Sakizula Hatun

**Sakizula Hatun** (Yoman Turkish: ساکیزولا خاتون; c. 1198 - 1263) was the daughter of Sultan of Yoman Empire and Laera Hatun. She married Mustafa I Capy of Khanate of Krapghar (1223 - 1226) and was the mother of Mehmed I Capy (1226 - 1269) of Khanate of Krapghar. She ruled as the first Valide-i Khal.

## Marriage

In 1206, Yoman's allies attended his great and last council of allies who brought gifts from their lands. In recognition of the loyalty shown by Yoman's half-brother Şahin Capy and arranged a marriage between his daughter Sakizula and Şahin's son Mustafa Capy. When she was about sixteen she was embarked and sent to the Khanate of Krapghar. In 1214, during a revolt of the palace agha, Sakizula almost fell victim to fire, however she was saved and brought to safety.

### Realation with Mustafa

Soon Sakizula became the most important consort of Mustafa once he became sultan in 1223 and their relationship was almost monogamous, usually those who married Yoman princesses were not allowed to keep a harem, however Mustafa was an heir to a throne and therefore he was allowed to keep one, however he was so enamored of Sakizula that she became his chief consort.

Sakizula had his first son at 18 in 1216: Haci, then at 20 in 1218 Mehmed, then Şahin, then Kasım, Devlet and Meñli at 26 in 1224, born a month before Yoman's death. Sakizula attended the funeral with his court of his father where he saw his family after a long time.

Sakizula received a high rank in the hierarchy of the harem, not only because she was Yoman's daughter and legal wife but thanks to her children who guaranteed her superiority over the other concubines. Sakizula remained quiet until 1226 when a palace revolt broke out on the night of 4/5 May. The concubines prevailed by killing many superiors including Sazra Hatun, the mother of Mustafa.

## Return as Valide-i Khal

Sakizula managed to escape, but her husband and her other supporters were killed. Brought with him the two sons of Mustafa, his stepchildren by two different women between 1216 and 1218. Sakizula enjoined his brother Orhan who appeased the revolt and proclaimed Mehmed, Sakizula's son as Khan. Although Mustafa had Mehmed's eldest son, Osman, Yoman didn't calculate it when proclaiming the new khan (it being the first in a long line of times that the Yoman Sultan will influence the new khal's decision). Once Sakizula entered the palace again, she punished her husband's murderers by beheading, drowning, mutilating or dropping them from great distances. After that he established himself in the harem by setting up a chamber for her in the "Valide Hatun" (Lady Mothet) style, and proclaiming herself Valide-i Khan. Sakizula surrounded herself with her husband's surviving allies by creating a council for her still minor son to fulfill the title of Khan. Her influence was such that her own brother called her "the princess who ruled the khanate" or "the sultana my sister".

Once her son was 18 in 1236 Sakizula handed over power to him retiring mostly to the harem but despite this it is her son that the entire council came to seek advice from the Valide. Sakizula visited his mother in 1237 and later returned to Yşryin for the last time upon Laera's death in 1238.

When she found out that his son Şahin was having an affair with Ali Gul Agha is said not to have had a discontent from his son but still called his son to the Valide rooms to order them to be more reserved, this legend is supported by the fact that the wife of Sahin never got pregnant but there are no real theories.

Sakizula when Osman decided to usurp the throne sent him a card suggesting them to be more cautious and withdraw his allied soldiers, however Osman did not listen to her, Sakizula begged his son Mehmed to seek peace and not kill him, after all Sakizula had raised Osman, so in order not to let his stepson go through a terrible death, he sent assassins to execute the prince. Osman died in 1240 after the second time Sakizula sent assassins.

Not much else is known about Sakizula but she was certainly the most powerful Valide-i Khal in the Khanate, recognized as among the first powerful women in history acting as Naib-i Hanlık (regent of the khanate), though she wasn't officially.

## Death

Sakizula died in 1263 at about 65 years of age it is believed that he had been in failing health for some time as he was not present at the death of his brother a year earlier. He managed to live many years, reaching a very old age for the time, mainly thanks to the fact that his mother being a Dolverbic inherited the classic longevity genes in her family.

Was buried in Yaşlı Capy Mosque near to the remains of her husband.

## Issue

She and Mustafa had five sons and one and only Mustafa's daughter:

* Hacı (1216-1220)
* Mehmed I Capy (1218 - June 1269) he was the third khan of Khanate of Krapghar;
* Sahin Beypasha (1219 - 1280)
* Kasım Beypasha (1222 -1291)
* Devlet Hatun (1223 - 1300) she married Allaedin Pasha, whit who she has three chdren. Devlet ruled as Valide-i Khal substitutive for her brother Menli.
* Meñli I Capy (1224 - 1305) was the fifth khan of Khanate of Krapghar.