Saliha Sultan (daughter of Mehmed IV)

**Saliha Sultan** (Modern Yoman: صالحه سلطان; Edirne Palace, Edirne 21 March 1661 - 11 October 1724) was daughter of Sultan Mehmed IV and Hatem Sultan, one of his consort. She had a twin, Sehzade Selim. Saliha was one of the most influential sultanas by birth in history, however she is not included in the Sultanate of Women due to the fact that she did not influence the sultan but her husband.

## Motherhood

Of Hatem Sultan we don't have many sources but what we know about her is enough to give us an idea. It is known that during childbirth in 1660 she had such complications that she had to be transferred to the Edirne palace where she subsequently gave birth. Zeynep Sultan asked Mehmed in a letter dated 1660 about her, describing her as calm:

> "...the calm and docile Hatem..."
>
>

Further proving that Zeynep had nothing against Hatem and that perhaps they had a good relationship.

After giving birth she was given the title of Sultana but after that nothing more is known of Hatem until 1671 when she died and was buried in the Eyüp cemetery. Many suggest that he suffered from some congenital disease, indeed doctors are known to have regularly entered and exited the Nurmiliş Palace, where she lived in exile with Rabia Şermi Sultan following the death of Mehmed IV.

## Early life

Saliha was born in Edirne on 21 March 1661. She was the twin sister of Şehzade Selim who however died at the age of three, it is thought that he inherited the same disease as his mother and later died of it.

Saliha grew up in the Maşami Palace until her father's death in 1669 and was sent with her mother to the Nurmiliş Palace.

At the age of ten in 1671 her mother died and Rabia Şermi Sultan, another concubine of her father decided to adopt and raise her.

## First marriage

Saliha was initially compromised to Mustafazade Ahmed Bey, governor of Tripoli in 1679 however the pasha was caught engaging in sexual acts with an ostler of the Maşami palace and the engagement was broken off.

However the Sultan decided to marry her to his previous betrothed's younger brother, Mustafazade Bayezid Pasha in 1680. On that same date, his sisters Fatma Sultan, Hatice Sultan and Asima Sultan were married. At the time of the marriage she was 19 while Bayezid was 14. The marriage was a strategy by Hiranur Sultan to gain the support of Mustafa Kiraz Pasha, father of Ahmed Bey and Bayezid Pasha. Sources describe Bayezid Pasha as a robust, capable, red-haired boy.

Mustafa II appointed Pasha Beylerbey immediately after the wedding, during this period Saliha was able to witness her husband's political affairs and understand more about the administration of the state. The couple had a son Sultanzade Mustafazade Şehinşah Mehmed in 1682 and are believed to have been happy as Bayezid is known to admire and respect his wife, the two also visited one of the Dentate Islands on a voyage as a couple.

Bayezid Bey died in 1685 and was buried in the mausoleum of the Beylerbeyi Sarayi in Üskar.

## Second Marriage

In 1688 Mihrişah Sultan and Ahmed I, her brother decided to marry her to a member of the Köprülü noble family, Köprülüzade Hizir Pasha.

In 1689 Ahmed executed the Beylerbey of Bakvaär, Ümun Melek Bey and appointed Köprülu Hizir Pasha in his place. Saliha had to leave Usbul and move to the other side of the Middle Sea. Saliha settled in the palace of Bakvaär together with her husband.

However, Hizir Bey turned out not to be a good choice to manage the province of Bakvaar, the pasha was not interested in political affairs and was more fond of painting and horse riding. Saliha started advising him and little by little she became more and more influential. Saliha began to deal with correspondence with the Maşami palace and the sultan and wrote numerous letters on behalf of the pasha, establishing relations with the provinces of Eskisanjak, Çaışık and Erstbel.

The couple is believed to have been very happy, they had two sons and four daughters.

## Years as a widow

Saliha continued to lead the province of Bakvaär in her husband's name until her death in 1703, when Hizir died Saliha wrote to her brother, Ahmed I:

> "My Padişah I suggest my son Sultanzade Mustafazade Şehinşah Mehmed to replace his father (Köprülüzade Hizir Bey)..."
>
>

this letter also suggests that Hizir Pasha treated his stepson, Saliha's son from his first marriage, as a son. The sultan and Valide Sultan were aware that it was Saliha who really ruled the province and so they agreed with the hope that she would continue to rule. Saliha was 42 while his son was 21.

Şehinşah was allowed to have a harem when he turned 14 and became a lover of it, preferring it over politics. For the first few years Saliha had total authority in the province and rumors started circulating about Şehinşah's intellectual incapacity so Saliha to appease the critics convinced Şehinşah to intervene in Bakvaar's administration.

Saliha continued to influence decisions and advise her son until her death on October 11, 1724.

## Mystery of her tomb

Saliha's funeral is described by Tiub's ambassador, Albert Furbal Allisi. Albert says they were all there including Sultan Mahmud I and his first Haseki Sultan, Nur(light of the soul, of the eyes) Sultan. However Albert recounts that when they were carrying the coffin, it fell and opened, however many were amazed at the fact that it was empty, the document however does not go forward and leaves us at this point.

The location of Saliha Sultan's tomb remained unknown until 1897 when it was found in the Bakvaar Old Palace Mosque during a renovation by Sultan Abdülmejid. The grave was hidden under the floor of crypt number 4 where \*\*\*\* were also buried. In the lapith was engraved:

> سلطان صالح بزرگ، بیگ باکوار در اینجا نهفته است (The Büyük Saliha Sultan Bey of Bakvaär lies here)
>
>

Abdülmecid then decided to open it, when they opened the coffin it was empty. All this gave rise to numerous theories but until now it is unknown why the tomb was in that condition and why his name was engraved in that way.

## Issue

From her first marriage she had one son:

* Sultanzade Mustafazade Şehinşah Mehmed

From her second marriage she had two sons and four daughters:

* Sultanzade Köprülüzade Ibrahim Pasha

* Ayşe Hanimsultan

* Sultanzade Köprülüzade Mahmud

* Hatem Hanimsultan

* Sadika Hanimsultan

* Gülbahar Hanimsultan