then what does the daughters of Murad III doing there? Fahri/Kamer and Hümaşah/Rukiye* are surely Murads and so Ümmügülsüm could be also Murad's... For the lesser salaries Beyhan, Safiye, Hatice I could imagine they were Mehmed III's, maybe Beyhan's Mustafa was Mirahur Mustafa? But these stipends are just not logical... (*Murad III's daughte Rukiye was said to be married to Nakkas Hasan not Huma). And for Ümmügülsüm there is that one report from 1688 (Katherine Trumbull) when it is said she developed a relationship with Sultana Ümmühan, the aunt of the deposed Sultan Mehmed IV, through visits to the harem. This Ümmühan could be Halil Pasha's wife and so Murad III's/Mehmed III's daugher, or is it more likely not an aunt but sister/cousin? Or she truly can be Ahmed I's daughter? There is this 85 numaralı Mühimme defteri that provide some informations suggesting suggesting Ümmügülsüm was sister of Murad IV. Sadly I dont have the book so I cannot check how true is this claim...

I hope you don't mind if we continue here on ottomanladies.

I know the harem register doesn’t seem to make sense from the point of view of hierarchy but we must remember that the hierarchy could be broken on the basis of favouritism. Maybe those aunts were more favoured than the others.

In this table we can see Gevherhan Sultan, a great-aunt of Ahmed I’s, the reigning sultan. Dumas mistakenly identifies her as a daughter of Murad III’s and a concubine of non-haseki rank, but the reality is she’s first because she’s the most senior princess alive. If you look closely at the second category — “Frais de bouche” — she receives the same amount as Ayse and Fatma, Safiye’s daughters. Gevherhan was quite favoured by Ahmed I because she had trained Handan in her household. Also, her late husband Cerrah Mehmed Pasha had performed Ahmed I’s circumcision. Borekçi says that she was the only recipient — apart from Handan and Safiye — of sable fur:

“A register preserved in the Topkapı Palace Archives gives further details of the gifts Gevherhan Sultan received from her great grand-cousin. At the beginning of this register, there are records of the furs and robes of honor sent by the new sultan to his larger family right after his enthronement on December 27, 1603. Here, Gevherhan Sultan is listed as a recipient of a sable robe (semmûr kaplu nimtâne) and recorded as the third female member of the dynasty after the retiring queen mother, Safiye Sultan, and the new queen mother, Handan Sultan, and before all other living sisters and daughters of Murad III and Mehmed III -- a clear indication of her privileged position. Later, on February 6, 1604, she again appears in the register, this time as the only female family member apart from Handan Sultan to receive a fur-trimmed silk robe.”

(I believe the 6 şehzâdegân are unmarried princesses that Ahmed still had to matchmake but this is another story)

I know it’s Rukiye that Öztuna says has married Nakkaş Hasan Pasha but he could be wrong tbh, it wouldn’t be the first time. Also, neither Sakaoğlu or Uluçay confirm this; they give no information about Rukiye except for the identity of her mother. Unfortunately Öztuna never gives his sources so we don’t know where he found that Rukiye was married to Nakkaş Hasan Pasha. I would trust the harem register and contemporary sources (the ragusian diplomat, in this case) more tbh… both say that Nakkaş Hasan Pasha was married to a princess called Hümaşah…

About Beyhan… the problem is the wife of Mirahur Mustafa Pasha went on to marry Cigalazade Sinan Pasha’s son Mahmud Bey in 1612, and died before 1620, the date of Mahmud Bey’s second wedding, which means she shouldn’t have been alive in 1638-39. The Ragusian letter date 1648, though, lists a Beyhan Sultan widow of “Nideli Mustafa Pasha”— unfortunately, I can’t say who this man is or what “nideli” means.

I do agree with you, though. I think that Beyhan, Safiye, and Hatice are daughters of Mehmed III. We know that seven princesses were married in the summer of 1613, after all. A letter dated July 1613 by a Ragusian diplomat, furthermore, says that “at the present there are fifteen sultanas”.

About Katherine Trumbull, I guess you mean this:

“While in Istanbul, Katherine had developed a relationship with Sultana Ümmühan, Mehmed IV’s aunt and sister to Ibrahim II. On 14 July 1688, Katherine met with Ümmühan for the first time, and the two women continued to meet in the imperial harem throughout Trumbull’s residence in Istanbul. During these visits, Katherine must have been accompanied by someone with knowledge of spoken Turkish, or else it is unclear how she would have been able to communicate with the women she met in the harem. At any rate, when she returned to the embassy, she brought to Trumbull news of things taking place in the Ottoman court.” — Ghobrial, John-Paul A, 'Overcoming Distance in Everyday Communication', The Whispers of Cities: Information Flows in Istanbul, London, and Paris in the Age of William Trumbull (Oxford, 2013; online edn, Oxford Academic, 23 Jan. 2014)

Unfortunately, William Trumbull’s diaries were not published, they’re in the British Library. I always like to cross-check my sources and the fact that I can’t read the original kind of annoys me. Ümmühan is quite an unusual name for an Ottoman princess: Ümmi means mother and Han sovereign, it kind of sounds like “valide sultan”, which is why I thought it was a title for a moment but I couldn’t find anything to confirm this. It is kind of interesting, though, that Öztuna says that Ibrahim’s eldest daughter was called Ümmügülsüm, who could have been named after another Ümmügülsüm (the one that in 1622 was unmarried? Who knows)

The Mühimme defteri is not a book but a collection of copies of all the imperial decrees or decisions taken in the imperial council. They’re numbered and the number 85 refers to the years 1630-31. You can find the PDF for free on the website of the Turkish National Archives but, well, it’s in Ottoman Turkish.

(This is one of them)

So I can’t really read it even though I have it.

[sultanamoonlight-blog]

Humasah Sultan - daughter of Safiye and Murad III 

[ottomanladies]

DAUGHTERS OF MURAD III

As we all know, Murad III was the sultan who had thirty daughters when he died, but in 1598 seventeen or eighteen daughters died due to plaque, so there were twelve or thirteen who were left. There were several daughters of Safiye Sultan, and much more daughters of concubines, who were married in mass ceremony in summer of 1613.

When Murad ascended the throne, Venetian ambassadors started to report about his family composition. Let’s now see reports from early reign of Murad III:

Report from Giacomo Soranzo from 1576 (page 205) (provided by Maria Pia Pedani)

Sultan Amorat III di questo nome, et XIII imperator de Turchi, è al presente di età di 33 anni. Ha una figliola di XII anni et dui figliuoli maschi, il primo, sultan Mehemet, di IX anni, et l’altro sultan Soleiman di VIII.

Report from Giovanni Correr from 1578 (page 239) (provided by Maria Pia Pedani)

Sarebbe, dicono, inclinato per natura a disordinar con le donne, perché si diletta grandemente della conversation loro; pure, con tanta commodità et quantità che n’ha, si tien per fermo che ’l sia contento della sola moglie, la qual se ben non le ha per ancora fatto chebin, che tanto vuol dire come indotata et sposata, ama grandemente, né mai dorme lontano da lei, et con essa ha tre figliuoli, una femina de XI anni et dui maschi, il primo di IX, et l’altro di V anni.

Report from Giacomo Soranzo from 1584 (page 268) (provided by Maria Pia Pedani)

Questo sultan Mehemet, solo et unico figliolo maschio di Sua Maestà con doi figliole femine, se ben ha havuto altri quattro figlioli maschi, che son morti, tutti di una istessa madre, è hora in età di XVI in XVII anni, et la prima figliola di XIIII dissegnata, come si crede, a Ibrain bassà, et [6] l’altra più picciola.

Report from Paolo Contarini from 1583; book Relazioni degli ambasciatori veneti al Senato (page 243):

Ha Sua Maesta un figliuolo unico maschio chiamato Sultan Memet, di eta d’ anni 18, e che l’ anno passato fu ritagliato, com’ e noto alla Serenita Vostra, di maggior vita e di piu bella statura del padre, di color olivastro, e negli occhi mostra esser crudele; s’ intende ch’ egli abbia animo grande, e che spesso biasma il padre, perche dipende dal consiglio delle done e non va in persona alla guerra. Ha pure Sua Maesta due figliuole, una di eta di quattordici anni, che, come ho detto, e destinata per moglie ad Ibraim bassa, e l’ altra e di anni dieci, ne per ancora e destinata ad alcuno, sebben si ragiona che la sultana madre abbia intenzionne di farla dar per moglie a Mamut aga, capigi bassi del serenissimo Signor, allievo e molto favorito di Sua Maesta.

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As far as I understood from reports above:

Beside Mehmed, Safiye gave birth to four sons who died before 1584; one of them was named Süleyman who was year younger than Mehmed, thus being born in 1567. Also, Mahmud and Selim (who were born respectively in 1572 and 1579; see A Comparison of Seyyid Lokman’s Records of the Birth, Death and Wedding Dates of Members of Ottoman Dynasty (1566-1595) with the Records in Ottoman Chronicles by Pazan Ibrahim), were also sons of Safiye, according to birth dates.

Safiye for sure had at least two daughters; Ayşe, who was four years younger than her brother Mehmed, thus being born in 1570, and Fatma, who was four years younger than her elder sister and eight years younger than her brother, thus being born in 1574. Beside them, it seems that Safiye had one more daughter, who was older from Mehmed two to three years, thus being born in 1563-1564.

From later reign of Murad III we have also some informations:

Report from Lorenzo Bernardo in 1590 provided by Maria Pia Pedani (actually the report was made in 1586/87; because this bailo was there until 1587)

Fra tutti questi che a quella Porta potessero far bene e male a questo Senato è la sultana moglie, uno de principali mezi appresso il Gran Signore. Questa è di natione albanese, molto savia e prudente, si è mostrata da un tempo in qua molto bene affetta alle cose della Serenità Vostra, e però mi son trattenuto con lei con alcune galanterie di poco valore, perché non si mostra avida né ha causa di essere tale perché è ricchissima. Il suo favore non solo è da stimare al presente, ma molto più per l’avenire, in tempo che regnasse  il prencipe suo figliolo, appresso il quale è di molta autorità. È d’età d’anni 38 in 39, e sono anni 25 ch’hebbe commercio col Gran Signore col quale per anni 18 continui hebbe molti figlioli, de quali al presente ne vivono tre solamente, cioè Meemet prencipe, la figliola maritata in Ibraim bassà et una figliola che hora è da marito.

Safiye’s Household and Venetian Diplomacy; page 29 note 64

16 Aug. 1590  – the marriages of two daughters of the sultan has been arranged; the first is beautiful and will marry the beylerbeyi of Greece; the other is humpback, but not a monster, and she will marry Siyavuş paşa

Safiye’s Household and Venetian Diplomacy; page 29 (note 63 confirms spring 1591 as date)

In 1591 the rich Hümaşah Ayşe, the daughter of Mihrimah and Rüstem, proposed to pay the expenses of one hundred galleys for six months, if her son-in-law Çiğala-zâde Sinan paşa was made kapudanpaşa. At the same time a sister of prince Mehmed tried to obtain the same office for her brother-in-law Mehmed paşa.

Report from Matheo Zane from April 18, 1592, to the Doge and Senate (source: Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts Relating to English Affairs (1893); page 23 – I will only provide first part of the letter)

The appointment of Sciavus as Gran Vizir was made against the intentions of the Sultan himself, who, in his own mind, had designed to make Sciavus second Vizir, and Sinan Gran Vizir. But Sinan was far away, and his Majesty was aware that there was pressing danger if he refused to satisfy the troops by the removal of Ferrad; he accordingly conferred the seals to Sciavus. This appointment is more popular among the people and the merchants than with the troops, who remember that the disorders of their payment took place in the time of Sciavus, though the head of the Beglierbey of Greece paid the penalty for all. It is thought that if the Sultan’s daughter, who is twenty-six years old, marries Sciavus he will keep his office, if not there is danger of his losing it…

Alphonse la Martine claims in his work History of Turkey (p. 108):

Ferhad-Pasha, grown old in the wars of Persia, was appointed grand vizier in the place of Sinan-Pasha, who returned for the third time into his sumptuous exile of Malghara. Ferhad had espoused the daughter of the Sultana Safiye. This princess governed under her son Mahomet III from the depths of the harem, still more absolutely than under Amurath.

Report from Girolamo Capello from 1600 (p. 416, provided by Maria Pia Pedani)

Rimane per ultimo Sciaus, di nazione ongaro, e per quello che viene detto nato nobilmente. Questo fu grandemente amato da sultan Selim; è persona di bell’aspetto, grave, di poche parole e risoluto, e nessuno vien formato di maggior intelligenza di lui, né più atto a regger tanto peso, essendo stato tre volte primo visir, se bene gl’attribuiscono nome di sfortunato, essendo nel tempo del suo governo successi incendii grandissimi et accidenti infausti, e sempre che si sente voce di mutazione di governo egli viene nominato per primo; ma si giudica che non potrà riuscire per non esser in grazia della regina, essendo che doppo la morte della prima sua moglie, non volse prendere un’altra sultana. Con tutto ciò non manca chi lo pone innanzi. E l’ultimo ordine che diede il Gran Signore a Sciaus, ch’egli non dovesse partir per la Mecca, facendolo ritornar in Costantinopoli mentre era in pronto per andarsene (se bene altri dicono che fosse sua invenzione per vedere come si muoveva il re) lo pose in gran speranza, che Sua Maestà si volesse servir di lui. Nell’amicizia di questo si conserva il medico Benvenisti ebreo, che per vedersi privo del donativo che Vostra Serenità gli faceva già molto tempo di 500 zecchini l’anno, quasi pretesi da lui per obligo di servizi prestati, si rende ora poco ben affetto, se bene lo dissimula. Ma si ha da lodar Dio che Vostra Serenità ora si trova libera dalla mano di tutte quest’arpie delle quali non avrà bisogno, piacendo a Sua Divina Maestà per gran pezzo, e quando anco Sciaus risorgesse, saranno ambedue sempre amicissimi di lei perché sono avarissimi, oltre che Sciaus si è sempre mostrato ben inclinato verso questo Serenissimo Dominio.

From this reports I was able to obtain, I understand next:

Safiye’s daughter Ayşe, who was from 1586 married to Ibrahim Pasha was sent with her husband to Egypt where she lived until end of reign of her father. But, there were at least two daughters of Safiye Sultan in the capital whose marriages occurred, even if their ceremonies was not reported by bailos.

In 1590, two daughters of Murad III (and Safiye) were promised respectively to governor of Rumelia (ambassadors often reffered them as beylerbeys of Greece) and Siyavuş Pasha. It seems that Sultana who was promised to governor of Rumelia was married to him latest in 1591, as her sister tried to obtain function of Kapudan Pasha for her husband (even though daughter of Rustem Pasha succeeded in her intention for obtaining that title to her son-in-law).  It also seems that her husband’s identity was Mehmed Pasha, more precisely Nişancı Kara Mehmed Pasha. Sometimes referred as Boyalı Mehmed Pasha. Mehmed Pasha died in June 1593.

I would suggest that this Sultana might be Fatma, as she would be 16 y.o., by the same age her sister Ayşe married Ibrahim Pasha. Also, as Mehmed Pasha died in June 1593, she could soon remarry. Also, there is a interesting quote in work DAMAD HALIL PASHA (d. 1603): THE LIFE AND CAREER OF A “MODERATE” OTTOMAN PASHA (pp. 1643-1644) which says that ‘’the death of Nişancı Mehmed Pasha, one of the dome viziers, on 21 June 1593 seems to have made it easier for Halil Pasha to become vizier’’.

On the other hand, there is a Sultana who was promised to Siyavuş Pasha after he was widowed after death of Fatma Sultan, sister of Murad III. From 1592  report of Matheo Zane, we find out that this Sultana is twenty-six years old and that marriage negotiations are still going on. By report from 1600, it is clear that this Sultana who was engaged to Siyavuş Pasha was Safiye’s daughter, because Girolamo Capello reported that Siyavuş Pasha refused to remarry to Murad III’s daughter and he eventually fell out of favour of Safiye Sultan. It seems that this daughter was the eldest daughter of Murad III, beside Ayşe Sultan and Fatma Sultan, who were married at the time.

Beside that

In Sicill-I Osmani cilt 1, page 26, says that daughter of Murad III named Mihrimah was the eldest daughter of her father when she died and that she married Mirahur Ahmed Pasha. Also in work Bu mülkün kadın sultanları by Sakaoğlu, Mihrimah is claimed as eldest daughter of Murad III, and that she was married to Mirahur Ahmed Pasha in 1604. But, if she was eldest daughter and was married in 1604 to Ahmed Pasha, she was 40 years old, which means she had another marriages during reign of her father and brother about whom we know nothing. I would go with her being the one trying to be married to her late aunt’s husband Siyavuş Pasha. If the description is right, and she was humpback, but not a monster, I would suggest she was maybe retired in her Palace or Topkapi Palace the most of her time because of health problems.

It seems that Murad III also had another daughter, Hümaşah, who was absolutely wronged by Alderson, he assigned her husbands of Şehzade Mehmed’s daughter Hümaşah Sultan and Şehzade Mehmed’s granddaughter Fatma Hanımsultan. Actually, thanks to Ragusan envoys, we know that she was wife of Nakkaş Hasan Pasha. According to Factions and Favourites at the Courts of Sultan Ahmed I, this marriage occurred between January and March 1605, but there are venetian reports which claim differently:

Resta quarlo Visir Assan Nacas, che in turco vuol dir pittore, per qualche gusto che ha di quella professione; e uomo di 54 anni, picciol di persona, nacque in Russia, d’ingegno sottile, poiche oltre il dipingere, sa ancora lavorare un orologio. Fu Silictar del re passato che il fece anco Visir, e gli die’in moglie una sua sorella – zia del presente Gran Signore; onde resta egli ancora parente della Maesta Sua.

Source: Relazioni degli stati Europei lette al Senato dagli ambasciatori Veneti nel secolo decimosettimo, p. 142

Also, in Journal of Ottoman Studies cilt 11 from 1991 (p. 184) and Osmanlı Devletinin Saray Teşkilatı (1984; page 165) from Uzunçarşılı, there are claims of Ahmed I fulfilling his aunt Hümaşah Sultan’s reguest for some appropriate allocations from the imperial kitchen. Most interesting is 82 numarali muhimme defteri, where Hümaşah Sultan gave in 1617 some kethudas to her nephew Ahmed I, he even refers to her as hȃlem Hümaşah Sultan (derived hrom hala, which means aunt). I strongly suggest she being daughter of Safiye Sultan, as she was given name in honour of Şehzade Mehmed’s daughter who gifted her mother to her father. I also suggest she was the youngest of her siblings, being born around 1580. As she was child in 1580s, ambassadors probably didn’t have the chance to see her and she was confined to Topkapi. She received the highest salary for princess, beside four daughters of Kösem Sultan, as she was full-sister of Sultan. She also gifts during reign of Sultan Ibrahim, and on list of fourteen princesses which received gifts from envoys in 1655, in book ‘’Acta et diplomata Ragusina’’ she is reffered as Inasce sultana moglie di Hassan pascia.

Also, there were other daughters of Murad III, who were not daughters of Safiye Sultan.

In mass marriage ceremony in 1613, seven daughters of Murad III who resided in Old Palace were given to court officials. According to book Topçular Katibi Abdülkadir Efendi Tarihi  (p. 624), we are given identities of husbands of those Sultanas

Küçük Mirahur Mehmed Aga

Mirahur-I Evvel Muslu Aga

Bostancıbaşı Hasan Aga

Cığalazade Mehmed Bey

Kurşuncuzade Mustafa Pasha

Kefe Beylerbesi Mehmed Pasha

Kapucıbaşı Topal Mehmed Pasha

Also, author puts in footnotes that there was one daughter of Murad III who married in Shaban of 1022 H. (September 1613) governor of Rumelia Ahmed Pasha.

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* In work Bu mülkün kadın sultanları by Sakaoğlu, Fahri Sultan is claimed to be married to Çukadar Ahmed Pasha in 1604, who died in 1618. Year 1604 is incorrect, as she was married to him in 1613. Additionaly, in work Searching for Osman by Tezcan Baki, on page 328, it is claimed that daughter of Murad III who married governor of Rumelia Ahmed Pasha (later governor of Damascus; died 1618)  remarried to Çerkez Mehmed Ali Pasha, who was Grand Vizier of Murad IV. Actually, this Ahmed Pasha was Mirahur Ahmed Pasha, who was governor of Damascus from 1617 until 1618 (I checked on world statesmen site). It seems that Çukadar and Mirahur Ahmed Pasha are the same person, but it seems that when Murad III’s daughter Mihrimah Sultan died, pasha was remarried to Fahri Sultan. Additionally, her marriage to Grand Vizier would explain why she received the highest salary of 430 aspers in 1639. She was not daughter of Safiye Sultan, but she was wife of Grand Vizier of Murad III, thus being given the highest salary among full-sisters of sultans. According to Ulucay, Fahri Sultan remarried to Soffi Bayram Pasha, which is true, because she was recorded in 1639 as widow of his, and received gifts from Ragusan envoys as his widow. Interestingly, it seems that she remarried during reign of Sultan Ibrahim to certain Dilaver Pasha, who was vizier under Mehmed IV and died in 1656. In list of gifts, she was referred as Fahre sultan, moglie di Dilaver pascia in 1648, 1662, 1670 and 1676. She is recorded in Acta et diplomata Ragusina, which provides gifts for fourteen Sultanas in 1655 as Faslite sultana, moglie di Lauer bassa. There are also court records from 1662:

Eyüb Mahkemesi (Havass-ı Refia) 74 Numaralı Sicil (H. 1072 - 1073 / M. 1661 - 1662)

III. Murad’ın kızı Fahrî Sultan’ın kocası Dilâver Paşa’dan intikal eden malları satan vekili Süleyman Bey’den herhangi bir alacağı kalmadığı Husûs-ı âti’l-beyânı mahallinde tahrîr için kıbel-i şer‘den bi’t-taleb irsâl olunan mevlânâ Sâlih Efendi b. Mehmed, ol dahi zeyl-i kitâbda muharrerü’l-esâmî olan müslimîn ile medîne-i hazret-i Ebâ Eyyûb el-Ensârî -dâme fî rıdvâni’l-Bârî- de vâki‘ Debbâğlar Deresi demekle ma‘rûf mahalde sâkine fahrü’l-muhadderât zevi’l-muvakkarât tâcü’l-mestûrât aliyyetü’z-zât safiyyetü’s-sıfât Fahrî Sultan bt. el-merhûm el-mebrûr ed-darrâc ilâ medârici rahmeti Rabbihi’l-gafûr Sultan Murad Hân -aleyhi’r-rahmeti ve’l-gufrân- hazretlerinin sa‘âdet-hânelerine varılıp akd-i meclis-i şer‘-i şerîf olundukda, sultân-ı müşârün-ileyhâ meclis-i ma‘kūd-ı mezkûrda, işbu kitâb-ı sıhhat-nisâbın sâhibi kıdvetü’l-emâcid ve’l-ekârim câmi‘ü’l-mehâmid ve’l-mekârim Sultanzâde Süleyman Bey b. el-merhûm Davud Paşa mahzarında tav‘an ikrâr ve takrîr-i kelâm edip bundan akdem fevt olan zevcim merhûm Dilâver Paşa zimmetinde mütekarrir olan mehr-i müeccelim mukābelesinde mecmû‘-ı muhallefâtı hatt-ı şerîf-i sa‘âdet-makrûn ile bana ihsân buyurulmağın ben dahi muhallefât-ı müteveffâ-yı mezbûru izn-i hâkim-i askerî ile sûk-ı sultânîde semen-i misli ile bey‘ ve kabz-ı semen ve bana îsâle mûmâ-ileyh Süleyman Bey’i tarafımdan vekîl ve nâib-i menâb nasb ve ta‘yîn eylediğimde ol dahi vekâlet-i mezbûreyi kabûl ve târih-i mezbûrda mahrûse-i Galata’da kassâm-ı askerî olan Hasan Efendi ma‘rifetiyle muhallefât-ı müteveffâ-yı mezbûru sûk-ı sultânîde bi’l-vekâle bey‘ ve kabz-ı semen eyledikden sonra defter-i kassâm mûcebince makbûzu olan meblağı tamamen bana def‘ ve teslîm, ben dahi kabz ve tesellüm etmişidim el-hâletü hâzihî husûs-ı mezbûra ve mütâlebât ve eymân ve muhâsamâtdan mûmâ-ileyh Süleyman Bey’in zimmetini ibrâ-i âmm-ı kātı‘ü’n-nizâ‘ ile ibrâ ve iskāt eyledim min ba‘d mûmâ-ileyh Süleyman Bey ile merhûm Dilâver Paşa muhallefâtına ve sâir husûsa müte‘allik da‘vâ ve nizâ‘ım yokdur, zuhûr dahi ederse lede’l-hükkâmi’l-kirâm kebîrihimi’llâhi’l-meliki’l-Allâm mesmû‘a ve makbûle olmasın deyicek gıbbe’t-tasdîki’ş-şer‘iyyi’l-vicâhiyyi’l-mu‘teber mâ hüve’l-vâki‘ kayd şüd. Fi’l-yevmi’s-sâbi‘ min şehri Ramazâni’l-mübârek li sene isneteyn ve seb‘în ve elf.

Also, in document dated from late 1662, which is about vakfiye of Fahri Sultan, she mentions at the end her sister Saime Sultan. Source:

11 numarali Istanbul Mahkemesi Defteri (H. 1073) pp. 303-304

On page 304, you will see Fahri Sultan refers to her as kız karındaşım Sâ’ime Sultân hazretlerini.

But, this Saime Sultan was also on list of gifts; in 1642 she was referred as wife of Topal Ahmed Pasha, and in 1648 she is referred as wife of Sarhoş Mehmed Pasha. In 1662 and 1670, she received gifts as widow, but in 1676 she was not mentioned, which means that she died in early 1670s.

One of the daughters of Murad III was Beyhan Sultan. There is a proof of her being daughter of Murad III:

Eyüb Mahkemesi (Havass-ı Refia) 37 Numaralı Sicil (H. 1047 / M. 1637 - 1638)

Beyhan Sultan bt. Sultan Murad Hân’ın tasarrufundaki menzil, bostan, çayır ve tarlaları Fâtıma Hatun bt. Abdüttevvâb’a sattığı Fahrü’l-muhadderât zahrü’l-muvakkarât tâcü’l-mestûrât, iklîletü’l-muhassenât Âişetü’z-zamân Fâtımatü’l-evân Beyhan Sultan bt. el-merhûm el-mebrûr ed-dâricü ilâ medârici’l-rahmeti’l-gafûr Sultan Murad Hân hazretlerinin taraf-ı şerîflerinden bey‘ ve tefvîz-i âti’z-zikri ikrâra vekîl olup vekâleti müşârün-ileyhâ hazretlerin ma‘rifet-i şer‘iyye ile ârifeyn olan zahrü’l-kuzât Mehmed Efendi b. ( ) el-Kadı ve Hâssa Baltacıları kethüdâsı olan el-Hâc Mehmed et-Teberdâr şehâdetleriyle sâbit olan kıdvetü’l-emâsil ve’l-akrân Câbir Ağa b. Abdülmennân mahfil-i kazâda Sultân-ı müşârün-ileyhâ hazretlerinin kethüdâları olan sâhib-i hâze’l-kitâb kıdvetü’l-muhadderât zübdetü’l-muvakkarât Fâtıma Hâtun bt. Abdüttevvâb tarafından dahi ikrâr-ı câ’i’l-beyânı tasdîka vekîl olup vekâleti mezbûre Fâtıma Hâtun’u ma‘rifet-i şer‘iyye ile ârifeyn olan Rıdvan Bey b. Abdullah ve Mustafa Bey b. Abdullah şehâdetleriyle sâbite olan fahrü’l-cüyûş Cafer Çavuş b. Abdullah muvâcehesinde bi’l-vekâle ikrâr-ı da‘vâ edip müvekkilem Sultân-ı müşârün-ileyhâ hazretlerinin silk-i mülk-i sahîhinde münselik olan emlâkinden olup Havâss-ı Aliyye kazâsı müzâfâtından Terkos nâhiyesine Kiteli nâm karyede vâki‘ bir tarafdan Osman Paşa mülkü ve bir tarafdan zikri âtî olan çiftliğe tâbi‘ olan çayır ve bir tarafı Sinan ve bir tarafı ba‘zan câmi‘-i şerîf ve ba‘zan tarîk-i âm ile mahdûd beş bâb tahtânî odayı ve bir sofayı ve bir anbarı ve harâba müşrif hamamı ve bir büyük ahırı ve bir küçük ahırı ve bir fırını ve harman kenarında vâki‘ samanlığı ve câmi‘-i şerîf kurbunda vâki‘ iki bâb tahtânî odayı müştemil çiftlik ta‘bîr olunur mülk menzilini ve menzil-i merkūm dâhilinde üç re’s kara sığır öküzünü ve demiriyle iki sabanı ve bir arabayı ve bir döğeni ve sâir âlât-ı zirâ‘at ve esbâb-ı hırâseti ve menzil-i merkūm kurbunda vâki‘ harman yerini mezbûre Fâtıma Hâtun’a fıddî nakd-i râyicü’l-vakt yetmiş beş bin akçeye tarafeynden îcâb ve kabûlü hâvî ve bey‘-i bâtt-ı sahîh-i şer‘î ve safka-i vâhide ile bey‘ ve teslîm edip ol dahi minvâl-i muharrer üzre iştirâ ve tesellüm eyledikden sonra yine karye-i mezbûre sınırı dâhilinde mevâzi‘-i adîdede vâki‘ ma‘lûmü’l-hudûd olup merhûm ve mağfûrun-leh Sultan Bayezid Hân -aleyhi’r-rahmetü ve’l-gufrân- hazretlerinin evkāf-ı şerîfesinden olan bir kıt‘a bostan yerinin ve beş kıt‘a çayırın ve tahmîmen yetmiş beş müd tohum istî‘âb eder elli kıt‘a tarlaların dahi hakk-ı tasarrufunu, mezbûrü’n-na‘t yirmi beş bin akçe bedel-i tefvîz ve evkāf-ı mezbûre mütevellîsi ma‘rifetiyle mezbûre Fâtıma Hâtun’a tevfîz edip ol dahi minvâl-i meşrûh üzre tefevvuz ve kabûl eyledikden sonra semen-i merkūm yetmiş beş bin akçe ve bedel-i tefvîz olan yirmi beş bin akçe cem‘an yüz bin akçeyi bi tamâmihî mezbûre Fâtıma Hâtun yedinden ahz ve kabz eyledi ba‘de’l-yevm zikr olunan emlâk-i mezbûre Fâtıma Hâtun’un mülk-i müşterâsı ve bostan ve çayırlar ve tarlalar dâhil-i taht-ı tasarrufu olmuşdur. Keyfe mâ teşâ’ ve tahtâr mutasarrıfe olsun dedikde vekîl-i mûmâ-ileyh Çâker Ağa’nın bi’l-vekâle cârî olan ikrâr-ı meşrûhunu vekîl-i âhar Cafer Çavuş bi’l-vekâle vicâhen tasdîk ve şifâhen tahkīk edicek mâ hüve’l-vâki‘ ketb olundu. Hurrire fi’l-yevmi’l-ışrîn min Şevvâli’l-mükerrem li sene seb‘a ve erba‘în ve elf.

It seems that Beyhan Sultan was recorded in 1648 as widow of Nideli Mustafa Pasha, who was actually Nigdeli Mustafa Pasha, who was killed in rebellion 1632. He was briefly Kapudan Pasha, governor of Egypt and defterdar. It seems that Beyhan Sultan was granted almost the highest salary (415 aspers) because of her husband’s positions during reign of Murad IV. She wasn’t of list of sultanas in 1655, so she died before that year.

I just don’t know if Nigdeli Mustafa Pasha is the same Mustafa Pasha that one of the daughters of Murad III married in 1613.

It seems that on list of gifts in 1642, there was daughter of Murad III named Abide Sultan who was wife of Muslu Pasha. Muslu Pasha was one of grooms in weddings of 1613.

There was also daughter of Murad III called Gevherhan Sultan, who died before 1639/1642, but was still alive in 1624, and was most probably wife of Bostancıbaşı Hasan Aga

Rumeli Sadâreti Mahkemesi 40 Numaralı Sicil (H. 1033-1034 / M. 1623-1624)

Vefat eden Hasan Paşa’nın III. Murad’ın kızı Gevherhan Sultan’a mehir borcu olduğu Bi’l-fi‘l atabe-i aliyyede baş defterdâr kāimmakāmı olan emîrü’l-ümerâi’l-kirâm kebîrü’l-küberâi’l-fihâm sâhibü’d-devleti ve’l-ikbâl sâhibü zeyli’l-izz ve’l-iclâl câmi‘u vücûhi’l-emvâl âmirü’l-hazâini bi-ahseni’l-a‘mâl Mehmed Paşa -dâme ikbâluhû- Dîvân-ı âlî -dâme mahfûfen bi’l-me‘âlî-’devüzerâ-i kirâm zümresinden olup azm-i dârü’s-selâm eden merhûm Hasan Paşa’nın halîle-i celîleleri dürre-i iklîlü’d-devleti’l-aliyye gurreti cebînü’l-hilâfeti’l-behiyye tâcü fırakı’n-nisvân min men lehünne ulüvvü’ş-şân sâhibetü’s-sa‘âdeti ve’l-ihsân sâhibetü zeyli’n-ni‘meti ve’l-ihsân Fâtımatü’z-zamân Âişetü’l-evân hazret-i Gevherhân Sultan bt. es-sultâni’l-a‘zam ve’l-hâkāni’l-ekrem el-merhûm el-mebrûr es-sultan Murad Hân -beşşerahullâhü te‘âlâ bi-rahmetihî minhü ve rıdvân- cenâb-ı ismet-meâblarından husûs-ı âtîye vekîl olup vekâleti nehc-i şer‘î üzere sâbite olan merhûm müşârun-ileyhin kethüdâsı fahrü’l-iştibâh Mehmed Ağa b. Abdullah mahzarında takrîr-i kelâm edip merhûm-ı mezbûrun Rumeli’nde vâki‘ hâssları mahsûlü bin otuz üç senesi Martı ibtidâsından sene-i kâmile tamâmına varınca merhûm-ı mezbûrun voyvodalarına ber vech-i maktû‘ deruhde olunmuş olup hâlâ müşârun-ileyh Hasan Paşa merhûm olmağla havâss-ı mezbûre cânib-i mîrîden zabt olunmak lâzım geldikde müşârun-ileyhâ sultan hazretleri dahi sene tamâmına varınca yine havâss-ı mezbûreyi merhûm-ı müşârun-ileyhin voyvodaları zabt edip sene tamâmına değin cümle mahsûlü vezîr-i müşârun-ileyhin mûmâ-ileyhâ sultan hazretlerine mehr-i müeccelinden olan deyni için sultan hazretlerine teslîm olunmak üzere vekîl-i mezbûr Mehmed Ağa yediyle Hazîne-i âmireye on iki yük akçe teslîm olunmağın ber vech-i meşrûh cânib-i mîrîden dahi deruhde olunmuşdur min-ba‘d havâss-ı merkūmeyi sene tamâmına varınca yine merhûm-ı müşârun-ileyhin voyvodaları zabt edip cümle mahsûl sultan hazretlerine teslîm olunup muhassıl ve müfettiş ve ümenâ taraflarından kat‘â dahl olunmayıp ta‘arruz olunmamak üzere yedlerine emr-i şerîf-i âlîşân verilmişdir dedikde gıbbe’t-tasdîk vicâhen mâ-hüve’l-vâkı‘ bi’t-taleb ketb olundu.

Also, there was daughter of Murad III called Rukiye Sultan, but we know nothing about her except she was also daughter of Şemsiruhsar Hatun.

There was one more daughter of Murad III whose name we know, Hatice Sultan. She was married in 1613 to governor of Kefe Mehmed Pasha. She was still alive in 1639, when she was recorded in harem records as wife of late Mehmed Pasha-i Kefe. She was might remarried during reign of Sultan Ibrahim to some Magrip pascia, as she is recorded in 1648.

So, my final stating is as follows:

Mihrimah Sultan (1564 — before 1613); daughter with Safiye. Her marriages went unnoticed, she was might engaged in 1590 to Siyavuş Pasha, who later refused to remarry. She was married to Mirahur Ahmed Pasha in 1604. She died during reign of her nephew Ahmed I, and after her death her husband remarried to her sister Fahri Sultan.

Ayşe Sultan (1570 — 15 May 1605); daughter with Safiye, married firstly in 1586 to Ibrahim Pasha, married secondly in 1602 to Yemişci Hasan Pasha and lastly married in 1604 to Mahmud Pasha.

Fatma Sultan (1574 — 1620); daughter with Safiye. Might married firstly in 1590 to Nişancı Kara Mehmed Pasha, married in December 1593 to Halil Pasha, married in 1604 to Cafer Pasha (vizier, kapudan pasha (1606-1608), governor of Cyprus until his death in 1609). Öztuna claims she married two more times; in 1610 married kubbe vizier Hizir Pasha (d. 1610) and in 1611 to Murad Pasha.

Hümaşah Sultan (1580 — before 1662); daughter with Safiye. Married in late reign of Mehmed III or early reign of Ahmed I to Nakkaş Hasan Pasha. She was still alive in 1655, but died before 1662.

Fahri Sultan (1594? — 1579?); married in 1613 to Ahmed Pasha (once Mirahur), who was once married to her sister Mihrimah Sultan. After his death in 1618, she remarried Çerkez Mehmed Ali Pasha, who was Grand Vizier under Murad IV. After his death she remarried Soffu Bayram Pasha, and after his death she remained a widow for long time, receiving highest salaries among Ottoman princesses as once she was wife of Grand Vizier. During reign of Sultan Ibrahim lastly married to Dilaver Pasha. After his death, she received gifts as his widow in 1662, 1670 and 1676. She was omitted from gifts in late 1670s and she complained to Grand Vizier (Miović; p. 166). She was longest-lived child of Murad III.

Beyhan Sultan (?? — before 1655); married in 1613 to Kurucubasi Mustafa Pasha, remarried later to Nigdeli Mustafa Pasha.

Hatice Sultan (?? — after 1639); married in 1613 to governor of Kefe Mehmed Pasha.

Gevherhan Sultan (?? — after 1624); married to Bostancibasi Hasan Aga.

Saime Sultan (?? — before 1676); had at least three husbands during lifetime. Shie died in first half of 1670s.

Abide Sultan (?? — before 1648); married in 1613 to Muslu Aga. She died during reign of Sultan Ibrahim.

Rukiye Sultan (?? — ??); daughter of Şemsiruhsar Hatun, maybe one of the princesses married in 1613.

2 unknown daughters

I hope you like my analysis, and that I gave you interesting sources, reading and insights. I can't wait for your reaction and comments!

You really worked hard!! Thank you for sharing this with me, I really appreciate it. (I think you should be the one running this blog lmao)

Ottoman history is kind of a pain in the ass because Ottomanists do not speak to each other, apparently; one discovers something but that something gets ignored by everyone else. Also, Turkish historians tend to not use foreign sources, and it’s such a pity because there is so much information in ambassadorial reports.

I’m not sure Mihrimah was the eldest child of Murad III. Only Sicill-i Osmani says this (Sakaoğlu just cites it) and she was not given a “famous” husband, while Ayşe married Damad Ibrahim Pasha. Unless, as you said, she had some health problem so her marriage was delayed until Ahmed I finally “forced” her to get married like his other aunts. I’m sorry if I sound stupid but I don’t understand how you calculated her age 😭. Oh wait, did you just assume a year before Mehmed III? She undoubtedly existed, though.

About the marriages of Ahmed I’s aunts, I would add this from Ragusian diplomats:

30 June 1613: “...quel medesimo giorno che noi arivamo qui si sposso una delle sultane, zia del Gran Signore per suo Capicilar Chiehaia e l’altra si dice che la setimana prosima si sposara per il Beglerbei d’Urumelia stato prima Aga di Gianizari [Mirahur Ahmed Pascià — Mihrimah!!]; et cossi di mano in mano le altre cinque ...” 17 July 1613: “Questi giorni passati dopo l’arivo nostro si sono maritate tre soltane zie del Gran Signore figliole di Murat, et altre quatro sono sposate le quali fra quatro setimane si maritarano ancor loro, le maritate sono una per il Beglerbei di Romania, l’altra per il Bostangi Bascia gran nemico nostro..., la terza soltana vi e maritata per il Capicilar Ciechaia, ancor lui homo di cativo porto, et mal disposto verso le cose nostre..., le quatro soltane sposate vi sono una per il Pascia di Cairo l’altra per l’Aga di Gianizari la terza per il Ciuciuch Ibrachor Basci, e la quatra per Basc Capici Basci del Gran Signore, vi sono adesso quindeci soltane...”

These two dispatches seem to confirm the information you found in Topçular Katibi Abdülkadir Efendi Tarihi.

It would make sense for Safiye to be Ayşe, Fatma, Mihrimah and Hümaşah’s mother because their names carry meaning for Murad III (well, Ayşe and Fatma are for religious reasons) so I would venture they’re his eldest daughters.

About one of the husbands in the 1613 mass marriage, I have found — do not ask me where, I don’t remember — that Sülün Muslu Pasha was a vizier during the reign of Ahmed I. He could be Abide’s husband, as the Ragusians called him “Sulun Muslia”.

What about (in Öztuna):

MlHRBÂN SULTÂN: Med.Murâd III T. =Dâmâd Topal Mehmed Ağa, kapıcıbaşı, izd.21.2.1613.

Did you find anything about her? Uluçay, on the other hand, didn’t assign a husband to her but said that she was buried in the mausoleum of Murad III (the source is Hadikatü’l-Cevami). He also cited Uzunçarşılı’s Osmanlı Devletinin Saray Teşkilatı, page 162, but I couldn’t find anything about her in there. Or maybe it’s just Mihrimah but Hadikatü’l-Cevami called her Mihriban. According to Alderson, she was a consort instead.

Off topic but I can’t believe that Saime is an actual name because it’s so original. I spent hours trying to find an Ottoman name who sounded like Seime, when I first found it in Ragusian reports 😭

Anyway, you’re a really good historian!!

[ottomanladies]

Ottoman Princesses named: Hümâ-Şâh

"Hümâ-Şâh is a compound name of Persian origins: Hümâ is a bird from Persian mythology and may be translated as lucky bird or phoenix. It is also used alone as a name. Şâh is the Persian title of rulers."

[ottomanladies]

OTTOMANLADIES’ 2ND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Murad III of the Ottoman Empire + daughters who reached adulthood – requested by anon

[ottomanladies]

Weren't Lala Kara Sokoloviç Mustafa Paşa and Sokollu-zâde Lala Mustafa Paşa the same person? It's said that Hümaşah Sultan, daughter of Murad III, married Sokoloviç Mustafa, and that Hümaşah Sultan, granddaughter of Süleyman I, married Sokollu-zâde Mustafa... but both died in 1580 and both were cousins of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, husband of Ismihan Sultan?

I did some digging and you're right. The confusion stems from Alderson - as per usual:

He probably mistook Şehzâde Mehmed's daughter Hümaşah with Murad III's daughter Hümaşah. It doesn’t help that both were called Hüma or Hümaşah indifferently. 

I firstly thought that maybe he had married both but Sokollu-zâde Lala Mustafa Paşa preceeds Hümaşah (Şehzâde Mehmed's daughter) so it couldn't possibly have happened. In fact, Hümaşah marries again after his death so he couldn't have possibly married a younger princess after the death of his wife.

At this point I'm pretty sure that Murad III's daughter married only Nişar Mustafazade Mehmed Paşa, even though Öztuna strangely doesn't include a Hümaşah Sultan among Murad III's daughters.

[ottomanladies]

Was Hümaşah Sultan really the daughter of Safiye Sultan?

It’s just a conjecture of mine, taking into consideration her date of marriage and the date of accession of Murad III. Nothing confirmed by historians.

[ottomanladies]

Murad III + harem and children

Consorts:

Haseki Safiye Sultan: Albanian concubine presented to him by his cousin Hümaşah, she was his only consort for 20 years, when Murad III started sleeping with other women.

Şemsiruhsar Hatun: mother of Rukiye Sultan, she made a vakif for the reading of the Quran in the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina. She died before 1613.

Nazperver Hatun: appears in Ahmet Refik’s book Kadınlar Saltanati as one of Murad III’s consorts.

Şahıhuban Hatun: according to Ahmet Refik, she was buried in Yenibahçe with another consort.

Fakriye Hatun: according to Alderson, she was one of Murad III’s consorts.

Mihriban Hatun: again, according to Alderson she was one of Murad III’s consorts.

Unnamed consort: presented to Murad III by his son Mehmed, it could be one between Fakriye or Mihriban.

Children:

Ayşe Sultan (before 1565 - 15.5.1605): Murad and Safiye’s eldest child. She married Damad Ibrahim Paşa on 20 May 1586, who would serve as Grand Vizier three times. After the death of Ibrahim Paşa on 10 July 1601, she married Yemişçi Haşan Paşa in 1602, but he was executed in October 1603 by her brother Mehmed. In 1603 she built a fountain in honour of her first husband, located outside the Şehzade Mosque. Subsequently, she married her lover Güzelce Mahmud Paşa but she died soon later, on 15 May 1605. She was buried in the mausoleum of her father Murad. In her will, most of her wealth was left to the poor, orphans and sick; to the poor women in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem and as ransom for Muslim female captives.

Fatma Sultan (before 1565 - ??): Murad and Safiye’s second child. On 8 December 1593 she married Kaptanıderya Halil Paşa in a magnificent ceremony. The marriage was described as very happy and they had a child together: Sultanzade Mahmud Bey (died in 1598). Halil Paşa died in 1603 and she subsequently married Vizier Cafer Paşa, though not according to Evliya Celebi.

Mehmed III (16/26.5.1566 - 21.12.1603): son of Safiye Sultan, he was the 13th Ottoman Sultan. (consorts and children here)

Şehzade Selim (1567 - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III. Son of Safiye Sultan? (his date of birth would suggest this, but no source spoke of a second son of Safiye’s being alive at Murad III’s death)

Şehzade Mahmud (1568 - in or before 1581): son of Safiye Sultan

Unnamed prince (6.1582 - 6.1582): according to Alderson, he was born and died during the circumcision fest for prince Mehmed.

Şehzade Cihangir (2.1585 - 8.1585)

Şehzade Süleyman (2.1585 - 1585)

Şehzade Abdullah (1585 - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Mustafa (1585 - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Bayezid (1586 - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Cihangir (1587 - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Abdurrahman (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Ahmed (?? - ??)

Şehzade Alaeddin Davud (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Alemşah (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Ali (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Hasan (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Hüseyin (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Ishak (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Murad (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Osman (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Ömer (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Şehzade Yusuf (?? - 28.1.1595): executed by Mehmed III

Hüma/Hümaşah Sultan (?? - ??): she may have been a daughter of Safiye’s, since she was born in Manisa. She married Lala Kara Sokoloviç Mustafa Paşa (cousin of Sokollu Mehmed Paşa), who died in 1580, and then Nişar Mustafazade Mehmed Paşa, who died in 1586. Nothing else is known about her. [here]

Fahriye Sultan (?? - after 1641): she married Çuhadar Ahmed Paşa in 1604, who died in 1618. According to Uluçay, she was married instead to the governor of Bosnia Sofu Bayram Paşa.

Fethiye Sultan (?? - ??): she does not appear in Sicill-i Osmani.

Rukiye Sultan (?? - ??): daughter of Şemsiruhsar Hatun, she was buried in the mausoleum of her father.

Mihrimah Sultan: she married Mirahur Ahmed Paşa in 1604.

Mihriban Sultan: she was buried in the mausoleum of Murad III.

17 unnamed daughters: died of smallpox in 1598.

Hatice Sultan: no information about her

sources:- A. D. Alderson - The Structure of the Ottoman Dynasty

- Leslie P. Peirce - The Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire

- Necdet Sakaoğlu - Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları

- M. Çağatay Uluçay - Padişahların Kadınları ve Kızları

[ottomanladies]

Hi,I was just wondering was Huma/Humasah used in the 18th century and towards the end of the empire.

Hello! 

Mustafa II had a consort called Hümaşah Kadın, and Abdülhamid I as well. 

As for princesses, it seems that the last onecalled Hümaşah was Murad III’s daughter, which is clearly in honour of his cousin, who had presented Safiye to him.

[ottomanladies]

Hello. My favorite sultan is Safiye and have a question. How many children she have?

Hello! It’s up to debate, actually.

Her children are traditionally Mehmed III, Şehzade Mahmud, Ayşe Sultan and Fatma Sultan.

According to Salomone (Peirce: “Salomon was a Portuguese Jew named Alvaro Mendès, better known in the Ottoman world as Salomon Aben Yaèx”): "the ... Sultana gave the said King many sons and daughters, most of whom having died, there remained only one son, the present Sultan Mehemet, who has just commenced to reign, and two daughters who are both married to Viziers, one to the illustrious Signior Hebul Bassa, and the other to the illustrious Signior Ibrahim Bassa."

I tend to think that Hüma/Hümaşah Sultan was her daughter too. She was born before Murad III’s accession and we all know that Safiye was his only concubine until well into his reign. The problem is she’s never mentioned in ambassadorial reports; all the ambassadors mention two daughters only.

[ottomanladies]

So murad III really had daughter named hümaşah? I thought writers just changed fatma sultan's name in the show

Hello! Yes, he did! He also had a daughter called Fahriye. I think the writers looked at his daughters and chose two names they knew they wouldn’t use for Kosem’s daughters so as to avoid confusion; still, I wish they had chosen to follow history more closely.

[ottomanladies]

Thanks for your last answer, buddy. But I was expecting to hear your own explanation as you are studying it for a long time. However, it is okay. Can you please tell us what is the stipend of sultanzade and hanimsultan?

Oh well, I definitely haven't studied this for longer than Leslie Peirce, who is a professor. I put her quote in my answer to you because I think that's the reason why Handan's stipend was comparably lower than Safiye's, who kept receiving 3,000 aspers a day until she died.

I don't know about Sultanzades, but Hanımsultans are a complicated matter: in general, their stipend depends on whether they're related to the reigning sultan or not, and whether they're princesses of the Enderûn (Inner palace) or Bîrûn (Outer palace).

(Enderûn means that they had lived - sometimes in their lives - in an Imperial Palace — Topkapi or the Old Palace —, Bîrûn that they had never lived in an imperial palace and were, therefore, third-generation princesses)

During Süleyman I's reign the general rule was that adult and married daughters of sultans received 200 aspers per day and granddaughters of sultans received 100 aspers, it didn't matter whether they were related to the Imperial family through their father (and were, therefore, Sultans) or through their mothers (and were Hanımsultans)

Examples:

(table is from Les Perles de Nacre du Sultanat by Juliette Dumas and is dated November 1555 - November 1556)

I know the table is in French but I think it's quite self-explanatory. For the sake of our argument, we'll take a look at the first row only: émoluments, which are the fixed stipends

Both Şehzâde and Şâh Sultan were daughters of Selim I's and therefore Süleyman I's sisters: they receive the same stipend. What is interesting is that both Ismihan Sultan and Ayşe Hanımsultan receive the same stipend: the former descends from a prince, the latter from a princess (the aforementioned Şehzâde)

(notice that Ayşe Hanımsultan is called Ayşe Sultan in harem registers. As I have said many times, Süleyman I's reign is a period of both revolution and stabilisation for women's titles)

Now onto princesses of the Bîrûn (in the same time-lapse: November 1555 - November 1556):

We're going to focus on the last three princesses. As you can see the one descending from a male has a slightly higher stipend than the two descending from a female.

The hierarchy of princesses in the XVI century was, therefore:

daughters of sultans

granddaughters of sultans

great-granddaughters descending from a male (ie. a prince)

great-granddaughters descending from a female (ie. a princess)

As you can see for Mihri Hatun, the daughter of a Hanımsultan did not have a title but still received a stipend from the Imperial treasury. Mihrî Hatun's descendants were considered complete commoners and did not have a tie to the Dynasty.

Fast forward to the beginning of the XVII century and we can see that the hierarchy has become more complex:

this table is dated May 1603 - May 1604, between Mehmed III's and Ahmed I's reigns

As you can see here, the first three princesses — Gevherhan, Ayşe and Fatma — are all daughters of sultans but Ayşe and Fatma are daughters of the reigning Valide Sultan and therefore receive a higher stipend. Dumas incorrectly identifies Gevherhan as a daughter of Murad III's with an unknown concubine but she's actually Selim II's daughter (which is why she's mentioned first after the two valide sultans— she's the eldest princess alive)

What we need to focus on — for the sake of our argument — though are the princesses I have circled: Ayşe Sultan, widow of Ahmed Paşa is actually Ayşe Hümâ-Şâh, Mihrimah's daughter. Hatice Sultan, is the daughter of Gevherhan and therefore granddaughter of Selim II.

Technically, Hatice and Ayşe Hümâ-Şâh have the same rank: they're granddaughters of sultans. So why the different stipends? Ayşe Hümâ-Şâh benefits from her mother's "aura". Mihrimah Sultan was the "greatest princess of the empire", with a lofty stipend of 600 aspers a day during Murad III's reign (when she died). For context, Safiye received 700 aspers as Haseki.

No princess would ever earn so much.

The 6 şehzâdegân (which just means 6 princes/princesses) may be Mehmed III's daughters, who were unmarried and therefore their stipends were low (in very practical terms: as they did not have a household to manage because they lived in a room inside Topkapi, they didn't need a higher stipend)

The hierarchy of princesses at the beginning of the XVII century was, therefore:

princesses born from the haseki sultan who subsequently became valide sultan

the other princesses, born from non-haseki concubines

granddaughters who benefit from their mothers' rank

the other granddaughters

great-granddaughters

As Dumas concludes:

Contrary to the Ottoman principle of blood transmission, which (officially) only takes into account the paternal lineage, the importance of mothers predisposes their daughters to a certain preponderance over their half-sisters. The hierarchy also tends to produce a stronger distinction between daughters and granddaughters (between sultans or hanım sultans) and the third generations, put a little jumbled up in a sub-category that annihilates any individual specificity.

If you're interested, this is what a harem register looked like:

In the XVI century, the stipend of Şehzades was 100 aspers when they resided in the Palace. I guess the stipend of Sultanzades paralleled those of Hanımsultans.

[ottomanladies]

Ibrahim Han of the Ottoman Empire + the women in his life

[ottomanladies]

Ottoman Princesses named: Ayşe

Ayşe is the Turkish equivalent of the Arabic name A'isha, famous for being the name of the youngest wife of Prophet Muhammad. It is one of the most common names among Ottoman princesses and consorts.

[ottomanladies]

Do you think that Mihrimah paid the money for Selim out of familial duty (the fact that he was her only living brother and she owed it to her mother and father to support him and she wanted to be close to Murad) or out of fear of repercussions for openly supporting Bayezid and that Selim would punish her somehow for not being on his side (maybe she thought he would take away her wealth somehow)? From my understanding, Selim and Mihrimah’s relationship was kinda rocky until she helped him out so what would’ve happened if she didn’t? Do you think Humashah (Mehmed’s daughter) would’ve been willing to step in and help?

I think that Mihrimah helped Selim on his accession because a) he was her brother and b) a political crisis didn't benefit her, as she was part of the dynasty too.

I don't believe that Selim would have confiscated her wealth. They weren't on the best terms, it's true, but I just can't see him do anything like this.

When Ottoman sultans died, the army would loot the city (when Şehzade Cihangir died, the people thought that it was Süleyman who had died and some looting had started immediately) Now, that Istanbul wasn't in turmoil was a miracle. A prolonged crisis, though, could have turned into riots. Moreover, as part of the dynasty, if Selim II was embarrassed, she was embarrassed as well.

Also, there was no other candidate to the throne. Even if Mihrimah had refused to help him, what could have she done? Oh, and let's not forget that she wasn't popular with the army. She had no ties with them and both her mother and husband had been despised during their lives. The only sensible thing she could do was to provide the money so Selim could take control of Topkapi Palace (which is where the Imperial treasury was located)

I don't understand why Mihrimah would have helped Selim to be close to Murad. Firstly, he wasn't even in Istanbul, he lived in Manisa as heir to the throne throughout his father's reign; secondly, she wasn't particularly close to him. It's Hümaşah the princess of the blood who was close to Murad (or would be close to Murad, as the news that she was especially beloved by him came when he was already on the throne).

Hümaşah... we don't even know if she was married in September 1566 (Öztuna places her marriage in 1566/1567). If she wasn't even married... how was she supposed to have the resources to finance the whole army's donatives? A princess' stipend wasn't enough. On the other hand, let's say she was married: Mehmed Ferhâd Paşa was promoted Third Vizier in 1564/65, that's the last info we have on his political career. A third vizier wasn't rich or influential enough in my opinion. Even the Grand Admiral was, after all, thrown off his horse when he tried to negotiate with them.

[ottomanladies]

Hey! Love your blog! I just saw your what I love about her gifsets and one of the things you said about Kosem stuck out to me. Her closeness with Kaya, her granddaughter, and that she treated Kaya like one of her own daughters. Was it not normal for grandmothers in the sultanate of women to be close to their granddaughters? I thought I read something somewhere about Hurrem’s being close with Mehmed and Mihrimah’s daughters but was she close to Bayezid and Selim’s daughters? Was Nurbanu close to her granddaughters or was it more complicated because of her relationship with Safiye?

I mean, those gifsets are not about something that is exclusive to that particular woman or anything like that. My intention wasn't to say that only Kösem was close to her granddaughter.

I imagine all of them were, some more some less. Among their duties as the dynasty elder was to take care of their grandchildren and see that everything in their upbringing goes smoothly. Also arranging marriages between princesses is something that pertained to the Valide Sultan (though sometimes they would clash with the princesses' mothers— Kaya's mother had another candidate for her hand in mind but in the end Kösem won)

As far as I know, nothing suggests that Hürrem was close to Selim's and Bayezid's daughters, also because they didn't live in Istanbul. Of course she used to routinely visit her sons in their provincial posts but it wasn't the same thing: both Nurbanu and Bayezid's consorts lived quite freely in the princely harems of Selim and Bayezid. Hümâ-Şâh (Mehmed's daughter) and Ayşe Hümâ-Şâh (Mihrimah's daughter) both lived in Istanbul - the former in the Old Palace and the latter with her parents - so it seems to me quite natural that Hürrem developed a closeness to them.

I don't know how close Nurbanu was to Safiye's daughters because they too were exiled to the Old Palace when their mother was, which is quite interesting since they were basically adults at that point and they must have had their own households. I quite doubt that they still lived in Safiye's apartments. Still, Murad III told them to go with their mother (maybe because they were unmarried? idk)