Esperanza Malchi was the kira, or economic agent, of the Valide Sultan

Valide Sultan

Valide Sultan was the title held by the mother of a ruling Sultan in the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish pronunciation of the word Valide is . The title is sometimes translated as Queen Mother, although the position of Valide Sultan was quite different.The position was perhaps the most important...

 Safiye

Safiye Sultan

Safiyā Valida Sultânā, , née Sofia Baffo, , was the consort of Ottoman Sultan Murad III, the Valida Sultânā and de facto co-regent to her son, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed III.- Biography :She was of Venetian descent...

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Due to the secluded life demanded of harem

Harem

Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...

 women, they carried out their financial dealings through Jewish women (kira). As non-Muslims, Jewish women were allowed much more freedom of movement and acted as commercial agents for the harem dwellers. Esperanza Malchi was appointed as Safiye's kira, and became very wealthy. Malchi and Safiye had a close relationship; she even wrote to Queen Elizabeth I of England on her mistress' behalf, mentioning discreet exchanges of items. In 1600, the imperial cavalry revolted because of the devaluation of the currency. Malchi became the target of their discontent and was killed, together with her son.