Imperial Women: Patrons of Political Power in the Ottoman Empire (1520-1660)

Abstract

The 16th and early 17th centuries were the ages of intense difficulty in the Ottoman history, when the women were seen as the sovereign, who exercised the power through the administrative network beyond the walls of the royal palace or harem. On the other side, they worked as the social instrument. They were playing their role not only in social progress, but also in social integration, solidarity, national consciousness and progressiveness through social welfare activities as the patrons of Ottoman architecture. The proposed study through deductive research approach emphasizes on the sovereignty of royal women and their role in the Ottoman harem and the politics of the empire. During women sovereign period, the age old traditions of the empire deeply affected as the rule of succession had changed, the alliances between the harem and the imperial officials were increased as well as the Sultans mainly relied on the women especially Valide Sultan and their favourites. This era can be generalized in the light of women?s contribution as the politicians, diplomats and the socialists. It is necessary to examine the flaws of the Ottoman political system by making periodization in itself, in order to explain the stages of the setback faced by the Ottoman Empire because of women politics of power and rule behind the scene. Thus, the imperial women of the empire centralized the power system and directly influenced the reigning Sultans and the political institutions of the Ottomans.