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Moslems, the Turks recognized that a man may take many wives, that he can get rid of unwanted ones and take others at will, but that he can only have one mother, and it is she, therefore, who occupies the uni que place of honor in the harem which nothing but death can alter. The sultan’s most personal and private belongings, especially his women, are entrusted to her. Thus the power of the sultan-valide was enormous, not only in the harem, but throughout the entire empire. Naturally, a ceaseless warfare arose between the sultan- valide and the sultan’s favorite concubines and among the concubines themselves for the position of mother of the next sultan. For if the sultan-valide was strong and her son weak, it was she who would rule not only the harem, but the empire as well. Once she had borne Suleiman her first son, Roxo lana was third in rank in the harem after the sultan- valide and Gulbehar, whose son Mustafa Suleiman saw as his rightful heir. Soon, however, it was rumored that the Sultan was not only interested in sharing his bed with this Ukrainian concubine, but enjoyed spending hours talking to her, discussing problems of state while walking with her past the ornamental ponds and through the gardens with their tame gazelles and ostriches. Roxolana, it seems, was quick-witted and far-sighted as well as very pleasant and there is no doubt that Sulei man eventually came to seek her advice on significant matters of state. This was an important new develop ment in harem politics. There is little doubt that Roxolana loved her lord, but she was determined to protect her position in the harem and to protect her children in the event that Gul- behar’s son, Mustafa, eventually came to the throne. (Fraticide was a common way of dealing with succes sion since there was no law of primogeniture among the Turks.) Before long there was serious trouble between Roxolana and Gulbehar whom Suleiman continued to visit. After one of Suleiman’s visits to Gulbehar’s private apartments, so we are told, Roxolana flew into a rage and the two women had a stand-up fist fight. A jealous Roxolana forced her way past the black eunuch guards into Gulbehar’s sitting room with its gold-leafed walls and physically attacked her. In fact, before the two girls fighting on the floor could be separated, Roxolana had got the worst of it. Gulbehar had torn out some of her hair and had scratched her severely on the face. This defeat in a fist fight was a blessing in disguise for Suleiman’s new favorite. For several days Roxolana refused to appear before the Sultan, using the perfectly valid excuse that her face was disfigured. At the same time, she was careful to make no complaint against the rival. In the end, Suleiman gave in and turned against Gulbehar — "her lord,” according to a report by Pietro Bragadino, the Venetian envoy, ’’not concerning himself with her anymore.” Meanwhile, Roxolana bided her time. When Gulbe har’s son Mustafa reached the age of majority, he was appointed governor of the Province of Magnesia and his mother went with him, spending much of the year away from the capital. Shortly afterwards, the sultan-valide died, and Roxolana succeeded in convincing Suleiman to marry off most of his other harem girls. Roxolana found herself in fact, if still not formally, first woman of the harem, a position she made more secure by having Mustafa (and his mother) sent even further away. If Suleiman dearly loved Roxolana, his people did not. A European observer wrote: ”He bears her such love and keeps such faith to her that all of his subjects marvel and say that she has bewitched him, and they call her the ziadi (jadi), or the witch. On this account the army and the court hate her and her children, but because he loves her, no one dares to protest: for myself I have always heard everyone speak ill of her and of her children, and well of the first born (Mustafa) and his mother.” It was not yet time for Roxolana to strike out directly against Gulbehar or Mustafa. Roxolana did, however, have other enemies who were in a less secure position. In particular, the Grand Vizier Ibrahim, who had served the Sultan loyally for thirteen years, stood in the Ukrainian girl’s way to com plete control over Suleiman. Of course, over the years, Ibrahim had made many enemies. Moreover, his close friendship with the Sultan and his many years in power were beginning to make him overconfident. At a recep tion in 1533, foreign envoys were required to kiss the hem of the Grand Vizier’s robes before offering gifts to him. Ibrahim made an astonishing speech to them. ” lt is I who govern this vast empire,” he said. “What I say is done; I have all the power, all offices, all the rule... If ever the great Sultan wishes to give or has given any thing, if I do not please, it is not carried out. All is in my hands, peace, treasure, war." Turks carrying off Slavic prisoners of war. From a 16th century engraving. (Illustration from Zaporozhtsi, 1993). НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЖОВТЕНЬ 1995 17
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