Istanbul - Topkapi Palace

Main gate and interior courtyard

The Council Chamber

The Sultan’s Signature Stamp

The Sultan’s Library

The Harem

The Sutan’s mother’s rooms

The mother of the Sultan would live and manage all aspects of life in the Harem, which functioned like a well structured organisation. There were many women living in the harem, as many as one hundred, or more even, but the majority of them were workers, and most of them were brought in from abroad, as it was against the law to enslave a muslim woman.

A favorite who gave birth to a son would be raised to the level of Sultana and would gain in power and privilege. In the Ottoman Empire, the mother’s of Sultan had developed a very powerful role. It was therefore thought that if a woman gave birth to more than one son, her loyalties would become divided.

All of the women in the harem were educated. They were taught to read and write and the various art forms such as drawing and music. Contrary to the myth, the Sultan did not have sex with all of the women. His concubines were carefully chosen as they might become the mother of the next Sultan. A concubine had to be beautiful, but she also had to be intelligent and show the proper behaviour and refinement.

She would also act as one of the main adviser to the Sultan, both in terms of political strategy and in choosing concubines for her son, the Sultan.

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