Leopold

## Biography

The former fiancé of Hürrem, when she was still Alexandra of Ruthenia. Leopold is a talented artist who not only decorates Hatice and Ibrahim Pasha's palace but is commissioned to create portraits of Sultan Suleiman. He shows his undying love for Alexandra by eating poisoned Turkish Delights so she can continue her life as Hürrem.

### Ruthenia

Alexandra and Leopold have been friends since he was 5 years old. They grew up together and eventually fell in love. On the day of the Tartar attack they are in the church where Alexandra's father is the priest. They tease each other of the large family they will someday have together. The village is raided and Alexandra is taken captive and sold into slavery. Once installed in Topkapi Palace, Alexandra dreams of her dead family and learns that Leopold is not among the dead but nothing more. Leopold was severely injured in the Tartar attack and was bedridden for months after.

### Painter

Leopold does not give up on looking for Alexandra and his search brings him to Istanbul. He meets Matracki Nasuh Effendi while making inquiries in the market. Nasuh Effendi sees Leopold again as he is drawing Alexandra in the street. When asked who the woman is Leopold lies that is is just a woman. Nasuh Effendi and Leopold become friends, and he introduces Leopold to Ibrahim Pasha who is looking to decorate his new palace before his marriage to Hatice. During an inspection tour of the palace, Hürrem , Valide, and Hatice discuss possible artistic decorations for the wall. It is this way that Leopold learns that Alexandra is alive and now a part of Suleiman's harem.

Leopold spends considerable time making Italian style imagery on the wall of palace's main room. When they are completed, Ibrahim Pasha has a special Venetian style dinner with Suleiman . Valide Sultana does not like the practice of sitting at a formal table for a meal, telling Suleiman she does not want to see such a practice in the harem. Suleiman jokes that the images made by the Crimean painter make up for the unusual habit. Ibrahim informs that Leopold is in the palace working, to which Suleiman invites Leopold in to receive praise. Hürrem sees Leopold and nearly chokes on her food, she is so surprised to see him. Overcome with emotion, Hürrem takes her leave, with Hatice following after her. Hürrem nearly confides in Hatice about Leopold but instead remarks that she is feeling a bit sensitive as a result of childbirth.

With a new reputation as skilled artist, Suleiman asks to have a painting done of himself with Hürrem. Leopold is given studio space under the direction of Ahmet Celedi who at first looks down upon him as an outsider. Eventually, while not fully accepting him as an artist they come to at least appreciate his artistic talent. When Ibrahim comes to the studio to enquire of his progress a collection of sketches of Hürrem that are not associated with the official portraits fall to the floor. Leopold defends them as being part of the study of her form to get the official portrait correct and is instructed to destroy the images after he is finished.

With Ibrahim Pasha as his primary patron, Leopold is also tasked by to draw a phoenix to be made into a brooch. When Ibrahim chooses the image he prefers he presents Leopold with some coin. Leopold refuses the coin and offers the image as a gift. Leopold is told to never refuse again as it is a part of the culture.

### Janissary Rebellion

The Janissaries start a rebellion while Ibrahim Pasha is in Egypt. During the revolt, both Tokapi Palace and Ibrahim Pasha's palace are attacked. Nasuh Effendi and Leopold quickly return to Hatice's palace to aid in their defense.

Hürrem and Gulfem were visiting with Hatice when the attack on her palace commences. As they flee to the cellar, Hatice falls down the stairs and Leopold is called on to carry her. In the process he is shot and continues to carry Hatice even with the wound until Nasuh Effendi notices him stumbling. Nasuh takes Hatice the rest of the way and carries the unconscious Leopold down as well. A doctor if called and it is discovered that Hatice has miscarried.

Leopold gives her his journal to remember him by, but Hürrem has to throw it out the window into the garden as someone enters the room. The journal is discovered by Ibrahim Pasa. Nigar Kalfa attempts to retrieve the journal but is unsuccessful. Ibrahim Pasa decided to use the journal as leverage to blackmail Hürrem.

### Death

Leopold continually tries to get Hürrem alone to confess his continued love for her. Eventually, she has to inform him that she has moved on after believing him dead and she is in love with Suleiman as well as the mother of several of his children. She strongly encourages Leopold to leave. He finally agree and gives Nigar one last letter asking for a final meeting in the garden with Alexandra.

Nigar delivers the final letter and it is promptly burned by Hürrem. Ibrahim Pasha corners Nigar and forces her to find evidence of an illegal interaction between Leopold and Hürrem. She finds a small sketch under Hürrem's mattress but does not turn it over and instead tells Ibrahim she has found nothing. Hürrem goes to the garden but does not go to the fountain to meet Leopold instead she visits with Valide and Mahidevran. Ibrahim hid watching Leopold as he waits at the fountain. As Leopold turns to leave, Ibrahim has him arrested and put in his dungeon. In the confiscated bag of Leopold Ibrahim finds a painted portrait of Hürrem.

Ibrahim Pasa confronts both Leopold and Hürrem trapping them in a room together. He presents them with poisoned Turkish delights and tells them to choose who will live and who will die and then leaves the room. Hürrem is distraught as she does not want to leave Suleiman and her newborn son Selim, nor for Leopold to die on her behalf. Leopold in a last act of love eats the poisoned sweets and dies in Hürrem arms.

Behind the Scenes

Leopold is a character from Episodes 14 to 26.