Politics and Murder in the Harem

0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.

0:30the best of British TV on BritBox. Watch for the free trial today at BritBox.com. What if your soda actually did something for you? Introducing Sky Pop Protein Soda. Sky Pop Protein Soda has 10 grams of complete protein, zero sugar, and real delicious soda taste. Sky Pop Protein Soda. Reach for the sky. Get your Sky Pop Protein Soda now at Target. Greenlight helps kids learn about money the way most of us never did, by actually using it. It's a debit card and money app that teaches kids to earn, save, and spend in real life, not just swipe and hope for the best. Learning happens naturally in the moment.

1:06Parents can set limits, see spending in real time, and guide better habits along the way, all in one place, without constant check-ins or cash runs. Don't wait. Try Greenlight risk-free today at greenlight.com slash trygreenlight. Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of iHeartRadio and Grim and Mild from Aaron Manke. Listener discretion advised.

1:33On the night of September 2nd, 1651, the most powerful woman in the Ottoman Empire found herself afraid for her life. Just on the other side of the doors of her apartment, her 300 armed janissaries, the troops of the sultan, were attempting to protect her against a troop of assassins who were led by the chief black eunuch of the imperial harem. When the woman's chief private guard refused to let the assassins pass, they cut the guard to pieces. The woman, hearing the struggle, tried to flee through the hidden passageways that connected her rooms to the Sultan's. But she didn't have time. She hid in a closet instead, but she made a fatal mistake.

2:28The hem of her dress was peeking out, barely visible, but visible beneath the door. One of the assassins was said to have dragged her out by her braids while she struggled mightily. She was ultimately strangled to death, blood pouring from her nose and mouth, strangled with either, depending on your source, a cord torn from the curtains or with her own braids. The death of Khuzem Sultan in her 60s marked the end of a political career that had lasted nearly 50 years. Her long tenure in power began in 1605, when, as a young concubine, she gained the title of Favorite, or Haseki Sultan, A title originally created for Suleiman the Magnificent's wife, Raksalana, the subject of a previous Noble Blood episode.

3:33Kazem held power during a unique era in Ottoman history, referred to by historians as the Sultanate of Women, a period that began with the rise of Raksalana from a concubine to legal wife and influential figure in her own right. From roughly 1534 to 1715, the concubines, mothers, and grandmothers of the sultan exerted more power over the political machinations of the empire than ever before. Notably, all of these women began their lives enslaved in the harem, making their eventual accumulation of wealth and power all the more exceptional. Kazem Sultan has been called both single-handedly responsible for the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and also the reason it held on for as long as it did.

4:34As listeners of this show will suspect, the truth is probably somewhere in between extremes. What can be said definitively is that Kazem's legacy is one of power, with all of the blood that that entails. I'm Dana Schwartz, and this is Noble Blood.

5:02Reconstructing Kazem's early life has not been an easy task for historians, who mainly have to rely on unofficial, second-hand reports. It's generally believed that she was of Greek and Christian origin, though there are various theories about her birthplace and birth name. As a teenager, Kazem was kidnapped by raiders of the Ottoman slave trade and likely singled out as a candidate for the harem because of her beauty. In the harem, she was converted to

5:37Dana Schwartz:Islam and given the name Mapeker for her soft, moon-like face. However, she would become known as kozem, which is believed to have derived from either koze meaning hairless or smooth-skinned, or kozem meaning leader or free. The imperial harem has long been a source of both fascination and titillation for Western audiences, probably in part because it's cloaked in mystery due to a complete absence of contemporary Ottoman writing on it. Among the varied extravagant tales and so-called, quote, accounts of harem life from European travelers, historians generally agree that the most reliable portrait of the harem can be constructed from the writings of ambassadors to Istanbul and captives who served in the palace.

6:35At this point in Ottoman history, following a transition first made in the era of Roxolana, the harem was housed in the main palace. In the 16th century, Ottoman politics were being increasingly concentrated, not only within the capital, but within the palace itself, and the relocation of the harem from the old palace to the new palace further blurred the lines between the domestic and the political spheres. Even princes, who historically had spent their adolescence governing a provincial capital under the supervision of their mothers, now grew up within the confines of the harem. Structurally, the reorganized harem resembled, quote, the third courtyard of the imperial palace, which housed and trained hages and eunuchs.

7:33Expenditure registers detail the hierarchy inside the harem, which divided its residents into three groups. The first of these was the elite of the harem, the sultan's mother, the Hasiki sultan or favorite consort, and princes and princesses. The second group was composed of the harem's administrative and training staff,

7:57Dana Schwartz:while the third and largest group was the service corps. In that last class were enslaved girls like Kozem. While the harem had a number of different functions, the purpose most relevant to this episode was, unsurprisingly, to produce concubines for the sultan. There were no legal restrictions barring the son of a ruler and a concubine from inheriting the throne. And by the end of the 14th century, concubinage had overtaken legal marriage as the dominant means of reproduction for rulers. There are a few explanations for this. For one, a concubine had no allegiance to a family or foreign power.

8:44Dana Schwartz:From a young age, she was forcefully converted to Islam, taught Ottoman cultural values, and promised eventual elevation or even freedom through having the child of the sultan or another powerful man. But as we will see, greater political power was attainable. For Kazem, during her time in the harem, she would have been taught by senior members to read, write, and speak Turkish, to understand Islamic law, to play the harp and sing, and to embroider. Girls who showed the most promise were chosen to be the attendants to the valid sultan, or mother of the current sultan, who trained them to become concubines.

9:34According to Bobovius, a Polish captive who became an interpreter and musician in the sultan's court, She takes care to keep them splendidly outfitted and to have them instructed in all that they can learn, so that they might be capable of inspiring, in the Grand Signore, the love which might allow them to become concubines, and perhaps one among them the favorite and the honored mother of his eldest son, or else to be married to persons of quality outside the palace.

10:11Dana Schwartz:End quote. That was most likely how Kozem captured the attention of Ahmed I, shortly after his rise to power in 1603. We don't know exactly when their sexual relationship began, but we know their first child, Mehmed, was born in 1605. Ahmed had one even older son, Osman, but it's likely Osman's mother died before his fifth birthday. Ahmed's own mother died in the early years of his reign, and his grandmother was exiled to the old palace. The absence of those other women put Kazem in a uniquely powerful position. She was not just the only living mother of the sultan's sons, but the most senior, powerful mother in the imperial court.

11:08Dana Schwartz:Kuzem would go on to have the rest of Ahmed's children, potentially four more sons and four daughters, in her position as Haseki or favorite. The, quote, one mother, one son policy that had once defined Ottoman reproductive politics was now a relic of the pre-Sulaymanic era. Haseki was not simply a title either, A raise in her status meant a raise in her stipend, with privy purse records showing that Kazem received a thousand aspers a day. A rumor even persisted at the time, and still persists today, that Ahmed and Kazem legally married. Kazem likely developed an early interest in politics and held influence from the early days of Ahmed's rule.

12:02In 1612, the Venetian ambassador to Istanbul described Kozem as a woman of, quote, beauty and shrewdness and of many talents. She sings excellently. She continues to be extremely well-loved by the king. Not that she is respected by all, but she is listened to in some matters and is the favorite of the king, who wants her beside him continually, end quote. He noted, however, that Kazem, quote, restrains herself with great wisdom from speaking to the Sultan too frequently of serious matters and affairs of the state, end quote, likely meaning that she understood how to appropriately appease his ego.

12:48We know Ahmed wanted Kazem constantly by his side, but how did Kazem feel about the man who was her maybe husband, whether legally or in effect. That's a question I cannot answer, as no personal writing regarding Ahmed survives. It's worth noting that even if we did have access to letters between Sultan and concubine, such as those between Roxelana and Suleiman, it's inherently difficult to parse the true nature of feelings in such a complex power dynamic, when of course you have to remember that Kozem began her life in the harem as an enslaved concubine. What we have a greater understanding of, however, is her political career.

13:41Historians believe she potentially played an integral role in the shift in Ottoman succession politics from primogeniture, in which the eldest son inherits the throne, to agnatic seniority, in which power goes to the eldest male in the dynasty. Primogeniture in practice resulted in systemic fratricide upon the new sultan's ascension. Ahmed's situation was unique. He had a living brother, Mustafa, who was most probably left alive because Ahmed was only 13 at the time of his ascension and his reproductive capacity had not been confirmed. However, once several sons were successfully sired,

14:31Dana Schwartz:Mustafa's survival was in question. The Venetian ambassador reported in 1612 that Kozem had prevailed upon Ahmed to spare his brother Mustafa. She argued that because Ahmed himself was his father's second son, he should not harm the brother whose place he once occupied. The story of Ahmed's elder brother, and his execution potentially organized by his own grandmother based on a prophecy, is a story for another time. But according to the ambassador, in this case, Kozem's motive in sparing her brother-in-law was, quote, to see if it was possible that this mercy, which she displayed at the present to the brother, might also be employed later toward her son, the brother of the firstborn prince.

15:28Dana Schwartz:In other words, she believed if she supported Mustafa, her sons might later be spared themselves. Ahmed, remember, had an oldest son, Osman, who would be more likely to simply kill his brothers, despite his warm relationship with their mom, Kazem. As a small boy, Osman could be seen going for carriage rides with Kazem, tossing coins to spectators. However, the Venetian ambassador claimed Ahmed later forbade the two from speaking to each other, and speculated it was because of Kazem's well-known ambitions for her own sons. When Ahmed died, Kazem would legally become a free woman, But if she wanted to maintain power in the empire, it would have to be through her children.

16:20Dana Schwartz:To realize those ambitions, Kozem was already building a network of powerful allies. In 1616, the Venetian ambassador reported that she was the most valuable ally to have in Istanbul because of her sway over the sultan, and that she should be rewarded for her contributions to Venice's good standing. But the most valuable way a woman could build influence within the empire was through the marriages of her daughters and other women indebted to her. The marriages of Ottoman princesses, especially, were important links between the harem and other concentrations of power both inside and outside the palace.

17:06Dana Schwartz:Kozem found a close ally in her son-in-law, the acting Grand Vizier, after he married one of her daughters. In a blow to Kozem's growing influence, Ahmed had that Grand Vizier strangled on charges of corruption in 1614. It's likely that around this time, Kozem also began to build her alliance with the leaders of the Janissary Corps, an alliance that would last her entire lifetime.

17:41Dana Schwartz:Later in her life as Valid Sultan, Kozem was known to free her slaves after relatively short periods of service, and to maintain ties with them in their new lives. According to the 17th century historian Mustafa Naima, quote, she would free her slave women after two or three years of service and would arrange marriages with retired officers of the court or suitable persons from outside, giving the women dowries and jewels and several purses of money according to their talents and station, and ensuring that their husbands had suitable positions. She looked after these former slaves by giving them an annual stipend, and on the religious festivals and holy days, she would give them purses of money.

18:31This all was very nice, but it wasn't just out of the

18:36Dana Schwartz:goodness of her heart. As with the marriages of her daughters, arranging the marriages of loyal, formerly enslaved girls to potentially influential husbands would be the key to her political success. While her actions may not have been entirely magnanimous, Kozem is remembered for a tradition of charity work, she began as Haseki and continued throughout her career. She arranged dowries for a number of girls whose families could not afford them and provided them with lodgings and furnishings. She systematically delivered water to pilgrims traveling to the holy city and annually distributed clothing and shoes to both pilgrims and locals.

19:24Dana Schwartz:Perhaps most surprisingly, every year in the month of Rajab, Kazem would leave the palace in disguise and arrange for the release of imprisoned debtors and criminals, with the notable exception of murderers, through personal payment of their debts or equal compensation. Kazem's time as Haseki or favorite ended when Ahmed died in November 1617, likely of typhus. Fortunately for Kazem, her intervention was successful, and Ahmed's brother, Mustafa, and not Ahmed's eldest son, succeeded his position. Unfortunately for Kazem, Mustafa was both mentally and physically ill, and he was deposed only 96 days later.

20:17Dana Schwartz:He was replaced by Osman, who ultimately killed Mehmed, Kazem's oldest son, but sent the rest of her sons to live with her in the old palace. It seems he still harbored some affection for the woman who briefly acted as his stepmother, and he even paid her a three-day visit during his reign. Kazem additionally maintained her daily Thousand Asper stipend through Mustafa and Osman's reigns, evidencing a level of respect. Osman proved to be another unpopular ruler, which some historians argue was in part due to his lacking a Valid Sultan, or mother, to guide him. He was ultimately killed in a Janissary uprising in 1622.

21:12Dana Schwartz:Power was briefly returned to his uncle Mustafa, but he was once again deposed due to his instability, and he was sent to live in the old palace for the rest of his days. On September 10th, 1623, Kazem's son, Murad, ascended the throne as Murad IV, and Kazem's time as Valid Sultan began.

21:43Dana Schwartz:Seeing as Murad was only about 11 years old when he came into power, Kazem was appointed official regent, and she governed in her son's place alongside the Grand Vizier through his teenage years. Shortly after Murad's enthronement, a Venetian ambassadorial dispatch read, quote, all power and authority is with the mother, in the prime of life and of lofty mind and spirit, who often took part in the government during the reign of her husband. Around the same time, an English ambassador commented that Murad would be, quote, governed by his mother, who governed his father, a man of spirit and wit.

22:29Dana Schwartz:The title of Valid Sultan came not only with power, but with money, too. Kozim had a greater income than any Valid Sultan before her, at an astonishing 24 million aspers a year. Most of this money came from land grants, endowed to her through Ahmed, Murad, and even Osman. During her regency, Kuzem enjoyed a good working relationship with the Grand Vizier and had numerous allies in powerful governmental positions. In one letter, she frankly tells the Grand Vizier, You really give me a headache, but I give you an awful headache too. How many times have I asked myself, I wonder if he's getting sick of me, but what else can we do?

23:20Dana Schwartz:Pretty relatable. Traditionally, the Grand Vizier was responsible for day-to-day imperial affairs and leading the empire in war, while the Valid Sultan and Chief Eunuch ran the household and palace affairs. As regent, it seems Kazem's influence crossed these spheres. As you can imagine, as Murad became older, a level of conflict between sultan and regent was inevitable. A 1625 Venetian report revealed Kozem and Murad were clashing over the possibility of a truce with the Spanish. The report reads, quote, The imperialists and Spaniards declared that the matter was progressing favorably, being actively assisted by the sultan's mother, but also states that the sultan, quote, With a prudence beyond his years, was opposed to such a deal.

24:21Dana Schwartz:Kozem had a powerful ally in negotiations in this case, the governor of Egypt, who, by no coincidence, was married to one of her daughters. In a letter from Kozem to the Grand Vizier, likely written around 1628, we see her frustrations as both an anxious mother and an anxious regent. First, she expresses political distress, writing, quote, something absolutely must be done about Yemen. It's the gate to Mecca. You'll talk to my son about this. I tell you, my mind is completely distraught over this. The tone then shifts to worrying about Murad in equal measure. She complains, quote, my son leaves in the morning and comes back at night.

25:10I never see him. He won't stay out of the cold. He is going to get sick again. I tell you, this grieving over the child is destroying me.

25:19Dana Schwartz:Talk to him when you get a chance. He must take care of himself. What can I do? He won't listen. He's just gotten out of a sickbed and he's walking around in the cold. All this has destroyed my peace of mind. All I wish is for him to stay alive. At least try to do something about Yemen. End quote. Another letter to the Grand Vizier expresses similar concerns, but additionally reveals Kazem's fears for her own position should something happen to Murad. She writes, quote, I wish you would listen to me and have them stop practicing the javelin in the hippodrome. Why can't they go play in Lenga? My son loves it.

26:04Dana Schwartz:I lose my mind over it. Whoever says it's good for him is lying. Caution him about it, but not right away. What can I do? My words are bitter to him now. Just let him stay alive. He is vital to all of us. While the last line may not be relatable to most, there's something comforting in both of those letters. In knowing mothers throughout history have always been worried about their sons staying in the cold too long, playing dangerous sports, and not stopping by often enough. Murad sought to gain greater independence in his rule through limiting his mother's network of power. In 1628, he dissolved the marriage between his sister and a powerful admiral, one of Kazem's closest allies.

26:57Dana Schwartz:She reportedly attempted to appease her son with elaborately outfitted horses and a lavish banquet. To no avail, Murad gained full, formal control in 1632, ending his mother's regency. Despite earlier strife, it appears they ultimately came to respect each other's roles in the empire in the latter half of his reign. But respect did not mean peace. In 1635, while celebrating a victorious campaign, Murad had two of his four remaining brothers murdered. In 1638, he used another victory celebration to mask the killing of a third brother. Only at the intervention of Kazem was the final living brother, Ibrahim, spared.

27:49Dana Schwartz:She argued that his mental illness rendered him harmless, no threat to his brother's throne. Kazem's defense may not have only saved her son, but the existence of the Ottoman Empire. When Murad died of liver failure in 1640 with no surviving heirs, Ibrahim was the only living male in the line of succession. During the first year of Ibrahim's reign, Kozem followed in the footsteps of Valid sultans before her and constructed a mosque complex. Despite her massive wealth, the complex was considered more modest than her predecessors'. As the fate of the Ottoman Empire hung in limbo, it's very possible Kazem sped up her plan to endow a complex and cement her legacy before the potential fall.

28:47Dana Schwartz:It was Kazem's responsibility as Valid to make sure her son Ibrahim produced heirs to secure the future of the dynasty. Ibrahim turned out to be rather too enthusiastic about producing heirs, and notoriously spent excessive time and money on his harem. Kazem may have later regretted introducing him to his first concubine and future Haseki, a woman named Turan. Though Kazem was not a formal regent to Ibrahim I, she maintained the role in effect. His sheltered childhood, combined with his alleged mental illness and fixation on his harem, made him an incapable ruler. This naturally left a power vacuum that many were eager to fill.

29:41As opposed to the harmony Kazem had enjoyed with Murad's Grand Viziers, Kazem found herself in competition with Ibrahim's advisors. According to yet another Venetian ambassador, quote, in the present government, to the extent that this son's capabilities are less, Kazem is held in greater esteem than at the end of Marad's reign. And thus, with her commanding affairs within the palace and the Grand Vizier commanding those outside, it happens quite often that these two rulers come up against each other, and in doing so, take offense at each other, so that one can say that in appearance they are in accord, but secretly each is trying to bring about the downfall of the other.