This is a list of Consorts of the Ottoman sultans, the wives and concubines of the monarchs of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

who ruled over the transcontinental empire from its inception in 1299 to its dissolution in 1922.

Honorific and titles

Hatun

Hatun Hatun or Khatun ( otk, 𐰴𐰍𐰣, Katun, ota, خاتون, Hatun or قادین ''Kadın'', uz, xotin, fa, خاتون ''khātūn''; Mongolian: , ''khatun'', хатан ''khatan''; ur, خاتون, hi, ख़ातून '; bn, খাত� ...

( ota, خاتون) was used as an

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...

for women in the

Ottoman period The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

, roughly equivalent to the English term ''

Lady The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...

''. The term was being used for the Ottoman sultan's consorts. When the son of one of the consorts ascended the throne she became ''Valide Hatun'' (Mother of Sultan).

Sultan

Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...

(سلطان) is a word of Arabic origin, originally meaning "authority" or "dominion". By the beginning of the 16th century, the title of

sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...

, carried by both men and women of the Ottoman dynasty, was replacing other titles by which prominent members of the imperial family had been known (notably ''hatun'' for women and ''bey'' for men), with imperial women carrying the title of "Sultan" after their given names. Consequently, the title "Valide Hatun" also turned into "Valide Sultan". In this time, the title "Haseki Sultan" was created and used for the legal wife or Chief Consort of the Ottoman Sultan. For example, Hafsa Sultan, Suleiman's mother and first

valide sultan #REDIRECT Valide sultan {{redirect category shell, {{R from move{{R from miscapitalization{{R unprintworthy ...

, and

Hürrem Sultan Hurrem Sultan (, ota, خُرّم سلطان, translit=Ḫurrem Sulṭān, tr, Hürrem Sultan, label=Modern Turkish; 1500 – 15 April 1558), also known as Roxelana ( uk, Роксолана}; ), was the chief consort and legal wife of the Ottoma ...

, Suleiman's legal wife and first haseki sultan. This usage underlines the Ottoman conception of sovereign power as family prerogative. Towards the end of the seventeenth century the title hatun and sultan for imperial consorts was replaced by Kadın and Ikbal.

Kadın

Kadın Kadin or Kadın may refer to *KADIN, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry * Kadin (name) * Kadın (title), for an imperial consort of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire *Kadin Island in southeastern Alaska * Kadin Jelovac, a village in Bosni ...

( ota, قادين) was the title given to the official wives of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The title officially first came in use during the reign of Sultan Suleiman II. The Sultan could have up to four and some times five women i.e. wives with the imperial rank of Kadın and unlimited number of wives with the rank of Ikbal.

Ikbal

Ikbal ( ota, اقبال) was the title given to the official consorts of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who came below the rank of Kadın.

Consorts of the Ottoman sultans

Honorific and titles

Hatun

Sultan

Kadın

Ikbal

Consorts of the Ottoman sultans

See also

Notes

References