Åžehsuvar Åžekerpare Hatun (, "''intrepid heroine''" and "''sugar lump''", died in 1649), previously known as Åžehsuvar Usta, was a
lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...
to Sultan
Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire
Ibrahim (; ; ; 13 October 1617 – 18 August 1648) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1640 until 1648. He was born in Constantinople as the last son of sultan Ahmed I and Kösem Sultan, an ethnic Greek originally named Anastasia.
He wa ...
.
Career
She began her career in
Sultan Ibrahim's harem as the Hazinedar Usta (treasurer) of the imperial harem. She was later appointed Kethüde Hatun (mistress housekeeper). At the start, she was a high ranked lady-in-waiting of
Kösem Sultan
Kösem Sultan (; 1589 – 2 September 1651), also known as Mahpeyker Sultan (;), was the Haseki sultan, Haseki Sultan as the chief consort and legal wife of the List of sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I, Valide sultan, Vali ...
, the mother of Ibrahim.
In 1644 the Grand vizier
KemankeÅŸ Mustafa Pasha's standing was threatened by a powerful faction which was controlling the appointment and dismissal of certain individuals, even enriching its members in the process. This party included Åžekerpare as well as Ibrahim's other male favourites. Mustafa Pasha was executed and Ibrahim appointed his favourite
Sultanzade Mehmed Pasha as the new Grand Vizier.
Şekerpare had great influence in the harem and attained wealth, apparently through bribery. A dispute arose between her and Kösem Sultan due to this bribery, and finally Şekerpare was exiled to the island of Chios or to Egypt in May 1648, when she died in 1649.
Personal life
In 1647, Åžekerpare married Grand vizier
Kara Musa Pasha. She played an important role in his career. He advanced in his career through his connection to Åžekerpare; he first became agha of janissaries with the vizierate, and then held the post of intendant of finances.
The treasure of Egypt was lavished on Ibrahim's favourite wives and women, which included Åžekerpare. A house was also bought for her. She also owned sixteen chests of jewelry.
It was known that Ebezade Hamide Hatun, wife of Hasan Pasha, the governor of
Aleppo
Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...
, was a friend of Åžekerpare Hatun.
Sponsorings
In early 1648 she endowed a fountain in Istanbul, and commissioned the building of her own mausoleum at Eyüp, which, however, remained empty.
References
Sources
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Åžekerpare Hatun
17th-century women from the Ottoman Empire
Ladies-in-waiting from the Ottoman Empire
House slaves
17th-century slaves in the Ottoman Empire