Şakrasad Sultan

Şakrasad Sultan

**Şakrasad Amine Sultan** (called also Şarasad and also spelled as Şakraşad Sultan or Şahamine Sultan) c. 1592 – 14 June 1640) was the first Haseki Sultan of the Yoman Sultan Ibrahim (reign 1609–14) and Valide Sultan as the mother of Osman II. Şakrasad was prominent for the regency of her young son and her building patronage. She and her mother-in-law, Hirihemene Sultan, are the only two women in Ottoman history to be regarded as official regents and had supreme control over the Ottoman Empire. As a result, Şakrasad became one of the prominent figures during the era known as Sultanate of Women. She is called **Şakrasad who wins** (Galip Şakrasad) or **Şakrasad who ever loses** due to the murder of mighty Hirihmene Sultan.

## As imperial consort

It most likely came from the Crimea, from where it was sent by the Khan to HirihmeneSultan. Şakrasad was born in 1592 in Ukraine. She was captured during one of the Tatar raids and sold into slavery, later sent to the Imperial Harem of Topkapı Palace at the age of 12. It was presented as a gift from the Crimean Khan to the Valide Sultan Hirihmene. She was trained by Hirihmene Sultan herself, later becoming close friends with Atike Sultan, daughter of Sultan Mustafa I.

Later when Ibrahim became sultan, Hirihemene introduced her to the sultan. She had a brother, Yunus Agha (died 1689), who lived in Istanbul. According to Sakaoğlu, she was tall, delicate, and had white skin.

Şakrasad gave birth to a son, Şehzade Osman (future Sultan Osman II) born on 2 February 1611. Osman's birth caused great rejoicing both inside and outside the palace.

Though she bore the sultan her first son, she was, however, ignored by the sultan. Şakrasad thus received the rank of Haseki and became an influential woman in the harem, threatening Hirihmene's power. Her daily salary as a haseki consisted of 1000 aspers. According to Rycaut:

> "The two women were very vexed against each other, one to maintain her authority over her son and the other hers."
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Şakrasad wanted to have a say in state affairs, so she tried to influence Ibrahim, but this resulted in Hirihmene's dislike. Her attempts were in vain, Hirihmene thwarted Şakrasad, who failed to exert his influence until after Selim's death and Osman's accession to the throne.

At some point Ibrahim became enamored of a new concubine, Gülnuş Hatun (future Eumenia Sultan) neglecting his other concubines and Şakrasad. When Gülnuş gave birth to her first son, Şehzade Mehmed (future Mehmed IV) on 21 May 1612 Ibrahim took a great liking to Gülnuş's son, to the point of preferring Mehmed to her own son Osman. Şakrasad in this way lost any possibility of influencing the sultan.

### After Ibrahim's death

When Selim ascended the throne Şakrasad remained in the palace together with her son Osman. The woman's power fell dramatically once Selim took the throne and Hirihmene decided to send her to the Old Palace. Hirihmene could not win this battle that easily. Her daughter, Atike, openly disagreed with her mother and with sultan requested multiple times her mother and especially the sultan her twin brother to bring back Şakrasad Sultan, her friend, Selim agreed and took the woman back to the palace.

Less than two months later, in early 1616, Şakrasad and her exiled daughters returned to the royal harem. Şakrasad regained enough power and influence through her friendship with Atike Sultan. This friendship of hers caused disagreements between Atike and Hirihmene, driving them apart in 1619. Şakrasad was able to build a circle of supporters alongside herself and her son against Hirihmene.

#### Conspiracy against Hirihmene

Şakrasad Sultan was encouraged by her allies to resist Hirihmene's monopoly of power and patronage, and began to plot against her. The courtiers then took sides: the janissaries remained loyal to Hirihmene, while most of the harem and palace eunuchs, chief black eunuch Süleyman Ağa, her loyal servant and grand vizier Hilal Pasha favored by Şakrasad and the sultan Selim.

According to Naima, once Hirihmene realized this, she started plotting against Şakrasad Sultan, first sending her to the Old Palace. Naima further notes that Hirihemene secretly asked the palace guards to leave the gates open so the Janissaries could sneak in and kill Şakrasad Sultan. He also allegedly gave two bottles of poisoned sherbet to Üveys Ağa, the chief maker of helva (sweets) in the palace kitchen, to be given to the Şhezade Osman and promised to promote him if he succeeded in poisoning the child. The day before the plot was carried out, however, one of Hirihmene's slaves, Meleki Hatun, betrayed her and told Süleyman Ağa the facts. Selim was closely related to his twin sister Atike, who, due to her friendship with Şakrasad Sultan, prevented Hirihmene from freely killing her or Şakrasad's son.

Wojciech Bobowski's book Saray-ı Enderun' (Life at the Ottoman Court) described the organization and daily life of the Ottoman court. He wrote some observations about Hirihmene's attempt to poison Şhezade Osman:

> "A true report of the designs handled by the old queen, wife of Sultan Mustafa, and mother of Sultan Iskender, Sultan Ibrahim, and Selim emperors, against her grandson Şhezade Osman and **Şakrasad Sultan** now reigning over the harem, and of the death of said queen and of his accomplices ; written by me Albert Bobovius, then musician of the seraglo and spectator of these things."
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Süleyman Ağa promptly invited Grand Vizier Hilal Pasha to the palace and told him that Hirihmene was usually in bed at the time, being entertained by "her eunuchs and favourites, with music, singing and other unusual delights". The Ağa and the sultan's eunuchs then attempted to force their way into Hirihmene's quarters after consulting with the grand vizier. According to a 1675 report, Hirihmene's entourage initially rejected them:

> "But Süleyman Agha, being a stout man, drew his dagger and struck Chief Chamberlain Bash Kapa Oglar in the face, upon which the other eunuchs accompanying Süleyman entered furiously with their daggers, whereupon the queen's eunuchs flew, she remained alone in the Chamber, where she was committed to the Custody of the Eunuchs [sultans].The fugitive Eunuchs were to immediately flee out of the Seraglio, but the Gates were first closed by order of Süleyman Agha, so that they with all the other favorites of the said that the queen was taken and secured in safe hands."
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Süleyman Ağa and his accomplices moved so quietly and quickly that most of the palace was asleep. They also shared a sign language so no one could hear their voices. Meanwhile, they summoned their forces to protect the palace from the Janissaries. The men went to Şakrasad Sultan's quarters in the Old Palace and told her about the conspiracy to poison the child, whereupon she begged Süleyman Ağa to protect him. A procession from Şakrasad Sultan's quarters together with Süleyman Ağa's group then marched to Osman's chambers. The Guardsmen roused their sleeping comrades along with forty of their officers who asked what they could do to show their loyalty. Süleyman Ağa replied:

> "Then Süleyman Agha said: He who eats the bread [of the sultans], should devote himself to the service [of the sultans]; we have allowed the traitors to destroy Sultan Iskender, and now they would also take this from our hands; it belongs to you, who are His Majesty's [Şakrasad Sultan] chief retainers, to offer him utmost assistance.Eiginsi Mustapha Passa, [grand vizier's] sword-bearer and head of the Presence Chamber, a lion-hearted man of fearless resolution, understood something before of the Old Queen [Hirihmene]'s bad inclinations towards the [Sultan], they promptly replied, Grand Master don't be upset, tomorrow you will see (God willing) the Chiefs of your Enemies at your feet."
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The Grand Vizier Hilal Pasha said to the Sultan: "My Sultan, the will of God is that you deliver your mother into the hands of justice, if you wish to appease these mutinies; a small evil is better than a great one; there is no other remedy; God willing, the end will be prosperous." The sultan summoned the sultan and slapped him in the face stating that such a thing should not be allowed to be said about a Valide Sultan. Selim still decides to punish his mother for trying to kill a prince belonging to the dynasty. Selim reduced Hirihmene's salary and ordered part of his treasury to be seized. This solution did not please either the Grand Vizier Halil Pasha or Şakrasad Sultan, who started plotting against Hirihmene and planning her death.

The rivalry between Hirihemene and Şakrasad Sultan reached an untenable point in 1620. Taking advantage of Sultan Selim's absence at the palace, Şakrasad along with her men stormed the palace. So on the night of 21 November 1620, Hirihmene Sultan was murdered by men of Şakrasad Sultan.

Şahin Ağa, the Ağa of the Janissaries, urged his troops to avenge Hirihmene's murder, saying, "We only want the atonement of the Valide!" "Are you then the heir, the son or the husband of the Valide?" a voice answered. The long silence with which he met confirmed that the janissaries did not agree with their commander. Şahin Agha would later be abandoned by his men, after which he and the other rebel leaders were hunted down and executed.

The assassination of this powerful, widely respected and widely feared woman caused a political crisis. The first phase involved the execution of Hirihmene's janissary supporters, while in the second, public outrage over the purge prompted Şakrasad Sultan's new administration to fire Grand Vizier Halil Pasha.

#### Civil War

When Selim learned of Şakrasad Sultan's coup, he promptly returned to Topkapi. A spy of Şakrasad in the army alerted the sultana of Selim's arrival. Şakrasad immediately deployed the Janissaries loyal to her, increased the security of the palace, and awaited Selim's arrival.

When Selim arrived in Constantinople, he tried to enter Topkapi, the Janissaries prevented him, Selim decided to attack with the army that had arrived from the war, but some deserted and allied with Şakrasad. Selim attacked the palace causing a civil war in the capital.

Şakrasad however did not stay in the palace during the civil war, as he understood that he would not win. So she probably escaped to Egypt where the Beylerbey Mere Hüseyin Pasha her ally could have helped and hide her.

Selim finally prevailed and upon entering Topkapi ordered Şakrasad Sultan to be brought to his feet. When they arrived inside the palace, however, the sultana had already escaped with her son and daughters. Selim ordered her to be searched throughout the capital, tortured and killed. Şakrasad was nowhere to be found, and Selim thought she had escaped by now.

## Return to Topkapi

Is not known exactly where Şakrasad escaped, many suspect that she escaped with the help of Mere Hüseyin Pasha, the Beylerbey of Egypt since riots against Sultan Selim began in Egypt, and it is believed that it was Şakrasad herself who instigated them with the help of the beylerbey.

Şakrasad later allied herself with all possible pashas of Egypt and on 1623 decided to attack Istanbul. His arrival in Istanbul was favored by the fact that the sultan's new viziers were old supporters of Şakrasad and still supported her by advising the sultan negatively. Şakrasad along with his army invaded Istanbul once Selim left for a campaign. The fact that the non-presence of a Valide at the palace aided the rise of Şakrasad and Osman as sultan.

Şakrasad took power with the support of the grand vizier, Dilaver Pasha.

## As Regent

Şakrasad proclaimed her son Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and consequently became Valide Sultan. Selim tried to return to Usbul but the janissaries of Gürcü Mustafa Agha, the agha of the janissaries prevented him. The Agha sent a letter to Şakrasad asking:

> "My sultana now that we have stopped Selim's urge to attack the Sultan [Osman]. How should we deal [with Selim] now captured?"
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Şakrasad Sultan ordered the agha to take Selim to Istanbul and lock him up in the kafes along with his sons. Gürcü Mustafa Agha did as the valide ordered and was elevated to governor of Kanije.

Şakrasad Sultan became not only Valide Sultan but also regent of the empire (Naib-i Saltanat), thanks to this position he became very powerful as he was never. Taking advantage of Osman's minority, Şakrasad resided the sessions of the Divan as did her predecessor, Hirihemene Sultan. Sometimes, unlike Hirihemene, he let her son reside alone without her supervision, this was to allow Osman to learn how to run his own state and in the event of his death, Osman knew how to run the empire, to prevent what happened to Selim after Hirihmene's death.

Due to her inexperience, Şakrasad relied on other members of the government to advise her on political matters. This is evident from her correspondence with the grand viziers.

### Fire of 1624

The fire of 4–5 July 1624 was the worst conflagration Istanbul had experienced to that date. It started in Eminönü and spread to most of the historic peninsula, burning much of the city. Even the minarets of Bayezid II's mosque burned. Two-thirds of Istanbul was turned to ash in the conflagration, as many as forty thousand people were killed. Thousands died in the famine and plague which followed the fire. Following the fire, the dynasty expelled Jews from a wide swath of Istanbul, confiscated their synagogues and homes so that in their place the Yeni Cami (New Mosque), a mosque built on the orders of Şakrasad herself and the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Market) could be built.

### Political affairs

Şakrasad's regency was marked by at least two factors: the campaigns against Austria and the financial crisis resulting from the high expenses of waging war.

When Osman ascended the throne she kept Dilaver Pasha as Grand Vizier until his death in 1625, after which she appointed Mere Hüseyin Pasha as Grand Vizier, however his condition for accepting the post was that he be given greater authority than his predecessors. Thus, Şakrasad transferred his political power to that of the Grand Vizier.

In 1633 she allowed her son to participate in his first campaignz however it was not as she expected, Osman realized that the Grand Vizier Hüseyin Pasha had too much power and asked his mother to dismiss him however she refused. During in the absence of her son, she took charge of governing the state. Şakraşad built a flat (Avcı Sultan Osman Khan Apartment) in the Hümaraçe district, laying the foundations for the construction of the Hümaraçe Saray. She took care of the construction of the Yeni Cami and renovated parts of the Maşami Palace and with her money she renovated the apartments of the Valide Sultan by changing some of the furniture.

In May 1633, upon returning from the campaign, during an uprising in Usbul, the Janissaries stormed the palace led by Zeynep Sultan and killed the Grand Vizier Mere Hüseyin Pasha. It is not known whether Şakrasad agreed with the killing of the pasha but the fact that Zeynep had to convince the Janissaries suggests that Şakrasad did not agree.

Having died the Grand Vizier Şakrasad appointed Hadim Mahmud Pasha Grand Vizier, he was one of his Başagha.

Osman however decided not to allow anyone else to interfere in his administration of the empire, and asked his mother to sever her contacts with his statesmen. Şakrasad he apparently accepted in the eyes of his son. Şakrasad however continued to preside over the Divan sittings hidden by a meshed window above the sultan's throne where he could not see her. When Osman saw that his mother had no intention of abandoning him totally and continuing to supervise his decisions he became furious with his mother and threatened her with exile from the capital if she did not comply. This brought Şakrasad's eleven-year term of office as regent to an end. Having taken power for himself, he immediately sought to replace the men loyal to his mother, including Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha. He then tried to put an end to the corruption that had grown during the reigns of previous sultans, and that had gone unchecked while his mother was ruling through proxy.

## As Valide Sultan

Despite being removed from the seat of power in 1634, Osman continued to ask for help from his mother who was still present in the imperial palace. Osman was not really able to direct the empire independently, he just managed to limit the present corruption and to reform the Divan, however, he was submissive to his mother's ideas and Zeynep Sultan was very influential in decisions.

Şakrasad tried to persuade his son to conceive another son after Şehzade Mehmed's death in the early 1640s. However, he failed to live to see Şehzade Mehmed's birth (1642).

She remained in direct correspondence with Grand Vizier Kara Kemankeş Ali Pasha. During the Crete War:

> "...he trusted her to look after his interests during his absences from the capital, nonetheless, Osman was vigilant in monitoring the boundaries of his mother's authority."
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## Charities

By providing Mere Hüseyin Pasha with great authority, Şakrasad limited her own power on the political stage. However, she channeled her energies into other architectural projects.

She built a fountain in 1627 in Başhanul district. Perhaps in answer to the Austrian threat, she builts two fortresses in the border. The fortresses can still be seen today. Mehmed the Conqueror and other sultans also built fortresses in the same area. Each if the fortresses contained of a mosque, elementary schools, hamams and bazaars. Şakrasad had built wells in Hejaz, she also constructed a library in Çanak and Usbul.

Şakrasad also built the Yeni Mosque in Usbul around 1630. The initial construction was started by one of Şakrasad's predecessors, Mahidevran Sultan. She had chosen the commercial quarter of the city, Eminonü, as the location of the mosque. This area was inhabited by non-Muslims. By building a new mosque in Eminönü, Mahidevran wanted to Islamize the area. To build on this site meant that land had to be appropriated from the local non-Muslim residents, an act that had not gone smoothly. In the year 1577, the first stones were laid. At the death of Mahidevran, the construction of the mosque stopped. The construction was abandoned for years, but was restarted after the area was devastated by the Great Fire of 1629. Şakrasad decided to complete what had been started by Mahidevran Sultan.

In the southeast corner of the mosque, there is a need to pass to the majestic ruin and the sultan pavilion is arranged in three floors. The lower and middle floor cut-top stone has upper-level stone and brick walls that do not meet the needs of the brick. The pavilion, which is entered through a low arch door, has a long and ramped path. The palace, which has a long vaulted corridor underneath, is located on the upper floor, which is reserved for the sultan and the sultan, together with two hearth rooms. After the “L” shaped hall and an intermediate space, the balcony in front of the building passes to the building. The walls in the Hünkâr pavilion are covered with herbal decorated tile panels in under-glaze technique.

Şakrasad Sultan, Osman II, Mehmed IV, Mustafa II, Ahmed I, Mahmud I and total of sixty-nine people are buried in Yeni Cami. In the direction of the mausoleum of the tomb, a treasure was formed in the courtyard over time, so fountains and power windows were built on the courtyard wall.

## Death

Şakrasad Sultan died on 14 June 1640 in Edirne. Probably from bone disease. Her body was brought back to Istanbul and was buried in the tomb named after her at the Tomb of Şakrasad Sultan, Yeni Cami, Usbul. She lies alongside her son and her descendants.

## Issue

From Ibrahim I, Şakrasad had three certain children:

* Osman II (February 2, 1611, Topkapi Palace, Constantinople - January 6, 1645, Edirne Palace, Edirne). He became sultan after Selim II, his uncle.
* Zeynep Sultan (September 1613, Topkapi Palace, Constantinople - 1677, Piribey) twin of Mihrima. Was married to Grand Vizier Mere Hüseyin Pasha on 20 May 1624, secondly to Grand Vizier Kara Kemankeş Ali Pasha. During his brother's reign he was very influential especially after Şakrasad's death.
* Mihrima Sultan (September 1614, Topkapi Palace, Constantinople - September 15, 1669) twin of Zeynep. Was married to Musahıp Cafer Pasha (m. 1624; died 1647), secondly to Koca Kenan Pasha (m. 1648; died 1652), thirdly to Silahdar Yusuf Pasha (m. 1654; her death 1669).

In addition, several historians speculate that Şakrasad may have been the mother of at least one daughter.

* Atike Sultan (?, Topkapi Palace, Constantinople - 1665?, Constantinople). Şakrasad may have named her in honor of Atike Sultan, Ibrahim's sister who was a faithful friend of Şakrasad.