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A cariye or imperial concubine.. The Imperial Harem (Ottoman Turkish: حرم همايون, romanized: Harem-i Hümâyûn) of the Ottoman Empire was the Ottoman sultan's harem – composed of the concubines, wives, servants (both female slaves and eunuchs), female relatives and the sultan's concubines – occupying a secluded portion (seraglio) of the Ottoman imperial household. [1]
The Ottomans tried to leave the choice of religion to the individual rather than imposing forced classifications. However, there were grey areas. Ottoman Greeks in Constantinople, painted by Luigi Mayer. Ottoman practice assumed that law would be applied based on the religious beliefs of its citizens.
Hürrem (Roxelana), the haseki sultan during Suleiman's reign.. The 16th century was marked by Suleiman's rule, in which he created the title of haseki sultan, the chief consort or wife of the sultan, and further expanded the role of royal women in politics by contributing to the creation of the second most powerful position in the Ottoman Empire, valide sultan, the mother of the sultan.
This period was novel for the Ottoman Empire but not without precedent since the Seljuk rulers, the predecessors to the Ottomans, often let noble women play an active role in public policy and affairs, despite the resistance of other male officials. [2] [page needed] During the fourteenth century, the agency of women in government began to shrink.
Hürrem Sultan (wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, mother of Selim II), was one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history and wielded vast political power. The title of Haseki Sultan, was created for her and was used by her successors. Kösem Sultan was also one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history. [120]
The practice of the sultan's avoiding the Divan had been introduced two centuries prior, during the reign of Suleiman I, and was considered to be one of the causes of the decline of the Empire. Mahmud II also addressed some of the worst abuses connected with the Vakifs , by placing their revenues under state administration.
The Ottoman Imperial Harem was similar to a training institution for concubines, and served as a way to get closer to the Ottoman elite. [114] Women from lower-class families had especially good opportunities for social mobility in the imperial harem because they could be trained to be concubines for high-ranking military officials. [114]
[29] The first two points pertain to the decline thesis' depiction of Ottoman state and society as being backward-looking, static, and essentially incapable of innovation prior to the 'impact of the West'; the third concerns the degree to which the Ottoman Empire was taken to be totally unique, operating according to its own rules and internal ...