Handan Sultan

Handan Valide Sultan
Born Helen or Helena[1]
1574
Died 26 November 1605
Ethnicity Greek[1][2]
Known for Vâlidā Sultâna
Religion Greek Orthodox Christian, subsequently converted to Islam after her capture
Spouse Ottoman Sultan Mehmed III
Children Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I and Ottoman Sultan Mustafa I

Handan Sultâna or Devletlu İsmetlu Handan Valide Sultan Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri (Daulatlu Ismatlu Handan Validā Sultâna 'Aliyāt ûsh-Shân Hazrātlāri) (ca. 1574 – 26 November 1605[3]) was the mother of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I and his Valide Sultan from 21 December 1603 until 26 November 1605. Born Helena,[1][2] she was ethnically Greek.[1][2]

Contents

Biography

According to some other sources, she was the mother of Ottoman Sultan Mustafa I,[4] as well. He influenced his son Ahmed I for forgiving the life of Mustafa I by making him to abolish "the law on the immediate execution of the brothers of the Ottoman Sultans" by the Sultan upon his accession to the Ottoman throne. The law was initially put into effect by Fatih Sultan Mehmed for the purpose of preventing a probable fighting among the Sultan's brothers who were the potential claimants to the Ottoman throne.

The Executive Authority of Handan Valide Sultan

During the first two year of the reign of Sultan Ahmed I, she was the Vâlidā Sultâna, being his mother. The contemporary historian Ibrahim Pecevi questioned her wisdom. Leslie Peirce points out that Ahmed I tended to disregard her advice.[5] While respecting the tradition that A mother's right is God's right, he ingeniously circumvented her will. She did not manage to receive either influence or economic funds as had the two previous Vâlidā Sultânas. Her salary was only 1000 akçes even though she acted as the co-regent as the Vâlidā Sultâna during the first two years of the regency of her son Sultan Ahmed I while the grandmother Sâfiyā Sultâna were receiving 3000 akçes during the same period.

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ali Kemal Meram, Padişah Anaları, Öz Yayınları, 1977, p. 244. (Turkish)
  2. ^ a b c Günseli İnal, Filiz Özdem, Mary Işın, Semiramis Arşivi, Semiramis: Sultan'ın Gözünden Şenlik, Yapı Kredi Yayınları, 2005, p. 27. (Turkish)
  3. ^ E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913-1936, Martijn Theodoor Houtsma, 1987
  4. ^ Yavuz Bahadıroğlu, Resimli Osmanlı Tarihi, Nesil Yayınları (Ottoman History with Illustrations, Nesil Publications), 15th Ed., 2009, page 245, ISBN 978-975-269-299-2
    www.nesilyayinlari.com
  5. ^ Imperial Harem : Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire 1993, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508677-5
Preceded by
Safiye Sultan		 Valide Sultan
1603–1605 / 1619		 Succeeded by
Mahfiruz Hadice

Halime (13th century)  · Mal (13th century)  · Nilüfer (14th century)  · Gül-Çiçek (14th century)  · Devlet (?–1411)  · Emine (?–1449)  · Hüma (15th century)  · Mükrime (1435–1467)  · Gül Bahar (?–1510)  · Ayşe Hafsa (1479–1534)  · Hürrem (?–1558)  · Nurbanu (1525–1583)  · Safiye (1550–1603)  · Handan (1574–1605)  · Mah Firuze Hadice (1590–1625)  · Kösem (1589–1651)  · Turhan Hadice (1628–1683)  · Saliha Dil-Aşub (1627–1689)  · Hadice Muazzez (1629–1687)  · Emetullah Rabia Gülnûş (1642–1715)  · Saliha (1680–1739)  · Şah Suvar (1682–1756)  · Amina Mihr-i Shah (?–1732)  · Rabia (1698–1732)  · Mihri Şah (1745–1805)  · Nükhet Seda (?–1850)  · Bezmmialem (1807–1853)  · Pertev Nihal (1812–1882)  · Şevk Efza (1820–1889)  · Tirimüjgan (1819–1853)  · Gül Cemal (1826–?)  · Gülüstü (1831–1861)