Hürrem Sultan

Hürrem Sultan was the wife of Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and a powerful figure in sixteenth-century court politics. She was also known in Europe as Roxelana.

Suleiman the Magnificent: The tenth Ottoman sultan, who ruled from 1520 to 1566 and led the empire during its expansion. Her marriage to Suleiman gave her an unprecedented position at the Ottoman court.
Crimean Khanate: A Turkic state north of the Black Sea that existed from the fifteenth century until its annexation by Russia in 1783. Hürrem is commonly believed to have originated in territory associated with this khanate.
Ottoman succession: The transfer of Ottoman sovereignty among members of the ruling dynasty, shaped by dynastic practice and political struggle. The fate of Hürrem's sons made succession a persistent concern at court.
Sultanate of Women: A period of Ottoman history, mainly in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when royal women exercised notable political influence. Hürrem's court authority is often treated as an early turning point in this broader period.
Mihrimah Sultan: Daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan, and an influential Ottoman princess. Her political role extended her mother's influence into the next generation.
Ottoman Empire: A transcontinental empire founded in Anatolia that lasted from the late thirteenth century until 1922. Its court and dynastic institutions created the political world in which Hürrem rose.
Ottoman diplomatic correspondence: Written exchanges through which Ottoman rulers and officials conducted diplomacy and administration. Hürrem's surviving letters to Suleiman reveal direct communication with the sultan.
Haseki Hürrem Sultan Mosque: A mosque complex in Istanbul commissioned by Hürrem Sultan and designed by Mimar Sinan. The complex is a prominent surviving expression of her religious and charitable patronage.
Rüstem Pasha: Ottoman grand vizier who served Suleiman the Magnificent and married Mihrimah Sultan. His marriage to Mihrimah connected him to Hürrem's dynastic and political circle.
Ottoman Imperial Harem: The household of the Ottoman dynasty's women, organized within the imperial palace. Hürrem's household position developed into authority within this institution.

Linked from 10 pages