Biography
Nurbanu-Sultan is a bright representative of the historical period of the Ottoman Empire, referred to as the "Sultanate of Women." The events of this era (1500-1656) are colorfully described in the series "Magnificent Century". Nurban became a concubine, and then the legitimate wife of Sultan Selim II - Son Suleiman I magnificent and Hurrem-Sultan.Childhood and youth
According to Turkish sources, the future first lady of the Ottoman Empire, nee Cecilia Buffo, was born in 1525 in the Greek Island of Paros, which at that time was part of the Venice Duchy Naxos.
In the biography of a woman still remains a lot of white spots. In particular, there are two versions of its origin. And one, and on another Cecilia, a noble Venetian of Violanta Buffo gave birth. But the girl's father could be like the Governor of the island of Nikolo Vener, and the Spanish Jew by Nasi last name. The latter is perceived by modern historians skeptically, but there is no official refutation yet.
Up to 12 years old, a girl grew, like many of the children of aristocratic families, received a Catholic education, until the Ottoman Admiral Highddin Barbarossa was invaded for Paros, who plundered the island and sobally in Turkish captive part of the civilians. Young Cecilia also got into the prisoner. Singing bitter tears in the shippower, the girl could not even think, which brilliant fate was prepared by her in a foreign land.
At the Sultan Palace
According to the tradition of the time of young beautiful captives, they immediately sold in the Sultan Garem. So it happened with Buffo, and the girl came to the concubine to Shehzade himself (Prince). In some sources it is said that such a "high appointment" occurred not just like this: the girl could ask her influential relatives of the Italian yard. For other information, played the role of the phenomenon of luck. The third legend says that the co-owl of his beloved son chose and brought up Hurrem-Sultan herself, the experienced eye of which determined the competent origin, the formation, mind and the volitional character of the girl.
Anyway, Cecilia became the concubine of the Sultan son. She was supposed to pass a number of ceremonies and initiations. The girl replaced the religion and accepted Islam, after which she was ordered her oriental name - Nurban ("emitting light" or "Princess of Light").
In 1543, Selim has reached the age of majority, and his father sent San Sanjak Beem (ruler) to the province of Konya. Nurban was sent with Tsarevich. Soon the girl became pregnant and in 1544 she gave birth to the firstborn - the daughter of Shah-Sultan. Lovely concubine Nurban was able to find the way to Head of Shehzade. For a long time, she remained the only favorite of the heir to the throne, which received the exclusive right to give birth to his children.
For each other, two more daughters Shehzade were born - Gevherhan (there is information about the fact that Selim's other concubines was born) and Esmehhan. And only in 1546 the concubine finally gave birth to the son of Murad. It happened already in the province of Manis, which Selim headed after the death of the elder brother Mehmed. In 1559, the younger daughter of Selima and Nurban - Fatma-Sultan was born.
After the birth of Son Nurban became Haseki. This title of wives and concubines of the Ottoman Sultanov introduced Sultan Suleiman for Mother Selima - Hurrem-Sultan. Being a mother of the eldest son and the heir, Nurbanu wore the title of the first wife and the garaders of the harem.
In order to survive at the courtyard of Sultan, there was not enough for women's char alone. Nurban was quickly oriented in the situation, correctly appreciated the alignment of the forces, learned to skillfully bypass intrigue, and soon and not less virtuoso them. In the ranks of her faithful supporters, Gasanfer and the maid of Gianfed were listed in the ranks of her faithful supporters.
Woman used to the latter by the location of Hurrem Sultan. In the harem books it is repeatedly mentioned that Nurban called Mother Selim "Mother Hurrem".
Sultan's wife
In 1566, after the death of the Father Suleiman I and eliminating Bayazid's opponent's brother, Selim II enters the Ottoman throne. With the coming to power, Sultan Selim II takes in the harem of the Istanbul Palace Topkapy a few more concubines who began to give birth to him. At the same time, the ruler does not change the attitude towards Nurban and still relates to the only favorite. Venice Ambassador Jacopo Soyrandzo wrote:
"They say that His Majesty is hot and devotion to Hseki as beauty and for the extraordinary mind."In the proof of his devotion in 1568, Sultan officially marries Nurban, having allocated 110,000 gold ducatons as a wedding gift (Hurrem-Sultan received 100,000 ducats from Suleiman).
All 9 years of the Board of Sultan Selim II Nurban was an ideal wife. The spouse often appealed to her for the Council of State, because he knew that her inventive mind was able to wise judgments.
However, Nurban does not sit quietly in the status of the legitimate spouse of Sultan. After all, with the appearance of the Children from other concubines from the Selima, her son Murada (in 20 years he was sent by the ruler in Manisa) is threatened. But the woman was ready to defend the interests of the Son.
Sultan Murad III really stood up for the throne not without the help of the mother. Selim II, nicknamed in the people of drunkard for addicted to the guilt, died on December 13, 1574 in the harem of the Topkapi Palace: Being a pretty oxyaded, he fell and hit his head about the stone floor (on another hypothesis - he choned himself in the bathroom). With the help of a Mekhmed Sokul's Vizier, a woman placed her husband's body into a box with ice and hid. The servants who saw the death of Sultan and his mistresses were killed, and the "legend" spread around the palace that the ruler was seriously sick.
Only 12 days later, when her son arrived from Manisa to Istanbul, Nurban announced the death of his spouse and climbing the throne of Sultan Murad III. On the same day, five sons of Selim II were killed (another one - Shehzade Mehmed - died back in 1572 with unexplained circumstances). It was the usual practice of that time: the new ruler destroyed all the male relatives along the Father's line, besides their own sons, so that only they become heirs to the throne.
With the coming to power of the Son Nurban, as the mother of the ruling sultan, receives a high title of Valida Sultan, which gives her, in essence, unlimited power. Becoming the first lady of the state, Nurban has launched wide activity. Engaged in charity, built mosques, madrasas and other social facilities. He began to influence the foreign policy issues: he kept a correspondence with the queen of France Catherine Medici, began to establish connections with his native Venice.
Nurban was favorably issued married daughters: Esmechhan - for the Vizier of Mehmed Sokollu, Shah-Sultan - for Chakyrjybashi Hassan Efendi.
Having enormous influence on the son in terms of management of the country, Nurban could not protect him from attachment to his favorite concubine - Safiye Sultan and, being an elderly lady, entered into the struggle for power.
Death
However, Valida Sultan was not destined to see the rival defeated. In 1583, Nurban died. Courtflowers have witnessed death from natural reasons, although rumors went that a woman poisoned the Genoese ambassador (Genoa opposed the proviscial policies of the Empire).
Historians write that Murad in Mother's Mother's sign was dressed in black, which was infrequently met in the Ottoman chronicle, and made his mother's lush funeral. The tomb of Nurbanu is located in the Ayia Sofia Mosque complex in Istanbul, next to the Mausoleum of her husband - Sultan Selim II. Antenant Venetian became the first concubine of Sultan, buried next to his lord.
This ended the history of the life of an amazing woman, who passed a big and difficult path - from the concubine to the first ladies of the powerful empire. There are very few fistened portraits of Nurban-Sultan. But its image is perpetuated in books and on the screen. In the largest movie-efficiency "Magnificent Century", dedicated to the era of the female Sultanate, Nurban-Sultan played the actress Merve Bulgarue.
Memory
Books
- Ayrat Nizhiorum "Heiress Roxolants"
Soap opera
- 2011-2014 - "Magnificent Century"