Thanks to the Turkish series "The Magnificent Century," a wide audience has learned details of the personal life of one of the most formidable and great rulers of the Ottoman Empire - Sultan Suleiman. The ups and downs of life of this outstanding personality, especially the intrigues and intrigues that occurred in his harem, are very interesting for modern viewers. The fate of one of the concubines of the great Sultan - Gulfem - will be discussed in this article.
Biography
Gülfem Khatun (1497-1562) - a real historical figure, a woman who lived in the 16th century in the harem of the Ottoman sultan Suleiman. She was the second concubine of the lord and bore him a son - shehzade Murad. Information about its origin is very controversial. According to one version, she has Sicilian or Polish roots, and her real name is Rosalina (Rosalina). In Ottoman sources, her father is called Abdurrahan or Abdullah, which, according to the customs of those times, could mean a Christian converted to Islam. According to other sources, Gulfem was a daughter of the Albanian Bey and bore the name Aisha. There is also a version of the Turkish origin of this woman. It is only known for certain that in 1562 she was suddenly killed by order of Suleiman, but then she was rehabilitated and buried with honors.
Confidant of the Sultan
The death of Gülfem Khatun raises many questions so far. It is known that she became the beloved concubine of the Sultan after the death of the famous Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska. Only Gulfem Suleiman, over the years, trusted his worries and doubts, did he like to talk to her about days gone by, remember his past youth. The fact that the second concubine of the Sultan enjoyed his exceptional trust and often spent time with him, historical sources testify. The Venetians wrote that they often saw Suleiman in the garden with a woman whose face was covered, but the guards informed them that she was Gulfem Khatun. Why did they execute this outstanding and, probably, very influential woman at court?
Charity
Gülfem was very devout, distinguished by an affable and complaisant character, for which everyone loved her very much in the harem. She was actively engaged in charity work, at the end of her life she decided to build a luxurious mosque in Uskudar with institutions adjacent to it (a madrasah, a hamam, etc.). It took a lot of money. Gülfem Khatun was a wealthy woman - in addition to the funds allocated to each concubine in the harem for personal needs, she constantly received expensive gifts from Suleiman. Therefore, the construction of the mosque progressed very quickly. However, soon the construction of this grandiose structure had to be suspended - the money was over. It is difficult to say why Gülfem did not tell the sultan about her project. Perhaps she wanted to surprise him. One way or another, but the concubine began to look for a source of income secretly from Suleiman. And she soon found him.
"Exit" to the Sultan
Gülfem Khatun (the photo of the actress who played her in the series The Magnificent Century, can be seen in this article) was a smart, decisive and, one might say, desperate woman. How else to characterize her act? In order to receive money for the further construction of the mosque, she decided to sell her "exit" to the Sultan. There were plenty of girls who wanted to go on a date to the overlord out of turn in the harem. One of them, Kinata's concubine, offered Gülfem money in exchange for the opportunity to meet with the Sultan face to face. When Suleiman again invited his beloved concubine to her chambers, she said she was sick and sent another slave in her place. Apparently, such a turn of events of the Sultan did not suit at all, therefore, when Gyulphem Khatun did not come again, he became furious and forced Kinata to tell the whole truth. The slave woman decided to denigrate Gülfem and said that she simply preferred a large sum of money to Suleiman's society. The indignation of the padishah knew no bounds.
Dilzies
For us, the sudden death of Gulfem Khatun serves as an example of quick and quick reprisals against objectionable courtiers. Why did they execute her without trial, without understanding the situation, without allowing the unfortunate woman to even speak out in defense? Historical sources testify that under the Sultan, the service included “dumb”, executioners-dilsies, ready to destroy anyone who dared to cause indignation at the command of the lord at any time. For each execution they received a special reward, the amount of which was recorded in a special expenditure book. Therefore, the reprisal against women who dared to make the subject of bargaining the attention and love of the Ottoman sultan himself was instant. The fact that Suleiman then repented of his deed is known from the same book of accounts. Dilzis, faithful to the order, not only did not receive a reward for the work performed, but were also expelled from the palace.
Rehabilitation
Drowning in insane luxury, full of great events and sophisticated intrigues, we are presented with the time of the reign of Sultan Suleiman according to the version of the series “The Magnificent Century”. Gülfem Khatun is just one of many who conquered the heart of a suspicious and fickle padishah, and then suddenly died at his command. However, it is known that Suleiman greatly regretted his hasty decision. Soon he became aware of what his beloved concubine spent the money received. The Sultan ordered the completion of the mosque immediately, which was done without question. Gulfem Khatun was buried in the city of Uskudar, in the mosque, which began to bear her name. According to legend, the grave of the righteous woman shone with its own light for several nights after the burial. The official order of the Sultan to complete the mosque in memory of Gulf is preserved in the archives of the Ottoman Empire.
Another version
According to other sources, Gyulfem Khatun was Suleiman's favorite concubine even before the appearance of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska in the harem. She even gave birth to the sultan of the heir, shehzade Murad, who died in 1521 from smallpox. The Padishah never forgot about Gulf and always sent her generous gifts, which offended the jealous Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska. It was this red-haired beast who persuaded the trusting concubine to swap the line with another slave in order to receive money for the construction of the mosque. We know about the further development of events. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska got rid of her rival: Gyulfem was strangled with a silk lace by order of the Sultan. The cruel and bloody "magnificent" century was quick to reprisal. Gülfem Khatun remained from the memory of contemporaries a victim of insidious intrigues at the court of the formidable Suleiman.