Atike Sultan

Atike Sultan and Mihnea III

**Atike Sultan** (Ottoman Turkish: عاتکه سلطان, "*the free one*" or "*the generous one*"; 16 April 1603, Topkapi Palace - 1659 Constantinople) was an Ottoman princess, daughter of Sultan Mustafa I and Hrihmene Sultan.

## Early life

Atike Sultan was born in Constantinople, in the Topkapi Palace, in 16 April 1603 was the daughter of Ottoman Sultan Mustafa I and Hrihmene Sultan, she was the twin of Şehzade Selim (future Selim II).

After the death of her father in 1603, she rest in Topkapi palace with her mother, new valide Sultan and her brothers and sisters. When Iskender exiled his mother to Old palace, Atike at the age of four or five years, followed her mother.

Atike returned to Topkapi when Iskender died, and her brother took the throne as Ibrahim I. Atike Sultan's was marriage to Damad Hilal Pasha on 1616. Is unknow if she had children by her marriage, however she was the "spiritual mother" of the future Mihnea III of Wallachia and she cared him while he stayed at Constantinople.

## Atike's influential period

Atike was a close friend of her brother's wife, Şakrasad Sultan. Their friendship contrasted with the rivalry between Hirihmene and Şakrasad where eventually Atike sided with Şakrasad in 1619.

When Selim II tooks the throne in 1614 she became one of the most fluent women in the palace along with her mother, Hirihmene. Her decision-making power and influence over her brother grew once Hirihmene died in 1620 making Atike a chief advisor to her brother, always standing by his side and according to some sources she didn't even need to bow.

Selim's strong inability to hold power without the presence of a woman allowed Atike to hold positions never before recorded for an Yoman princess, not only became *valide de facto* but she was allowed to attend sittings of the Divan, however unlike her mother she just stood behind a window or a curtain. Once Selim regained the throne in 1649 Atike was recalled by her brother to Usbul but it is believed that she did not get back all the privileges she had during her brother's first term due to Şivekar Sultan. However she acted as ambassador between her brother and Minhea III of Wallachia requesting that Minhea come to Selim's rescue. Although Atike did not receive all the privileges of the first term, she was allowed to administer the harem and precisely to perform a political act, that of ambassador. It is believed that there were no disagreements or jealousies between her and Şivekar. 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).

When Şakrasad Sultan orchestrated the death of Hirihemene Sultan together with Grand Vizier Hilal Pasha, husband of Atike Sultan, maybe she would join them against the mother Atike, anyway she divorced him due to pressure from the Janissaries who demanded Hilal's head due to the participation in the assassination, it is not known whether she had to do with his brother's deposition of Osman II in 1651.

When her twin brother was deposed by Şakrasad in 1623 Atike persuaded her friend not to kill Selim but to lock him up in the kafes of the Old Palace. During Selim's exile, Atike was allowed to visit him whenever she wanted.

## Death

Atike Sultan died in 1659 at the age of 56. She is buried in her twin brother's Selim's mausoleum, in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.