Kadınefendi
Encyclopedia
Kadınefendi was the title given to the official wives of the Sultan
of the Ottoman Empire
. The Sultan could have up to four wives, who were ranked:
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...
of the Ottoman Empire
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...
. The Sultan could have up to four wives, who were ranked:
- Başkadın - senior wife.
- İkinci Kadın - second wife
- Üçüncü Kadın—third wife.
- Dördüncü Kadın—fourth wife.