Women's Roles In The Ottoman Empire

Despite the common understanding that women are not fit to lead, especially in Islamic countries, the Ottoman Empire, one of the greatest and strongest in the world made a great use of women as leaders. These women that marks the Ottoman history were all operating in the shadow of a male Sultan, however the public was well aware of their important role. The Sultanate of Women (Kadınlar Saltanatı) is the 130 years period where women ruled the Ottoman Empire by using their full political and diplomatic power. The Sultanate of Women go against the belief that many male rulers tried to spread; women are no fit to rule. This paper will tackle the issue of the sovereignty of woman in the Ottoman Empire. Women are believed to be less fit to rule over

The royal concubine, at least the favorite one (sultans could have undefined numbers of concubines, one one wife and 4 favorites) was called the “kadin”. The Queen Mother was designed as Sultan; The Valide Sultan. Both of these women were powerful and had many times influenced the internal and external politic of the Empire.

The inability of women in political milieu and their “biologically inferiority” was one of the arguments against the legitimation of women’s authority and power. In Islamic book as well as more secular writings, male authors do not think twice before degrading and diminishing women. One extremely influent vizir Nizam al-Mulk mentioned in his book (Book of Government) that women should not be in position to rule because of their “incomplete intelligence”. Nizam al-Musk like many other, used Islamic stories and thorn their apart in order to come out with what would benefit them more. Aisha was the third and preferred wife of Muammad the prophet. She had a great influence on people because of her natural strong and leadership-oriented mind. However, when the Prophet died he rejected the proposition made by Aisha in which she would take his role and tell the prayers in the Mosque. This story has been used many times to “prove” that women are not fit outside the home and especially in important position. Of course many scholars wrote about

Marrying one of the harem women was an incredible chance to upgrade its own status. Valide Sultans and Kadin gathered information and used them in ways to obtain their wishes granted. The Harem was a “holy” place in order to enter the Ottoman court, the women there were more important than simple prostitutes as observed by the western perspectives. They hold enough power to make Viziers and chief of armies jealous.

Maria Pia Pedani in “Safiye’s Household and Venetian Diplomacy” mentions the change in mindset and the increasing importance of women in the Ottoman Empire diplomatic and politic world. “During this period, the so-called kadınlar saltanatı, the old relations between slaves and sultan were changing and new forces were gaining power. This was not only a period of Valide sultans, but also of sisters and daughters of sultans, and the female relatives of other important state officials also acquired political