Handan Sultan
Encyclopedia
Handan Sultâna or Devletlu İsmetlu Handan Valide Sultan
Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri (Daulatlu Ismatlu Handan Validā Sultâna 'Aliyāt ûsh-Shân Hazrātlāri) (ca. 1574 – 26 November 1605) was the mother of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I
and his Valide Sultan
from 21 December 1603 until 26 November 1605. Born Helena,
.
, as well. He influenced his son Ahmed I
for forgiving the life of Mustafa I
by making him to abolish "the law on the immediate execution of the brothers of the Ottoman Sultans" by the Sultan
upon his accession to the Ottoman
throne. The law was initially put into effect by Fatih Sultan Mehmed for the purpose of preventing a probable fighting among the Sultan
's brothers who were the potential claimants to the Ottoman
throne.
Ahmed I
, she was the Vâlidā Sultâna
, being his mother. The contemporary historian Ibrahim Pecevi
questioned her wisdom. Leslie Peirce points out that Ahmed I
tended to disregard her advice. While respecting the tradition that A mother's right is God's right, he ingeniously circumvented her will. She did not manage to receive either influence or economic funds as had the two previous Vâlidā Sultâna
s. Her salary was only 1000 akçes even though she acted as the co-regent as the Vâlidā Sultâna
during the first two years of the regency of her son Sultan
Ahmed I
while the grandmother Sâfiyā Sultâna
were receiving 3000 akçes during the same period.
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...
Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri (Daulatlu Ismatlu Handan Validā Sultâna 'Aliyāt ûsh-Shân Hazrātlāri) (ca. 1574 – 26 November 1605) was the mother of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I
Ahmed I
Ahmed I or Ahmed Bakhti was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617.-Biography:...
and his 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...
from 21 December 1603 until 26 November 1605. Born Helena,
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
.
Biography
According to some other sources, she was the mother of Ottoman Sultan Mustafa IMustafa I
Mustafa I Deli , son of Mehmed III, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1617 to 1618 and from 1622 to 1623. His mother was Valide Sultan Handan Sultan, an ethnic Greek originally named Helena....
, as well. He influenced his son Ahmed I
Ahmed I
Ahmed I or Ahmed Bakhti was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617.-Biography:...
for forgiving the life of Mustafa I
Mustafa I
Mustafa I Deli , son of Mehmed III, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1617 to 1618 and from 1622 to 1623. His mother was Valide Sultan Handan Sultan, an ethnic Greek originally named Helena....
by making him to abolish "the law on the immediate execution of the brothers of the Ottoman Sultans" by the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
upon his accession to the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
throne. The law was initially put into effect by Fatih Sultan Mehmed for the purpose of preventing a probable fighting among the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
's brothers who were the potential claimants to the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
throne.
The Executive Authority of Handan Valide Sultan
During the first two year of the reign of SultanSultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Ahmed I
Ahmed I
Ahmed I or Ahmed Bakhti was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617.-Biography:...
, she was the Vâlidā Sultâna
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...
, being his mother. The contemporary historian Ibrahim Pecevi
Ibrahim Peçevi
İbrahim Peçevi or Peçuyli İbrahim Efendi was a Turkish historian of the Ottoman Empire. He was born in Pécs, Ottoman Empire , hence his name, Peçevi . His mother was of Sokollu Bosnian family. The name of his father is unknown...
questioned her wisdom. Leslie Peirce points out that Ahmed I
Ahmed I
Ahmed I or Ahmed Bakhti was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617.-Biography:...
tended to disregard her advice. While respecting the tradition that A mother's right is God's right, he ingeniously circumvented her will. She did not manage to receive either influence or economic funds as had the two previous Vâlidā Sultâna
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...
s. Her salary was only 1000 akçes even though she acted as the co-regent as the Vâlidā Sultâna
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...
during the first two years of the regency of her son Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Ahmed I
Ahmed I
Ahmed I or Ahmed Bakhti was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617.-Biography:...
while the grandmother Sâfiyā Sultâna
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...
were receiving 3000 akçes during the same period.
Further reading
- Peirce, Leslie P., The Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire, Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1993, ISBN 0-19-508677-5 (paperback). - Yavuz Bahadıroğlu, Resimli Osmanlı Tarihi, Nesil Yayınları (Ottoman History with Illustrations, Nesil Publications), 15th Ed., 2009, ISBN: 978-975-269-299-2 (Hardcover).