page_title: Safiye Sultan (wife of Murad III)
section_title: Haseki Sultan
hierarchical_section_title: Safiye Sultan (wife of Murad III) / Haseki Sultan
caption_attribution_description: Grafik aus dem Klebeband Nr. 1 der Fürstlich Waldeckschen Hofbibliothek Arolsen Illustration aus: Georg Greblinger: Wahre Abbildungen der Türckischen Kayser vnd Persischen Fürsten / so wol auch anderer Helden und Heldinnen von dem Osman / biß auf den andern Mahomet. Johann Ammon, Frankfurt 1648 Motiv: "Sultan Murat Chan" (Murad III.)
context_page_description: Safiye Sultan was the Albanian concubine of Murad III and Valide Sultan of the Ottoman Empire as the mother of Mehmed III and the grandmother of Sultans: Ahmed I and Mustafa I. Safiye was also one of the eminent figures during the era known as the Sultanate of Women. She lived in the Ottoman Empire as a courtier during the reigns of seven sultans: Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II, Murad III, Mehmed III, Ahmed I, Mustafa I, and Osman II.
context_section_description: Safiye had been Murad's only concubine before his accession, and he continued having a monogamous relationship with her for several years into his sultanate. His mother Nurbanu advised him to take other concubines for the good of the dynasty, which by 1581 had only one surviving heir, Murad and Safiye's son Mehmed. In 1583, Nurbanu accused Safiye of using witches and sorcerers to render Murad impotent and prevent him from taking new concubines. This resulted in the imprisonment and torture of Safiye's servants. Murad's sister Esmehan presented him with two beautiful concubines, which he accepted. Cured of his impotence, he went on to father twenty sons and twenty-seven daughters.
  Venetian reports state that after an initial bitterness, Safiye kept her dignity and showed no jealousy of Murad's concubines. She even procured more for him, earning the gratitude of the Sultan, who continued to value her and consult her on political matters, especially after the death of Nurbanu. During Murad's latter years, Safiye returned to being his only companion. However, it is unlikely that Safiye ever became Murad's wife—though the Ottoman historian Mustafa Ali refers to her as such, he is contradicted by reports from the Venetian and English ambassadors.
  She was influential as a Haseki, a rank bestowed on her less than a year after Murad ascended the throne.
  As Giovanni Moro reported in 1590 with the authority she {Safiye} enjoys as mother of the prince, she intervenes on occasion in affairs of state, although she is much respected in this, and is listened to by His Majesty who considers her sensible and wise.
  Issue
  Together with Murad, Safiye had four children:
  Mehmed III (May 26, 1566 – December 22, 1603), became the next sultan succeeding his father Murad III;
  Şehzade Mahmud (1568, Manisa Palace, Manisa – 1581, Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, buried in Selim II Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
  Ayşe Sultan (died 15 May 1605, buried in Mehmed III Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque), married firstly on 20 May 1586 Damat Ibrahim Pasha, married secondly on 5 April 1602 to Damat Yemişçi Hasan Pasha, married thirdly on 29 June 1604 to Damat Güzelce Mahmud Pasha;
  Fatma Sultan (buried in Murad III Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque), married on 6 December 1593 to Damat Halil Pasha, married secondly in December 1604 to Hızır Pasha.
caption: The husband of "Sāfiya Vālida Sultān," Ottoman Sultan Murad III.
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