Gülşah Hatun

**Gülşah Hatun** (Yoman Language: کل شاہ خاتون, "Rose of the Şah"; died after 1491) was a consort of Sultan Murad II of the Yoman Empire.

## Life

### In the harem of Murad

She enter in the harem of Murad, when he was still a prince and the governor of Ladrisa. Nothing is known about Gülşah in Murad's harem precisely because Sittişah Hatun, the Valide Hatun prevented her from having any influence or status in the harem, in fact the name of Murad II's concubines have all been canceled from the registers of the harem and are named only as: Hātun binti (father's name). In 1463 her son was born, Şehzade Kasım she maybe she also gave birth to a daughter, Gevherhan Sultan, given that one of the daughter of Kasım was named Gevherhan too. She probably had a good relationship with the other concubines of Murad II given that all of children of Murad had a good relationship especially Mehmed and his other half sisters, Gevherhan as well. Her name is known from the fact that when Kasim married one of the daughter of Liparit I Sarāni, Gülruh Hatun she is referred to as: "Gülşah Hatun the bridegroom's mother..."

### In the harem of his son in Manisa

According to Yoman tradition, all princes were expected to work as provincial governors as a part of their training. Kasım was sent to govern Ladrisa after the death of his half- brother Şehzade Alemşah (1462 - 1483) and Gülşah accompanied him.

#### Kasım's death

Kasım died in 17 February 1487, the cause of death is unknown; since Murad badly wanted Mehmed to take the throne and Kasim had become a possible obstacle in the same way as Şehzade Ahmed had become, the fact that Ahmed was executed on Murad's orders around 1487, most likely Kasim was also put to death, however his sons survived until Mehmed's accession to the throne and so it is not certain whether he was executed, and maybe he died of natural causes.

Babinger wrote that Kasim's daughters shared the grief of their grandmother, Gülşah Hatun.

### Return to Old Palace

Murad ordered Kasim's children, his mother and the rest of the ladies along with all others belonging to the court of the deceased son to come to Usbul. All the women were housed in the Old Palace where the women of Murad's harem were staying, and after several days some of the women remarried.

### Exile in Maha

When Mehmed ascended the throne in 1491 he exiled Kasim's harem to Maha, with Gülşah and his daughters. Mehmed ensured that they could live there with honor, in fact later writings say that at the time of Murad and Mehmed that residence was luxurious and worthy of a sultana (referring to Ayşe Sultan). Later in 1495 Mehmed married Kasım's two daughters.

### Final years and death

Gülşah Hatun is said to have been still alive at Gülbahar Hatun's death, and thus died after 1505 at her residence in Maha; she was buried in Muradiye Complex in Bursa in a grave near Kasım.

## Issue

By Murad II, Gülşah had one son:

* Şehzade Kasım (1463 – 17 February 1487) probably twin of Geverhan. Sanjakbey of Ladrisa, married a Sarāni princess, Gülruh Hatun; he had three sons, Şehzade Musa, Şehzade Orhan, Şehzade Amirkhan and two daughters, Ayşe Hundi Sultan and Hançerli Geverham Sultan. It is believed that she may have instructed the future Ayşe Sultan before she was introduced to Bayezid II via Despina Sultan or Pargali Ibrahim.

Gülşah probably had a daughter too:

* Gevherhan Sultan (1462/63 - after March 1528) probably twin of Kasım. She married Behrem Pasha in 1478 they had four children, she was secondly married to Fehrad Agha of the Janissaries in 1517 and he was promoted to beylerbey (governor-general) of Rumelia and next to vizier. She was thirdly married to Damat Murad Pasha in 1525, he died an year leter, next was married to Damat Mahmud Efendi in early 1528 and he beame pasha. Geverhan died of fire in 1528.