Bayezid I

## Family

Bayezid had a large harem, among the largest and most varied surpassing that of Selim I, Iskender I, Mehmed IV and Abdulhamid III. In fact, he enjoyed much of the pleasures of the harem, always having one or more concubines each night. The slave trade sent to the palace during Bayezid's reign was so rampant that it reached its highest ppeaks. However, he did not have many offspring, having only nine children of which only three they reached adulthood. Of which only one made it to adult life. In fact, Bayezid is believed to have had problems conceiving children.

### Consorts

He had eight know consort, plus several minor concubine:

* Sittişah Hatun: also called Sitti Hatun. She was Valide Hatun of Murad II;
* Şahnişah Hatun, then Şahnişah Kalfa: was one of his first concubines. He was then named Chief of the kalfa.
* Mihri Hatun: she was a slave gifted by Hüma Hatun as gift when he was appointed Sanjakbey. She subsequently remained in Bayezid's harem and although she did not have a high rank she is believed to have been the mother of at least one daughter;
* Nigar Hatun: she was a slave gifted by Hüma Hatun as gift when he was appointed Sanjakbey;
* Sultan Hatun: one of his favourite, her daughter was one the first Sultanas by birth;
* Şasika Hatun: she was described as beautifull. She had a good relation with Sultan Hatun and take care of Hatice Sultan after the exile of Sultan Hatun;
* Hüsnüşah Hatun: Bayezid wrote many papers for her, she was one of the most loved by the Sultan, she died due to a fall from a stage, it is believed that Sittişah killed her but it is not certain since there were no reasons to do so. However others believe that Hüsnüşah was pregnant and Sittişah fearing it was a boy killed her, this is reinforced by the fact that she died in 1453, the same year that Şhezade Hamid Ahmed died, probably Sittişah was trying to eliminate any possibility that her son had rivals for the throne. Her daughter was one the first Sultanas by birth;
* Ahmakā Hatun: her name was found in some writings dating from the time of Bayezid. This concubine was in truth a bride, the daughter of some political leader or important bey. Bayezid possibly married her during his reign as a political alliance;
* two possibly consorts named Hatice or Hafize;
* seven childless consorts who were remarried once Murad ascended the throne.
* three concubines who were sent on the night of May 5 1451 when Bayezid was crowned.

### Sons

He had three sons:

* Murad II (16 August 1443 - 2 May 1491) - with Sittişah. He became sultan after his father;
* Şehzade Ahmed: (1446-1453) with Sultan Hatun. He died in an accident in the Old Palace during a ceremony where the sultan was present, it is said that Sittişah was to blame for fearing that Ahmed would ascend the throne. After Ahmed's death, Sultan Hatun was progressively forgotten and sent to Edirne where she died;
* Şhezade Fülan: son of Ahmakā;
* Şhezade Fülan: he was the fourth child, nothing is known about him only that he existed and that he born during the reign of Bayezid.

### Daughters

He had five daughters, six children of which only two made it to adult life. Bayezid allowed his two daughters to have the title "sultana", leaving the use of the title "hatun" to refer to Ottoman princesses, daughters of Sultans and Şehzade (princes).:

* Fülane Hatun (? - before 1446): with Sultan Hatun. The year of her birth is unknown but it is known that she died before her father ascended the throne.
* Ismihan Sultan (1445-1504) with Hüsnüşah Hatun. She was one of the two most appreciated daughters of Bayezid I, so much so that she granted them the title of Sultana as proof of her love. The Valide Hatun, Sittişah valued her greatly, and after Sultan Hatun's exile she tooks care of her.
* Hatice Sultan (around 1446-1516) with Sultan Hatun. She is described as very kind and sweet. Her father gave her and her sister Ismihan the title of Sultana as proof of his love for his daughters. She had a very sad life, he was married three times and all his children died at an early age. After Sultan Hatun's exile Şasika tooks care of her.
* Tihrünnisa Hatun (? - before 1460/1462) died young;
* Salika Dilaşub Hatun (? - before 1460/1462) died young.