Who is Kosem Sultan

Gokce Nacar

Dec 16 7920 read

Who is Kosem Sultan

Kosem Sultan was one of the women who left a mark in the history of the Ottoman Empire. She was a powerful woman, a prominent figure in Ottoman history, and her influence stood still for a long time. She was the wife of Sultan Ahmed I, and the mother of the Murad IV and Sultan Ibrahim.

Early Life

She was born in 1589, in Tinos. Kosem Sultan was the daughter of a Greek Orthodox priest. When she was 15, she was kidnapped during conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice, and bought as a slave. She was distinguished by her intelligence and also beauty, therefore she was sent to Constantinople to be trained in the harem. In there, she was trained in mathematics, religion, music, literature, and embroidery. Afterward, she attracted Ahmed I’s attention and became the chief consort called Haseki, the legal wife of the Sultan. After her conversion to Islam, the name Kosem which means the leader of the herd was given to her by Ahmed I. She was also called Mahpeyker meaning moon-like face, as to his charming beauty. Her influence continued on the Sultan for years, and she was also known as his adviser.

Death of Ahmed I

Sultan Ahmed, I died on 22 November 1617, at a very young age, 27. Upon his death, Kosem Sultan found herself in chaos, in the palace. After his death, she was simply banished to the Old Palace. Kosem Sultan supported him, Sultan Ahmed I’s brother to claim the throne, Sultan Mustafa I. But later on, he was described as mentally ill and dethroned after 3 months. He was replaced by Osman II who was the son of another wife of Sultan Ahmed I, but his reign lasted a short time because of the revolt of the Janissary corps. Afterward, Kosem Sultan’s son, Murad IV succeeded to the throne and gave her mother the position Valide Sultan, meaning mother of the Sultan. She gained more power through this position. Murad IV’s reign continued until his death, 1640. After him Sultan Ibrahim claimed the throne, in 1648 the Janissaries overthrew him. Mehmed IV, Kosem Sultan’s grandson, was the successor, and the title Valide Sultan passed to his mother Turhan Sultan, Kosem’s daughter-in-law, giving the title grandmother to the Kosem Sultan. A rivalry started between the two women, in power. On September 2, 1651, Kosem Sultan was strangulated by the command of Turhan Sultan who was Valide Sultan, and she died that night.