ЖЕНИТЕ В СЕМЕЙСТВОТО НА СУЛТАНА – МИТ И РЕАЛНОСТ
WOMEN IN THE SULTAN’S FAMILY – MYTH AND REALITY

Summary/Abstract: The place and role of women are preserved as they are assigned by religion. The women of the sultans have the important task of increasing and raising the offspring of the ruler and have their own secure fortress – “harem”. The harem is not just a place for the sultan’s entertainment, but his home, where his family lives. The harem established itself as a whole institution in the empire with its own rules. In contrast to the Christian world, in the Ottoman Empire the first position was given not to the woman as a wife, but to the woman as a mother. Thus the first lady of the empire was not one of the ruler’s wives, but his mother, bearing the title “Valide – Sultan”. She is at the top of the harem organization and takes care of her son’s family. Enjoying his full trust and respect, she has power and influence.

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