Hurrem Sultan

If you walk to Istanbul in the district of Fethi, you will find in Haseki caddesi, an elegant mosque (Haseki Sultan Külliyesi), built by the large Sinan architect for the sultana Roxelane. But which was this woman whose name is known in the whole world for its tricks and its intrigues?

It was born with the whole beginning from the years 1500.

Removed by the Tartars, at the time of a raid to the borders of the border between Poland and Russia, Roxelane (the Russian) was sold like slave. It was the girl of an orthodoxe priest and was called Alexandra Lisowska. She was undoubtedly bought by the large vizier, Ibrahim Pasha who offered it in gift to the Soliman the Magnificent sultan.

We know almost anything of its physique, no painter or draughtsman being authorized to penetrate in the Harem. However, one of the rare people to have seen it, Bragadino the Venetian ambassador, says to us that it was not beautiful but grâcieuse. Rather small, it had a solid character, a disproportionate ambition and a good natural mood which was worth to him the nickname of Hürrem (the merry one).

As of its entry in the Harem, it understood that to gain the capacity it was to be the mother of the next sultan. Crafty one and intelligent, it played admirably of the guitar and could charm Soliman by singing the nostalgic airs of the Slavic countries to him. Very quickly it became the exclusive mistress of the Sultan, not hesitating to use of calumny or the assassination to get rid of its rivals. He having given 4 wire, it will avoura its triumph when Soliman married it.

Consequently, its influence did not cease growing so much so that all the courses of Europe knew its name and the intrigues of which it was able fed will have it mystery which surrounded it. It was at the top of the power and of glory but two people were still on her way: Ibrahim Pasha, large vizier and personal friend of the Sultan and Mustapha, wire ainé of Soliman and Gülbahar, his first wife. Mustapha was the crown prince, which prevented Roxelane from sleeping.

She then undertook long and patient campaign calumnies initially aiming at discrediting Ibrahim. Using of its many talents and its capacity of seduction it succeeds in convincing the Sultan of the treason of his Vizier. It should be specified that this last, with the head of an immense fortune started to make shade with its Master and lord. Soliman made assassinate Ibrahim, on March 15, 1556. Very quickly after this misdeed, Rüstem, the son-in-law of Roxelane and Soliman became Vizier.

Remained to regulate the case of Prince Mustapha, but there the situation was more delicate. Indeed, Mustapha possèdait all qualities to be a large sultan. Certain witnesses go even until saying that it possèdait remarkable gifts. Soliman started to take age, it approached the 60 years. While keeping under control perfectly its capacity and its spirit, the difficult question of its succession started to arise. About the events which followed, we do not know large thing, but the legend claims that helped Roxelane of his/her son-in-law Rüstem, échaffauda a plan machiavelic to get rid of his/her son-in-law.

It made hear in Mustapha which his/her father getting old lost a little the spirit, and which him, the crown prince was to save the empire while seizing the capacity. Parralèlement, it informs her husband, that his/her elder son was about to betray it.

The reaction of the Sultan was striking down, it made assassinate Mustapha by making it strangle. Roxelane triumphed once again but not completely because there remained still Murad, the son of Mustapha. It managed to convince Soliman whom crowd acclaimed Murat like the future sultan. Once more it yielded and made assassinate his small son.

The victory of Roxelane was total, because his/her Selim son became crown prince, and no matter what it can arrive it is one of its sons which règnerait.

It died in March 1558 and Soliman who survived to him 8 years, died in 1566, at the 70 years age. Selim became sultan under the name of Selim II. Its reign which lasted 8 years was a catastrophe, because Selim called the drunkard, was alcoholic, lazy, and unable.

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