Male harem of Turkish sultans. Exotic mystery of the world

History of the harem in the Ottoman Empire

Kazan researcher Bulat Nogmanov, whose publications are read by Mintimer Shaimiev, continues to acquaint the readers of Realnoe Vremya with his observations about the culture and history of Turkey. In today's column, he continues to talk about such a delicate phenomenon in the life of the empire as the Sultan's harem.

Perhaps one of the most controversial topics in the history of the Ottoman Empire is the topic of the Sultan's harem and the position of its inhabitants. Ideas about the harem were largely formed under the influence of notes and memoirs of Western travelers and ambassadors who supposedly happened to be in the harem. It should be noted that at that time this was a rather difficult task, since the harem was a forbidden institution, and entry was ordered there not only to strangers, but also to the male inhabitants of the Sultan's court, of course, except for the Sultan himself. In today's note, we will try to reveal some of the secrets of this mysterious institution.

The first European who told the general public about the harem and its inhabitants was the personal physician of Sultan Murad III, Dominio Hiroso Limiano, who described the layout of the harem and left information about the local traditions, how local women live and about the school for the Sultan's relatives. The second European who, according to his personal statements, managed to see some of the women of the harem was the organ maker Thomas Dellum. In 1599, Queen Elizabeth, together with Dallam, sent an organ with a clockwork to Sultan Murad III as a gift. However, before Dellam's arrival in Istanbul, Murad III dies, and his son Mehmed III ascends the throne. Nevertheless, the English master delivers a gift, and spends a whole month in the palace, assembling and tuning the organ. After that, there were many travelers, ambassadors and jewelers who claimed that they were the first who managed to visit the harem. However, for most researchers, the main written source not only on the harem, but also on the history of the Ottoman Empire, is the work of an employee of the Swedish embassy Muradya d "Osson" General Picture of the Ottoman Empire ", which he published in 1791. And as an artistic source depicting life in a harem, the famous engraving by Melling is accepted.The first Ottoman researcher who, by special permission, managed to visit the Topkapı Palace and describe the residence of the courtiers was Abdurahman Eref.Eref published the results of his research between 1910 and 1911.

Antoine-Ignace Melling. In the Sultan's harem. 1810. Ill. orientaliststyle.com

If I were a sultan, I would be single

The words of the famous song from the movie "Prisoner of the Caucasus" were very relevant for the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. In order to avoid political and legal consequences, with the exception of some rulers, they did not marry, but took “jariye”, which is translated into Russian as “concubine”, although the Ottomans themselves put a slightly different meaning into this concept - a female slave or maid.

So, in order to maintain the institution of "jariyye", which, by the way, were recruited according to the principle of "devshirme" (shifters), a harem system was formed in the Ottoman Empire. What did the Sultan's harem represent? First of all, it was a hierarchical system, headed by the mother of the Sultan and the chief eunuch, designed to promote the continuation of the Sultan's line through the male line. Not all the inhabitants of the harem were concubines. Only the most successful girls were allowed to the Sultan, who were taught the basics of Islam, Turkic culture, literature, the art of versification, embroidery, music and much more. If the Enderun school under the Sultan was engaged in the preparation of future civil servants, then the harem prepared future wives for these same employees. This was done so that a civil servant appointed to remote corners of the empire would not acquire family ties with the local population and maintain personal loyalty to the Sultan.

Zulfiya is ironing my robe at the blackboard

All the women of the harem were employed in various jobs in the household of the palace. Each of them, depending on the position and social status, was paid a daily allowance. For example, the mother of Sultan Murad III Nurbanu received 3,000 Akçe daily. For comparison, at the same time, the head of the Janissary corps received only 500 akce. The wife of Suleiman the Magnificent (Kanuni), Khurrem Sultan, known to many readers from the film The Magnificent Century, received 2,000 Akçe as a daily allowance. The distribution of wages was handled by the chief eunuch.

Khurem Sultan. Painting of the 15th century. ill. wikipedia.org

The inhabitants of the harem lived in rooms of five people. To four young girls, for the sake of order, a woman aged was sure to share. The mother of the sultan and the pregnant jarias, who had the status of haseki, lived in separate chambers. The greatest authority in the harem was Valide Sultan, that is, the mother of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. After her, the chief eunuch, the daughters of the Sultan and the milk mother of the Sultan.

Between the pregnant "wives" of the Sultan, disputes arose very often about which of the sons would become the next ruler. Various unions and groups were formed, into which viziers, members of the sofa, the Janissary corps and other civil servants were drawn willy-nilly. Intrigues were woven, conspiracies and coups were being prepared.

In view of the fact that, according to their legal status, the Jariye were slaves, and Islam forbade the enslavement of Muslims, representatives of other cultures and religions mainly became the inhabitants of harems. Among historians there is a conventional wisdom that this is what led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Bulat Nogmanov

Reference

Bulat Nogmanov- researcher, translator.

• Born on 10/31/1985 in the village of Apastovo, Apastovsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan.
• In 2008 he graduated from the International Kazakh-Turkish University. HA. Yasawi majoring in International Relations.
• In 2010, he graduated from Ankara University with a master's degree in the same specialty.
• Member of ethnographic expeditions.
• Member of the Tatarstan branch of the Russian Geographical Society.
• Speaks English, Turkish and Kazakh.

Not much is known about how the first Ottoman sultans lived. Turkish scientists to this day, literally, bit by bit, collect information about the rulers themselves, their closest relatives, wives, etc.

The more time passes, the more difficult it is to find truthful information regarding the first Ottomans.

So, it is still not known exactly how many wives and children the first rulers, Osman and his son Orhan, had. However, according to the discovered historical data, it can be assumed how exactly marriages took place in the early Ottoman beylik.

It is known that the Osman tribe was not so strong, as a result of which the neighboring states did not want to pass off their noble girls as the sons of the Sultan. Men had to choose between neighboring tribes, as well as some Christian peoples, with whom either a war was waged, or vice versa - there were good neighborly relations.

As we know, a Muslim has the right to have four wives, but in conditions where marriage is sometimes the only way to conclude a peaceful union, such a restriction is very problematic.

Accordingly, it was decided to take foreigners into their harem, giving women all the same rights as official wives with whom nikah was concluded.

One of the European scientists, who is fond of the history of the Ottoman Empire, is A.D. Alderson claims that Orhan, the son of Osman, had 6 women in his harem. All of them were women of noble origin: some of them were Byzantines, including the daughter of the Byzantine emperor John VI, one was the daughter of the Serbian king Stephen and two local women, including a cousin by uncle.

Thus, harems were a necessity that later became traditions. As the empire grew, more and more women became in the harems, and most of them did not come of their own free will, as in the case of the Orhan family, but were brought from military campaigns and were captives.
But, as we know, each such slave had a chance to still become a mistress.

The Sultan wanted only virgins?

Girls from different parts of the world got into the Topkapi Palace. From everywhere where the Ottoman army reached, the warriors brought women of different origins and ages to Turkey. Among them were rich merchants, and poor peasant women, and noble ladies, and rootless girls.

However, not everyone got into the Sultan's harem. Girls for the ruler were chosen at once according to several criteria, in addition to beauty. This is a healthy body, healthy teeth, beautiful hair and nails. Blonde girls, with light brown hair and untanned skin, were highly valued.

The figure was also important - the slave should not be too thin or full. A thin waist and wide hips, a small tummy were appreciated, but the size of the chest didn’t particularly bother anyone.

Having thoroughly studied the girls in the slave market, they selected the best. They were sent for examination to a doctor, where they once again checked their health, as well as virginity. The last parameter was especially important, because each of the slaves could later become the sultan's concubine.

Yes, the purity of a woman was important for the Sultan. Despite the fact that the slave is far from being a legal wife, her main purpose was the birth of an heir. Like any oriental man with a hot temperament, the Sultan could not allow the possibility of communication with a previously used girl.

Moreover, the girls had to keep secret even the fact that, while living in their homeland, they were engaged or in love. It was necessary to maintain the appearance that the sultan was the only man of interest to his concubines.

However, in addition to virgins, older women, or young women, but already living a family life, were also taken into the harem. They were needed for chores, cleaning, cooking.

Were there non-virgins in the Sultan's harem?

Girls for the Sultan's harem were carefully selected. Not only beauty was important, but intelligence and the ability to present oneself. Of course, there were certain standards that a concubine must meet. These standards were common knowledge, so if the right girl came to the slave traders, they already knew who to offer her to.

As a rule, girls were selected no older than 14 years. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska got into the harem at the age of 15 - and this is quite late, for this reason there are many rumors around her life before Suleiman. But she got into the harem already trained in everything necessary, which is why she so quickly ended up on the helveta of the young sultan.

But back to concubines. Most often, they were very young girls, from whom they “sculpted” what the Sultan liked. But it is also known that there were older women, and even those who were already married and had children.

Of course, they were not suitable for the chambers of the Sultan, but still remained in the palace as laundresses, maids and cooks.

However, there is some evidence that, nevertheless, several Sultan's concubines, once in the palace, were no longer virgins.

So, for example, it is assumed that Safiye Sultan originally belonged to a noble pasha, and then was transferred to Murad II, as the Sultan really liked it.

It is also known that Selim I stole one of his wives, Tajla, from the Safivid Shah Ismail, who remained in the Ottoman harem for several years, but was later given away for one of the political figures.

Harems were not only among Muslims, but also among Orthodox princes

There is an opinion among the people that harems are an original oriental tradition. It is assumed that polygamy is peculiar only to Muslims, and Christians have never practiced this.

However, such a statement is fundamentally wrong. Even in the Bible, we find lines about King Solomon, which say "... and he had 700 wives and 300 concubines ...". In general, King Solomon is considered the richest man in the entire history of the Earth, so he could easily afford the maintenance of such a huge number of women.
As for Russia specifically, here monogamy began to be instilled only after baptism, and this took more than one century.
It is known that Prince Vladimir with his voluptuousness could compete with any Ottoman Sultan.

Vladimir had several official wives: Rogneda, who bore him four sons and two daughters; there was also a wife - a Greek by nationality, who gave birth to a son; were wives from the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. In addition, 300-500 concubines in Belgorod and Brestov. It is also known that Vladimir did not stop there. He could well point to any girl he liked, and she was immediately taken to his chambers.

After the baptism of Russia, Vladimir calmed down. He dissolved his harem and even divorced his wives, leaving only one of them. The rest he gave in marriage to his closest associates.

It took Russia itself a long time to put an end to its "lustful" past. Even after several centuries, many peasants continued to practice polygamous marriages, although the church did not marry them.

The rights of slaves in the harem

Despite the fact that a stereotype has developed in society that claims that in the east a woman is a creature without rights, in reality this is far from being the case. Of course, we do not take into discussion such countries as, for example, Afghanistan, where only a name remains of religion.

If you study the history of developed Muslim states, it becomes obvious that the attitude towards women there is very pompous. Yes, there are some peculiarities that seem to the European either as eccentricity or immorality, but it should be understood that these are completely different laws of life.

For example, take at least harems. The sultan's harem is a place where hundreds of women, gathered under one roof, wait for their turn to spend the night with the ruler. Some waited for years and were left with nothing.

However, not everything is so terrible. Girls who did not get to the Sultan were given in marriage to noble pashas, ​​they were provided with rich devotees. And, moreover, if desired, they could get a divorce and even ask to be returned to the harem, as a maid or calf, for example.

Every girl got an education. Over the years of her life in the harem, she accumulated a good fortune, because everyone was paid a salary.

The fact is that a Muslim, regardless of position, taking a woman into his possession, also assumed obligations for her maintenance. He had to dress her, feed her deliciously, treat her well.

And, meanwhile, a Muslim could not take his harem to any woman. Either it had to be a legal spouse, or a prisoner captured in the war. A Christian, a Jew could not get into the harem, being a free woman.

And, by the way, the slaves of the harem could also communicate with their relatives. It was not forbidden, but on the contrary, it was encouraged. Islam does not approve of breaking family ties, so the girls could well correspond with relatives.

The position of a slave who became pregnant by the Sultan

The ultimate dream of every girl living in the Sultan's harem was the birth of a child to the ruler. Pregnancy opened up completely new opportunities for the slaves, increased their status and living conditions. Although the harem girls were already taken care of in the best possible way.

Nevertheless, the slaves dreamed of getting on the helvet. For this, any tricks and even bribery of eunuchs were allowed to enter. It should be noted that the latter had a very good income from the girls of the harem.

However, the concubines did not get into the harem in a chaotic manner, but in accordance with which of them was able to conceive a child. Each girl had to keep a calendar where she noted her menstrual cycle and its features. If the sultan called the girl to him not intentionally, but at the discretion of, for example, a eunuch or Valide, then the one who, according to calculations, was ovulating, was sent to his chambers.

After some time, if the concubine reported a menstrual delay, she was taken to the doctor, who, based on the results of the examination, reported whether there was a pregnancy.

In the event that the slave was pregnant, she was settled in separate chambers. She received gifts and decorations from the Sultan and Valide, and a maid was given to help her.

The birth itself often took place in the presence of several midwives, the male doctor could communicate with the woman in labor and give instructions only through the screen.

The pregnant favorite was taken care of in the best possible way. The girl herself prayed to give birth to a son to the Sultan, that is, Shahzade. Girls in the ruling family were loved no less, but the birth of a son brought the slave to a different level. The boy could participate in the struggle for the throne. True, if this struggle was defeated, then the shahzade, as a rule, was waiting for death. But they tried not to think about it.

Why did the slaves sleep in the same room

Topkapi is a huge palace complex, the size of which is comparable to a small town. Topkapi's main palace was very functional. Here was located the residence of the ruling Sultan, and the kitchen, and the harem. The latter aroused the greatest interest, both among the Turks themselves and among the guests of the capital.

At various times, there were up to several hundred slaves in the harem. And only a few of them had a privileged position, all the rest had to be content with less.

So, only the favorites of the Sultan lived in their own chambers. The rest slept in one big room. Here they ate, and spent hours of leisure, and even celebrated holidays.

In the TV series Magnificent Age, the very large room where the life of the concubines flowed was shown. However, the question arises, for what reason did all the girls live together?

There were several reasons for that. Firstly, it was less expensive in terms of landscaping and heating.

But more importantly, it was easier to keep track of the slaves. Kalfs and eunuchs had to control everything that the concubines do. The rules of conduct in the harem were very strict, so constant supervision was required. God forbid, the concubine would have committed some obscene act. For this, even the duty officer of the harem could pay with his life.

If the girls had separate rooms, keeping track of them would be much more difficult. Thefts and quarrels would become more frequent, the concubines, feeling freedom, could not be afraid of communication with eunuchs and male servants.
No one wanted such problems. So the life of the slaves was arranged as simple as possible.

Did the Sultans sleep with black slaves

The original function of the harem was to prolong the lineage of the ruling sultan. Each ruler had to have at least about ten sons in order to provide himself with heirs.

Unfortunately, a large number of Shahzade eventually led to a struggle between them, and even fratricide. But, apparently, so that the brothers would not be so offended by killing each other, the rule was introduced: "One concubine - one son."

The Sultan's concubine could be of any nationality. For a long time, fair-haired rulers, born of Slavs and Europeans, sat on the Ottoman throne. But over time, Circassians came into fashion, and the sultans "darkened".

Nevertheless, there were never black concubines in the harem. That is, they were used very successfully as servants, as they were hardy and unpretentious, but they were not destined to get into the Sultan's chambers.

Of course, it was a matter of succession to the throne. A black sultan could not ascend the Ottoman throne.

And in general, black women were perceived by Turkish men as something exotic, but completely unsympathetic. Since ancient times, the Turks have lusted and interested in fair-skinned and fair-haired women.

But, of course, it is impossible to exclude the fact that occasionally the sultans still slept with black women.
By the way, as for the Turkish series about the reign of the sultans, we did not see black women in the Magnificent Age, but in the Kösem empire we were still shown what place they occupied in the harem hierarchy.

Why men dreamed of marrying a girl from a harem

As you know, the Sultan's harem could number from several dozen to several hundred young and beautiful girls. Slaves from all over the world were brought here, each of which was distinguished not only by beauty, but by intelligence and many talents.
It would seem that if the Sultan invests so much money to ensure that his slaves are the best women in the country, then they can belong exclusively to him. But in this matter, not everything is so clear.

Indeed, quite a lot of effort was invested in the education of the concubines, and funds were invested in the maintenance. But at the same time, not every slave had the luck to get into the chambers of the Sultan on the helvet, and even to give birth to an heir is generally happiness.

So there were dozens of young healthy women, as they say, not destiny. A few were destined to become favorites, while the rest spent their days studying, sewing, music lessons.

Such an idle life could not go on forever. By the age of 19-20, the girl approached the threshold when she was no longer considered young. Yes, yes, at that time girls matured by the age of 13-15. At this age, they could well conceive children and already coped well with childbirth.

As a result, it turned out that dozens of girls of “advanced” age simply lived in the palace, without any benefit or benefit. At the same time, each was smart, educated, knew how to play musical instruments, danced beautifully, cooked - well, in general, a miracle, not a woman.

What to do with such a miracle? The only way out is to marry. Strange as it may seem, grooms lined up for such a beauty. At the same time, they did not even look at whether the girl was a virgin. Even if she was once with the Sultan, but was not in favor, there was still a groom for her.

Moreover, even those concubines who gave birth to a child to the Sultan could be given in marriage, but, let's say, a long life was not destined for him. These girls also found their family happiness outside the walls of the palace.

Why life in a harem would seem like hell to you

There is a false opinion among the people that life in a harem for a woman was a complete pleasure. No worries, there are caring eunuchs around - and you know yourself, eat sweet delight, and satisfy the Sultan, if he even remembers you, because there are hundreds of people like you.

However, it was the latter fact that often led to bloody events in the harem. Strange as it may seem, but for the slaves of the Sultan, the main goal of life was to get on the helvet to the ruler. It would seem that there is every chance to sit quietly in a harem, and after 9 years successfully marry some rich pasha - but no, this prospect did not suit the concubines.

The girls fought a fierce fight for the attention of the ruler. Each wanted to become his favorite and give birth to an heir, or, at worst, a girl.

What is the reason for such an unbridled desire to become a sultana? After all, not every ruler was a handsome man, and many were so in general - not only did they not differ in beauty, but also had a lot of addictions - alcoholism, opium addiction, and some were mentally retarded in general.

Obviously, most women were attracted by the possible prospects. True, for some reason, few people cared about the fate of their children. After all, the Fatih law was in force in the palace, which allowed the Sultan to kill all male heirs in order to rid the country of possible unrest.

One way or another, but women used every opportunity to attract attention. Rivals were eliminated in the most cruel ways - they poisoned, choked, spoiled and so on.

Agree, it is a very dubious pleasure to while away your life in such conditions. But there were still those who wanted to.

In what cases could a concubine become free

Spectators of the Magnificent Age remember that Suleiman gave Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska freedom, and then married her, making her his lawful wife. In fact, such a practice before Suleiman was so rare that only legends circulate about such cases. It was the descendants of Suleiman who began to marry one after another, and the ancestors treated this with great skepticism.

However, the concubine could still get the long-awaited freedom and become an independent woman.

Surely you have already guessed what was required for this. Yes, give birth to a son to the Sultan. However, this alone was not enough. Then it was necessary to wait until the Sultan leaves this world. He will give his soul to God, in other words.

Only after the death of her master did the concubine become free. But if her child died in infancy, and the Sultan was still alive, healthy and his business prospered, she still remained a slave.

A clear example of such situations is Mahidevran and Gulfem. As we know, both lost their children during the life of the Sultan, never having received freedom.

However, all this only in theory looks quite simple. In fact, it turned out that after the death of the Sultan, his concubines, who gave birth to sons, not only did not receive freedom, but were also sent to the Old Palace, unable to see their children, who in the meantime lived in cafes - golden cages.
Only a few slaves managed to live up to the moment when their sons became sultans. Then they were returned with honors to the capital's palace, where from now on they were free and ruled the harem.

The real situation of concubines in the Sultan's harems

Sultan's palaces are shrouded in many secrets, most of which are not usually remembered in Turkish society. Much of what is known about the life of the people of the medieval Ottoman state is kept, as they say, behind seven seals. And only the descendants of the sultans themselves, their courtiers and employees know how the people of that time actually lived.

These stories are passed down from generation to generation. They are not accepted to distribute and make public. However, we are still learning more and more every day.

So, one of the most important questions that concern people of our time is how did the concubines actually live in a harem? There is an opinion all over the world that the harem is a kind of place of debauchery and vulgarity, where the sultans satisfied their lust.

However, in fact, the harem is absolutely not correct to compare with some kind of brothel. In fact, up to several hundred women could live in a harem at the same time. These were young girls who got here, as a rule, at the age of 13-15 years. And if you are now thinking about child molestation, then you are mistaken.

In the Middle Ages, as you know, women matured earlier. By the age of 15, the girl was ready to start a family and become a mother. And in the harem, by this age, the girls were taught everything necessary to not only be able to please a man, but also to be a full-fledged member of society.

Girls were taught language, literacy and various skills. And by the time the training ended, the slaves were so accustomed to their position that many did not even think about another life for themselves.

The girls from the harem were treated quite carefully, taking care of their mental and physical condition. They were well fed, dressed in the best clothes, and given jewelry. After all, any of them was a potential favorite of the Sultan, capable of giving birth to a Shahzade.

But there were downsides to this pastime. The first is huge competition. And as a result - constant intrigues, conflicts, reprisals.

At the same time, the behavior of the girls was monitored quite strictly. Any oversight could lead to depressing consequences, up to cruel punishment.

What could have caused the wrath of the guards, whose role was played by eunuchs and Kalfis? Any quarrel, God forbid - a fight, a disrespectful look, loud laughter. Yes, it was strictly forbidden to laugh and have fun in the palace. And not only girls and servants, but even members of the Sultan's family.

As for those girls who were lucky enough to give birth to a child to the Sultan, their life was a little more interesting. However, not everyone was lucky. Plus, there was a rule according to which, after the birth of a son, a slave could no longer visit the chambers of the ruler. Only a few managed to take a significant place in the heart of the Sultan and be something more than an "incubator" for bearing Shahzade.

In a word, the fate of the harem girls was not the most enviable. Living in luxury, each of them was limited in their own will. Birds in one big golden cage.

Harem-i Humayun is the harem of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, which influenced the decisions of the sultan in all areas of politics.

The Eastern harem is the secret dream of men and the personified curse of women, the focus of sensual pleasures and the exquisite boredom of beautiful concubines languishing in it. All this is nothing more than a myth created by the talent of novelists.

The traditional harem (from the Arabic "haram" - forbidden) is primarily the female half of the Muslim home. Only the head of the family and his sons had access to the harem. For everyone else, this part of the Arab home is a strict taboo. This taboo was observed so strictly and zealously that the Turkish chronicler Dursun Bey wrote: "If the sun were a man, then even he would be forbidden to look into the harem." Harem - the realm of luxury and lost hopes ...

The Sultan's harem was located in the Istanbul Palace Topkapi. The mother (valid-sultan), sisters, daughters and heirs (shahzade) of the sultan, his wife (kadyn-efendi), favorites and concubines (odalisques, slaves - jariye) lived here.

From 700 to 1200 women could live in a harem at the same time. The inhabitants of the harem were served by black eunuchs (karaagalar), commanded by daryussaade agasy. Kapy-agasy, the head of the white eunuchs (akagalar), was responsible for both the harem and the inner chambers of the palace (enderun), where the sultan lived. Until 1587, the kapy-agasy had power inside the palace comparable to the power of the vizier outside it, then the heads of the black eunuchs became more influential.

The harem itself was actually controlled by the Valide Sultan. The next in rank were the unmarried sisters of the Sultan, then his wives.

The income of the women of the Sultan's family was made up of funds called a shoe (for a shoe).

There were few slaves in the Sultan's harem, usually girls who were sold by their parents to the school at the harem and underwent special training became the concubines.

In order to cross the threshold of the seraglio, the slave went through a kind of initiation ceremony. In addition to checking for innocence, the girl had to convert to Islam without fail.

Entering the harem was in many ways reminiscent of being tonsured as a nun, where instead of selfless service to God, no less selfless service to the master was instilled. Candidates for concubines, like God's brides, were forced to break all ties with the outside world, received new names and learned to live in humility.

In later harems, wives were absent as such. The main source of a privileged position was the attention of the Sultan and childbearing. Showing attention to one of the concubines, the owner of the harem elevated her to the rank of a temporary wife. This situation was most often shaky and could change at any moment depending on the mood of the master. The most reliable way to gain a foothold in the status of a wife was the birth of a boy. A concubine who gave her master a son acquired the status of mistress.

The largest in the history of the Muslim world was the Istanbul harem Dar-ul-Seadet, in which all women were foreign slaves, free Turkish women did not get there. The concubines in this harem were called “odalisk”, a little later the Europeans added the letter “c” to the word and it turned out “odalisque”.

And here is the Topkapi Palace, where the Harem lived

From among the odalisques, the Sultan chose up to seven wives. Who was lucky to become a "wife" received the title of "kadyn" - mistress. The main "kadyn" was the one who managed to give birth to her first child. But even the most prolific "kadyn" could not count on the honorary title of "sultana". Only the mother, sisters and daughters of the Sultan could be called sultanas.

Transport of wives, concubines, in short, a harem taxi depot

Just below the "kadyn" on the hierarchical ladder of the harem stood favorites - "ikbal". These women received salaries, their own apartments and personal slaves.

The favorites were not only skilled mistresses, but also, as a rule, subtle and intelligent politicians. In Turkish society, it was through "ikbal" for a certain bribe that one could go directly to the Sultan himself, bypassing the bureaucratic obstacles of the state. Below the "ikbal" were the "concubines". These young ladies were a little less fortunate. The conditions of detention are worse, there are fewer privileges.

It was at the stage of "concubin" that there was the toughest competition, in which a dagger and poison were often used. Theoretically, the "konkubin", like the "ikbal", had a chance to climb the hierarchical ladder by giving birth to a child.

But unlike the favorites close to the Sultan, they had very few chances for this wonderful event. Firstly, if there are up to a thousand concubines in the harem, then it is easier to wait for the weather by the sea than the holy sacrament of mating with the Sultan.

Secondly, even if the Sultan descends, it is not at all a fact that the happy concubine will definitely become pregnant. And even more so, it’s not a fact that she won’t organize a miscarriage.

The old slaves followed the concubines, and any pregnancy noticed was immediately terminated. In principle, it is quite logical - any woman in labor one way or another, became a contender for the role of a legitimate "kadyn", and her baby - a potential contender for the throne.

If, despite all the intrigues and intrigues, the odalisque managed to keep the pregnancy and did not allow the child to be killed during the “unsuccessful birth”, she automatically received her personal staff of slaves, eunuchs and the annual salary “basmalik”.

Girls were bought from their fathers at the age of 5-7 years and raised up to 14-15 years. They were taught music, cooking, sewing, court etiquette, the art of pleasing a man. When selling his daughter to a harem school, the father signed a paper stating that he had no rights to his daughter and agreed not to meet her for the rest of his life. Getting into the harem, the girls received a different name.

Choosing a concubine for the night, the Sultan sent her a gift (often a shawl or a ring). After that, she was sent to the bath, dressed in beautiful clothes and sent to the door of the Sultan's bedroom, where she waited until the Sultan went to bed. Entering the bedroom, she crawled on her knees to the bed, and kissed the carpet. In the morning, the Sultan sent rich gifts to the concubine if he liked the night spent with her.

The Sultan could have a favorite - guzde. Here is one of the most famous, Ukrainian Roxalana

Suleiman the Magnificent

Bani Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska Sultan (Roksolana), wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, built in 1556 next to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Architect Mimar Sinan.

Mausoleum of Roxalana

Valide with black eunuch

Reconstruction of one of the rooms of the Valide Sultan apartments in the Topkapi Palace. Melike Safie Sultan (possibly born Sofia Baffo) was the concubine of the Ottoman Sultan Murad III and the mother of Mehmed III. During the reign of Mehmed, she held the title of Valide Sultan (mother of the Sultan) and was one of the most important figures in the Ottoman Empire.

Only the Sultan's mother, Valide, was considered equal to her. Valide Sultan, regardless of her origin, could be very influential (the most famous example is Nurbanu).

Aishe Hafsa Sultan is the wife of Sultan Selim I and the mother of Sultan Suleiman I.

Hospice Ayse-Sultan

Kösem Sultan, also known as Mahpeyker, was the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I (she bore the title of Haseki) and the mother of Sultans Murad IV and Ibrahim I. During the reign of her sons, she bore the title of valid Sultan and was one of the most important figures in the Ottoman Empire.

Valide apartments in the palace

Bathroom Valide

Bedroom Valide

After 9 years, the concubine, who had never been elected by the Sultan, had the right to leave the harem. In this case, the Sultan found her a husband and gave her a dowry, she received a document stating that she was a free person.

However, the lowest layer of the harem also had its own hope for happiness. For example, only they had a chance at least for some kind of personal life. After several years of impeccable service and adoration in their eyes, a husband was found, or, having allocated funds for a non-poor life, they were released in all four directions.

Moreover, among the odalisques - outsiders of the harem society - there were also their own aristocrats. A slave could turn into a "gezde" - awarded a look, if the sultan somehow - with a look, gesture or word - singled her out from the general crowd. Thousands of women have lived all their lives in a harem, but neither the fact that the Sultan was seen naked, but they did not even wait for the honor of being "honored with a look"

If the sultan died, all the concubines were sorted by the sex of the children they had given birth to. The mothers of girls could well get married, but the mothers of the “princes” settled in the “Old Palace”, from where they could leave only after the accession of the new sultan. And at this moment the most fun began. The brothers poisoned each other with enviable regularity and perseverance. Their mothers were also active in putting poison into the food of their potential rivals and their sons.

In addition to the old proven slaves, eunuchs followed the concubines. Translated from Greek, "eunuch" means "guardian of the bed." They got into the harem exclusively in the form of guards, so to speak, to maintain order. There were two types of eunuchs. Some were castrated in early childhood and had no secondary sexual characteristics at all - a beard did not grow, there was a high, boyish voice and a complete rejection of a woman as an individual of the opposite sex. Others were castrated at a later age.

Incomplete eunuchs (namely, as they were called castrated not in childhood, but in adolescence), they even looked like men, had the most low male bass, thin facial hair, broad muscular shoulders, and oddly enough, sexual desire.

Of course, the eunuchs could not satisfy their needs in a natural way due to the lack of the necessary device for this. But as you understand, when it comes to sex or drinking, the flight of human imagination is simply limitless. And the odalisques, who for years lived with an obsessive dream of waiting for the sultan's gaze, were not particularly legible. Well, if there are 300-500 concubines in the harem, at least half of them are younger and more beautiful than you, well, what's the point of waiting for the prince? And on bezrybe and the eunuch is a man.

In addition to the fact that the eunuchs watched over the order in the harem and in parallel (secretly from the Sultan, of course) consoled themselves and women yearning for male attention in all possible and impossible ways, their duties also included the functions of executioners. Those guilty of disobedience to the concubines they strangled with a silk cord or drowned the unfortunate woman in the Bosphorus.

The influence of the inhabitants of the harem on the sultans was used by the envoys of foreign states. So, the Russian ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, M. I. Kutuzov, arriving in Istanbul in September 1793, sent gifts to the valid Sultan Mikhrishah, and "the sultan accepted this attention to his mother with sensitivity."

Selim

Kutuzov was honored with reciprocal gifts from the mother of the Sultan and a favorable reception from Selim III himself. The Russian ambassador strengthened Russia's influence in Turkey and persuaded her to enter into an alliance against revolutionary France.

Since the 19th century, after the abolition of slavery in the Ottoman Empire, all concubines began to enter the harem voluntarily and with the consent of their parents, hoping to achieve material well-being and a career. The harem of the Ottoman sultans was liquidated in 1908.

The harem, like the Topkapi Palace itself, is a real labyrinth, rooms, corridors, courtyards are all randomly scattered. This confusion can be divided into three parts: The premises of the black eunuchs The actual harem, where the wives and concubines lived The premises of Valide Sultan and the padishah himself Our tour of the Topkapi Palace Harem was very brief.

The rooms are dark and deserted, there is no furniture, there are bars on the windows. Close and narrow corridors. Here lived the eunuchs, vengeful and vindictive due to psychological and physical injury ... And they lived in the same ugly rooms, tiny, like closets, sometimes without windows at all. The impression is brightened up only by the magical beauty and antiquity of the Iznik tiles, as if emitting a pale glow. We passed the stone courtyard of the concubines, looked at Valide's apartments.

It is also crowded, all the beauty is in green, turquoise, blue faience tiles. She ran her hand over them, touched the flower garlands on them - tulips, carnations, but the peacock's tail ... It was cold, and thoughts were spinning in my head that the rooms were not warmed well and the inhabitants of the harem probably often had tuberculosis.

Moreover, this lack of direct sunlight ... Imagination stubbornly did not want to work. Instead of the splendor of the Seraglio, luxurious fountains, fragrant flowers, I saw closed spaces, cold walls, empty rooms, dark passages, incomprehensible niches in the walls, a strange fantasy world. Lost sense of direction and connection to the outside world. I was stubbornly embraced by an aura of some kind of hopelessness and longing. Even the balconies and terraces in some rooms, overlooking the sea and the fortress walls, did not please.

And finally, the reaction of official Istanbul to the sensational series "Golden Age"

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan believes that the TV series about the court of Suleiman the Magnificent offends the greatness of the Ottoman Empire. However, historical chronicles confirm that the palace really fell into complete decline.

Rumors often circulate around forbidden places. Moreover, the more secret they are shrouded in, the more fantastic assumptions are put forward by mere mortals about what is happening behind closed doors. This applies equally to the secret archives of the Vatican and the caches of the CIA. The harems of Muslim rulers are no exception.

So there is nothing surprising in the fact that one of them became the scene of the "soap opera" that has become popular in many countries. The Magnificent Century series is set in the 16th century Ottoman Empire, which at that time stretched from Algeria to Sudan and from Belgrade to Iran. At the head was Suleiman the Magnificent, who ruled from 1520-1566, in whose bedroom there was a place for hundreds of barely dressed beauties. Not surprisingly, 150 million television viewers in 22 countries were interested in this story.

Erdogan, in turn, focuses primarily on the glory and power of the Ottoman Empire, which reached its peak during the reign of Suleiman. Invented harem stories from that time, in his opinion, underestimate the greatness of the Sultan and thus the entire Turkish state.

But what does the distortion of history mean in this case? Three Western historians spent a lot of time studying works on the history of the Ottoman Empire. The last of these was the Romanian researcher Nicolae Iorga (1871-1940), whose "History of the Ottoman Empire" also included previously published studies by the Austrian orientalist Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall and the German historian Johann Wilhelm Zinkeisen (Johann Wilhelm Zinkeisen).

Iorga devoted much of his time to studying events in the Ottoman court during the time of Suleiman and his heirs, such as Selim II, who inherited the throne after the death of his father in 1566. “More like a monster than a man,” he spent most of his life in drunkenness, by the way, forbidden by the Koran, and his red face once again confirmed his addiction to alcohol.

The day had barely begun, and he was usually already drunk. He usually preferred entertainment to solving issues of national importance, for which dwarfs, jesters, conjurers or wrestlers were responsible, in which he occasionally shot from a bow. But if the endless feasts of Selim took place, apparently, without the participation of women, then under his heir Murad III, who ruled from 1574 to 1595 and lived for 20 years under Suleiman, everything was already different.

"Women play an important role in this country," wrote a French diplomat who had some experience in this regard at home. “Since Murad spent all his time in the palace, his environment had a great influence on his weak spirit,” Iorga wrote. "With women, the Sultan was always obedient and weak-willed."

Most of all, Murad's mother and first wife used this, who were always accompanied by "many court ladies, intriguers and intermediaries," Iorga wrote. “On the street they were followed by a cavalcade of 20 carts and a crowd of Janissaries. Being a very insightful person, she often influenced appointments at court. Because of her extravagance, Murad tried several times to send her to the old palace, but she remained a real sovereign until her death.

Ottoman princesses lived in "typically oriental luxury". European diplomats tried to win their favor with exquisite gifts, because one note from the hands of one of them was enough to appoint this or that pasha. The careers of the young gentlemen who married them depended entirely on them. And those who dared to reject them lived in danger. Pasha "could easily be strangled if he did not dare to take this dangerous step - to marry an Ottoman princess."

While Murad was having fun in the company of beautiful slaves, “all the other people who were allowed to manage the empire made personal enrichment their goal - it doesn’t matter, honestly or dishonestly,” Iorga wrote. It is no coincidence that one of the chapters of his book is called "The Causes of the Collapse". When you read it, you get the feeling that this is the script of a television series, such as, for example, "Rome" or "Boardwalk Empire".

However, behind the endless orgies and intrigues in the palace and in the harem, important changes were hidden in life at court. Before the accession of Suleiman to the throne, it was accepted that the sons of the Sultan, accompanied by their mother, left for the province and remained aloof from the struggle for power. The prince who succeeded to the throne, then, as a rule, killed all his brothers, which was in some way not bad, because in this way it was possible to avoid a bloody struggle for the succession of the Sultan.

Everything changed under Suleiman. After he not only had children with his concubine Roksolana, but also freed her from slavery and appointed her his main wife, the princes remained in the palace in Istanbul. The first concubine, who managed to rise to the sultan's wife, did not know what shame and conscience were, and she shamelessly promoted her children up the career ladder. Numerous foreign diplomats wrote about intrigues at court. Later, historians relied on their letters in their studies.

It also played a role that the heirs of Suleiman abandoned the tradition of sending wives and princes away to the province. Therefore, the latter constantly interfered in political issues. “In addition to participating in palace intrigues, their connections with the Janissaries stationed in the capital are worthy of mention,” wrote historian Suraiya Farocki from Munich.

But in reality, the harem was a real snake's nest, where intrigues were woven, and people, not sparing, were allowed to waste.

"Smart Magazine" invites you to look into the palace of the Ottoman Sultan and find out what the concubines were threatened with lesbian relationships and what sexual positions were forbidden even for the Sultan to use.

Why are eunuchs in harems

The harem was usually located on the top floor of the front of the house and had a separate entrance.

In the view of Europeans, the life of the Sultan's harem (seral) is chic rooms, baths, fountains, incense and, of course, erotic pleasures.

In fact, only the rooms of the Sultan's family members and the most beautiful concubines - favorites shone with luxury. Most of the inhabitants of the harem - rejected or not yet presented to the Sultan, huddled in modest rooms. African maids lived there, kitchens, pantries and laundries were located. For example, the harem of Sultan Selim III, who lived in the 18th century, consisted of about 300 rooms.

The official wives of the ruler lived in separate houses, among servants and wealth.

The sultanas, by the way, did not rest on their laurels, but loved to lead an active active life: they built schools, mosques, helped the poor, bought water for pilgrims to Mecca.

Where did eunuchs come from?

The supervision of the harem and the connection of the concubines with the outside world is maintained with the help of eunuch slaves - representatives of a special court caste. Literally, “eunuch” is translated as “guarding the bed”, although the range of their duties was much wider.

The eunuchs led the servants, managed the household, kept records and accounts, maintained order, punished the concubines, for example, for lesbian relationships or for relationships with other eunuchs.

Usually they were bought from slave traders at the age of eight or twelve and castrated over them - the complete or partial removal of the genitals in order to eliminate possible sexual ties with the concubines. After the castration, the boy's blood was stopped, the wound was sterilized, and a goose feather was inserted into the ureter so that the hole would not overgrow.

Eunuch of the Ottoman Sultan, 1870s

Not everyone could endure such a barbaric procedure, but the survivors cost a fortune, and only very wealthy families could afford a castrato servant. Hundreds of them were bought for palaces, they were taught the Turkish language and military affairs.

Eunuchs were "black" and "white". “Black” eunuchs were brought from Sudan and Ethiopia, and “white” eunuchs from the Balkan Peninsula. It was believed that black boys were more enduring and better endured painful castration.

How concubines were selected

Future concubines for the Sultan's harem were purchased at the age of six or thirteen. Since Islam does not allow the enslavement of Muslims, most of the slaves came from the Christian provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

By the way, girls did not always get into the harem by force. Often their parents gave them there, signing an agreement on the complete abandonment of the child. For poor families, this was the only chance to survive and give their daughter a chance.

The girls were “sculpted” into ideal companions and lovers: they taught the Turkish language, music, dances, and the composition of exquisite love letters, depending on their abilities.

But each of them was necessarily taught the main thing - the art of giving a man pleasure.

When a girl reached puberty, she was shown to the grand vizier (a title conditionally corresponding to a minister), and if he did not notice obvious shortcomings in her, she became a potential concubine, but only the most beautiful and quick-witted could get into the main harem.

Of course, the majority did not manage to be in the chambers of the Sultan, but if they wished, the girls could make a court career, become overseers or monitor the treasury. Some concubines could live in a harem without ever meeting the owner.

If the girl still managed to become a favorite, this did not mean that she would have a fabulous life in luxurious chambers, because in fact she remained a slave without rights. One of the concubines of Suleiman the Magnificent was executed because she dared not come to the Sultan when he was waiting for her, someone was caught stealing, someone was killed for shameless behavior (which, however, could consist in the fact that the woman spoke louder prescribed).

If after nine years the concubine did not become one of the sultan's wives, she was released, given in marriage to one of the officials and supplied with a large dowry.

Of course, everyone dreamed of becoming the favorite of the ruler or even the mother of a new heir. Yes, yes, in the Ottoman Empire, a child conceived from a free man and a concubine was equated with a legitimate one.

Sisters and wives of the last ruler of the Ottoman Empire Abdul-Hamid II

It turned out that with such a wide choice, the Sultan was never left without an heir.

However, this principle made the transition of power very bloody. When one of the sons succeeded to the throne, the first thing he ordered was to kill his brothers. There are cases when even pregnant women were killed, so that their unborn children would not become rivals in the struggle for power. After that, a law came out prohibiting the shedding of the sacred blood of royal persons within the walls of the palace, so the victims of palace intrigues began to be strangled with a string bow or a silk scarf.

To guarantee the life of herself and her son, the favorite must certainly elevate him to the throne. Otherwise, her son will be killed, and she will be sent to the "Palace of Tears".

How were the nights of love

Sexual relations between the concubine and the Sultan took place in accordance with strict regulations. If the sultan wanted to listen to a musical instrument or watch a dance, then the elder wife or the chief eunuch gathered all the concubines who were skilled in this matter and carried out a kind of “casting”. Each in turn showed the Sultan their skills, and the owner chose the one with which he would share the bed.

The chosen one was taken away and her preparations for the night of love with the Sultan began.

She was washed, dressed, made up, epilated, massaged and, of course, tested for knowledge of the material - where and how to please the Sultan.

The nights of love passed in the presence of Ethiopian maids, who made sure that the torches illuminating the bed did not go out.

Usually lovers used the position in which the man is on top. It was forbidden to use positions that resemble the mating of animals or any perversions. However, the amount of lovemaking that the concubines owned more than compensated for the monotony of poses.

Despite the colossal number of wives and mistresses, the Sultan never spent the night with more than one of them at a time.

The schedule according to which the favorites ascended to the bed of the Sultan was made by the chief eunuch. If the beauty was skillful and passionate, then in the morning she would find clothes next to her, in which the owner spent the night with her. Usually an expensive gift or a large amount of money was wrapped in clothes.

End of the Sultan's harem

In 1908-1909, Turkish revolutionaries put an end to the monarchy, forcing the last autocratic ruler Abdul-Hamid II to abdicate, and the crowd hung the chief eunuch of his harem from a lamppost.

All the concubines and junior eunuchs ended up on the street, and the Sultan's palace was turned into a museum and opened to the public.

At the mere mention of a harem, images of mysterious and beautiful oriental women arise in my head, who could conquer a man with one look. Despite the fact that, in fact, the concubines were slaves, they were treated with dignity. There were many women in the Sultan's harem, but there were also favorites - those who were lucky enough to give birth to sons to the Sultan. They had a special respect and honor. The Sultan's harem was divided into three groups. In the first one there were already middle-aged concubines, in the other two - very young ones. All women were trained in the art of flirting and literacy.

The third group consisted of the most beautiful and expensive concubines, who gave their society not only to sultans, but also to princes. When the girls got to the palace, they were given a new name (usually Persian), which was supposed to reflect their essence. Here are some examples: Nerginelek ("angel"), Nazluzhdamal ("coquette"), Cheshmira ("girl with beautiful eyes"), Nergidezada ("resembling a daffodil"), Majamal ("moon-faced").

Until the 15th century, in the Ottoman Empire, it was customary to have legal wives in addition to the harem, usually foreign princesses became them. Marriage was necessary to increase power and support from other states. grew and gained strength, there was no longer a need to seek support, so the family was continued by the children of the concubines. The Sultan's harem replaced and supplanted legal marriage. The concubines had their own rights and privileges. never needed anything, they could leave their master if they wished after nine years of residence.

Those who left the palace were given houses and dowries. These women were called palace women and had respect in society, they were given diamonds, fabrics, gold watches, everything that was necessary for home improvement, and a regular allowance was also paid. However, most of the girls did not want to leave the Sultan's harem, even if they did not become favorites and did not receive the attention of the master, they became servants and raised younger girls.

Suleiman's love for Roksolana-Hyurrem

Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent was a worthy ruler, warrior, legislator and tyrant. This man was diversified, he was fond of music, wrote poetry, knew several languages, loved jewelry and blacksmithing. Under his reign, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest heights. The character of the ruler was contradictory: severity, cruelty and ruthlessness were combined with sentimentality. At the age of 26, Suleiman began to rule the Ottoman Empire.

During this period, the numerous harem of the Turkish Sultan was replenished with a concubine from Western Ukraine. The beautiful girl's name was Roksolana, she had a cheerful disposition, so she was given the name Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska, which means "cheerful." The beauty immediately won the attention of the Sultan. At that time, the beloved woman was Mahidevran, who, jealous, scratched the face of the new concubine, tore her dress and ruffled her hair. When Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska was invited to the Sultan's bedchamber, she refused to go in this form to the ruler. Suleiman, having learned about what had happened, became angry with Makhidevran and made Roksolana his beloved woman.

There was a rule in the harem that a concubine could have only one child from the Sultan. Suleiman was so in love with Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska that he gave her five children and refused to meet with other women. In addition, another traditional rule was violated - he married, so this was the first legal marriage of a sultan and a concubine in the history of the Ottoman Empire. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska was the most significant person in the palace for 25 years and had unlimited power over her husband. She died before her lover.

Suleiman's last love

After the death of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska, the ruler flared up feelings for only one more concubine - Gulfem. The girl was 17 years old when she got into the Sultan's harem. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska and Gulfem were completely different. The last love of the Sultan was a calm woman, despite her unprecedented beauty, Suleiman was attracted to her kindness and meek disposition. He spent all the nights only with Gulf, while the rest of the concubines were insanely jealous, but could not do anything about it.

This sweet and calm woman decided to build a mosque. Not wanting publicity, she did not say anything about this to the Sultan. She gave all her salary to the construction. Once the money ran out, the girl did not want to ask her lover for help, because it was below her dignity. She took funds from another concubine, who agreed to give her salary for a few nights with the Sultan. Suleiman was surprised to see another in his chambers, he wanted to share a bed only with Gulfem. When for several nights her beloved referred to the disease, and another concubine came to replace her, Suleiman became angry. The insidious rival told the master that the nights with him were sold for a salary. The eunuchs in the harem of Sultan Suleiman were ordered to whip Gulfem with ten strokes of the rods, but she died of such shame even before punishment. When the ruler found out the true reason for the act of his beloved, he grieved for a long time and regretted that he had not talked to her before the mosque was completed on the orders of Suleiman. A school was built nearby. Gulfem was buried in the garden of this small küllie.