Şivekar Sultan

**Şivekar Sultan** (Ottoman Turkish: شوکار سلطان; "*flirty*", died; c. 1592 or 1597 - June 1649), was the Sixh Haseki of Sultan Iskender I (reign 1603 – 1609).

## Early life

She was from Armenian descent. Her real name was Marina, and she was probably the daughter of a wealthy Armenian merchant.

Marina was originally a member (cariye-slave) of Hirihmene Sultan's suite, when she was made Valide, but perhaps even earlier, she began caring for Şhezade Selim, Hirihmene's son. She became a lady-in-waiting (musahibe) to Sultan Iskender after his accession to the throne in 1603.

Maria became his consort and he gave her the name Şivekar, meaning "flirty".

## As consort

In a letter listing the main concubines of Sultan Iskender I she was described as "the most dangerous concubine in the capital", this makes us understand that from the very beginning Şivekar began to be politically active, most likely thanks to Hirihmene Sultan who taught her and used her as a pawn to influence the sultan, the fact that she is called "the most dangerous" while Ayşe Sultan as "the first great concubine" makes us understand that Şivekar's influence was greater than Ayşe's, at least before she became Valide substitute .

In 1604 she gave birth to a son Şehzade Cihangir who died a few hours later, however Şivekar was elevated to the rank of Sixth Haseki.

Şivekar probably already started to bring Hirihmene's pashas to his side by then, after Hirihmene was kicked out of Topkapı Palace. Şivekar would inform her of every movement of the substitute Valide, Ayşe Sultan.

## Exile

After Iskender's deposition and death, Şivekar was sent to the Old Palace where she managed to obtain a high rank in the harem.

After Ibrahim's sudden death, the harem of Ibrahim I was sent to the palace. Eumenia Sultan was one of this exiled women. Probably her personality clashed with that of Şivekar Sultan, both being leaders fought for control of the harem, however Şivekar won who had more experience and Eumenia was sidelined in the harem.

## Influential period

After Selim II's loss to Şakrasad Sultan in 1623 he was locked up in kafes under the surveillance of multiple aghas and could not speak to anyone. However given Şivekar's position in the harem she was able to aid him from a group of loyal pashas amassed during her peak influence in the kingdom of Iskender who were still loyal to her. Şivekar decided to help the prince presumably because between Şivekar and Selim there was a relationship of motherly love.

Many speculate that taking advantage of the fact that Osman II was in Edirne, Selim poisoned him with the help of Şivekar Sultan in order to ascend the throne before Mehmed, who would have taken longer than them to reach the capital.

Şivekar with the help of her loyal pashas help Selim to get the throne after Osman's death in 1649.

Once the throne was resumed, Şivekar became one of the women present in the war council, according to some sources a flesh and blood was present at the Divan sessions but according to others, Selim limited himself to questioning her and informing her of the Council discussions. Even if the office of Grand Vizier was covered, in reality the sessions of the Divan were presided over only and exclusively by Selim and the other positions destined for the Grand Vizier, such as that of adviser and right hand, were covered precisely by Şivekar and often also Atike.

Şivekar even though she partly replaced the position held by Atike Sultan during Selim's first term he never had any disagreements or jealousies regarding Atike, in fact it is believed that there was a collaborative relationship since one administered the sultan's harem (Atike) and the other the political aspect (Şivekar).

## Death

Şivekar's health deteriorated severely and he died in the summer of 1649. After her death Selim, who had the best against his nephew began to lose allies loyal to her. Many pashas and warriors loyal to her decided not to fight any more and abandoned Selim.

Şivekar Sultan founded some foundations and vakfs in her lifetime.

She is buried inside iskender I Mausoleum at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.