Roxana of Russia

## Roxana Sultan

Roxana Sultan

**Roxana Irina Vasilievna** (1509 – 1588, Ancient Greek: Ῥωξάνη; Old Iranian: *\*Raṷxšnā-* "shining, radiant, brilliant"; sometimes **Roxanne**, **Roxanna**, **Rukhsana**, **Roxandra** and **Roxane.** She was the daughter of Solomonia Saburova and Grand Prince Vasili III of Muscovy. Was the consort of Selim I and the mother of the first son of selim, Şehzade Orhan and Şehzade Ahmed.

## Early life

Roxana was born in 1509 after 8 years of sterility in the palace. Despite this, her mother Solomonia Saburova was exiled from the palace in November 1512. Roxana grew up next to her father, spending a lot of time together.

She was betrothed to the son of Bayezid the Great, Şehzade Mustafa as the conclusion of the Yoman-Arannia peace negotiation. However when Mustafa lost her father's favor she was given in marriage to the other son of Bayezid, Şehzade Selim, future Sultan Selim.

## Life in the harem

Roxana was sent to Selim's harem in 1531 at the age of 22, she should have married Mustafa already at the age of 12 in 1521 when her first period arrived.

She was initially educated by Selim's mother, Mihren Sultan until 1531 or 1532, then when Selim was appointed Sanjakbey of Ladrisa she entered the harem of şehzade. Here she gave birth to her first child, Şehzade Orhan: being the lagal wife and mother of Selim's only son for a few years, she played an important role due to the absence of Selim's mother, Mihren who remained in Maşami at the behest of Bayezid.

In 1535 another 5 concubines arrived who filled the harem up to 12 concubines, among these was Mahidevran Hatun who promptly gave birth to two children: Şehzade Musa and Şehzade Kasim, thus obtaining an important status in the harem, however Roxana retained the highest salary of the harem of 10 aspers while Mahidevran - like the rest of the concubines - had a lower salary of only 2 aspers.

Selim's settlement in Ladrisa was not lasting and in 1538 upon the death of Bayezid II, Roxana and Selim's other concubines had to move to the Maşami harem. During the transfer, Roxana's son Orhan and Mahidevran Musa's son died. Mahidevran was now the mother of the Sultan's eldest son, thus classifying Roxana's status.

In 1540, at the beginning of Selim's reign, Roxana met a new rival, Kara Hatun, who soon became Selim's favorite. But in 1545 Kara was expelled from the palace by order of the Sultan Valide, Mihren Sultan. Kara and Selim's mother did not have good relations, while Selim was in a campaign Mihren as head of the palace during the absence of her son expelled Kara Hatun accusing her of treason. the sultan respected his mother Mihren so when he returned from the countryside he accepted his mother's decision, without reluctance.

Kara, however, became pregnant with Selim, so she returned to Maşami. She gave birth to her first and only daughter Beyhan Sultan for the purpose of 1540, weakening Roxana's status, because Kara was the mother of the Sultan's only daughter. The rivalry between Kara and the other concubines made itself felt in the harem, according to Navagero's report, following the bitter rivalry in the harem a brawl broke out between Roxana Sultan and Kara Hatun, with Roxana beating Kara. The quarrel angered Selim, who, according to Necdet Sakaoğlu, cut Roxana's salary.

Selim and Roxana continued to see each other in common, as Mihren Sultan and Roxana were also quite friends. In 1542 she gave birth to her last son Şehzade Ahmed. Since his last son, Orhan had died so suddenly this time Roxana makes sure of her son's safety.

In 1556 Selim's sons were all over 10 years old, this caused them to take the field and disagreements started between the three princes for succession. In 1560 Kara Sultan's son also left with his mother to govern a province. Roxana, however, unlike Mahidevran and Kara, did not leave Maşami when her son was assigned a province, so she became the only Haseki present in the palace in 1560.

In 1562 the news reached the palace that Şehzade Kasim had a son with a prostitute, when Roxana found out she took the opportunity to put Selim against her son Kasim, Selim ran to his son in Ladrisa. When Selim came to Ladrisa, Kasim was in bed with a concubine. Selim in a fit of anger killed the concubine in the room and ordered his son Kasim, still naked, to kill the prostitute. When Roxana suppose the story she is said to have laughed and organized a party in the harem, when Selim returned to the palace she saw the party and got angry with Roxana and sent her with her son to Tasya.

## Years in Tasya

Roxana was sent to Tasya by her son in 1562. Here she took over the reins of the harem, taking the place of her son's guardian, Saliha Hatun. Roxana always keeps an eye on her son by means of Aghas and Pashas residing in Tasya.

Roxana witnessed the birth of Kamerhan Sultan daughter of Çirife Hatun and her son Ahmed. It is known that Roxana opened Çirife a lot, probably because she saw herself in her again.

In 1570 after some time that her husband Selim died she was informed of the death and left immediately for Maşami.

## Death

Arriving in Maşami she was exiled to the Old Palace and her son Ahmed was executed by the Sultan. Roxana was devastated and thanks to the aga she managed to escape and settled in the court of her brother Ivan the Terrible dying in 1588.