“At first glance, she [Gülnüş] seems to be completely adverse to any affair but in reality with her arts, deceptions and flatteries with which she bends the Gran Signore’s will, she has a large share in deliberations and graces. From this stems the most pungent jealousy of the Queen Mother, now 60 years old, who, having governed the empire with despotic power during her son’s minority, bitterly resents seeing the other being preferred in esteem and confidence.”
“With great pride, she shows respect and devotion to the Queen mother-in-law, she pretends to be adverse to any affair; at the same time she uses all the arts, her intellect and flatteries, not only to have a share in deliberations but to keep herself alone in command with the Sovereign.” — Giovanni Morosini di Alvise (1680)
Turhan Hatice Sultan was one of only two women considered to be official regents of the Ottoman Empire.
As a young child, Turhan Hatice was captured by the Tatars and sold into slavery. Her birth name and country of origin are unknown but she is believed to have been from either Russia or the Ukraine. As a young woman, Turhan Hatice was given to Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire as a concubine.
In 1648, Ibrahim was deposed and killed. After his father’s death, Turhan Hatice’s seven year old son ascended to the throne as Mehmed IV. Turhan Hatice should have also risen to power as the Valide Sultan (sultan’s mother), but she was passed over due to her youth. Kösem Sultan, paternal grandmother of Mehmed IV, lasted only three years as Valide Sultan before she was murdered.
As the official Valide Sultan, Turhan Hatice functioned as a co-ruler taking on far more authority than most Valide Sultans. When her son matured, Turhan Hatice stepped away from politics and began building fortresses and mosques which can still be seen in Istanbul today.
