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Suleiman and Roxolana from an old European engraving. The Latin inscription encircling Roxolana reads: "Rossa, wife of Suleiman". (Illustration from Z ukrainskoi starovyny, 1991). foreign policy in favor of peace and friendship with her homeland, the Kingdom of Poland. For example, in a letter to the Polish king, Sigismund Augustus, a letter frequently quoted by Slavic historians, Suleiman refers to “Your sister, my wife” and expresses his wish for good relations between the two monarchs. By this phrase, Suleiman was obviously referring to the fact that Roxolana was by origin a compatriot of the Polish king. In any event, throughout Suleiman’s reign rela tions between Poland and the Ottoman Empire remained peaceful. Tatar raids on Ukrainian territories continued, but the Tatars always acted somewhat independently of the central power in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Roxolana’s influence continued to grow. Finally, some seven years after the execution of Suleiman’s friend, the Vizier Ibrahim, Roxolana gained a supreme hold over the Sultan by achieving the appoint ment of Rustem Pasha as Grand Vizier. Rustem Pasha had married Roxolana’s daughter by the Sultan, Mih- rimah, and was thus Suleiman’s son-in-law. Rustem was industrious and competent and as the Sultan aged, he more and more relinquished the reins of government to his new Grand Vizier. Thus did Roxolana approach the zenith of her power. However, the problem of Mustafa remained. He was handsome, bold, and well-liked by both the people and the army and Suleiman continued to see him as his rightful heir. As long as Mustafa was alive, Roxolana’s sons, Selim, Bayezid, and Jehangir, would have no chance at the throne and their lives might even be in danger. Roxolana was determined to gain the throne for her own eldest, Selim. Her chance came when Suleiman entered his six tieth year. A great war with Persia was in progress and the Sultan was refuctant to lead his troops in person. From the front, Rustem was reporting that the soldiers were murmuring against the Sultan, saying that he had grown too old to lead them and calling for Mustafa. Rus tem declared that Mustafa was listening too favorably to such sedition and that Suleiman’s throne was in danger. Within the harem, Roxolana seconded Rustem's accusa tions. Suleiman, however, was delayed by moral scruples as to what action he should take against his favorite son. He therefore put a theoretical question to the reli gious leader in Istanbul, the Sheik-ul-lslam. He asked him what punishment a trusted servant who schemed against his master, even plotting his destruction, de served. The Sheik-ul-lslam replied that he deserved to be tortured to death. On receiving this opinion, Suleiman hesitated no longer. By midsummer of 1553, he was at the head of his troops in Asia Minor. On September 21, he sum moned Mustafa to his headquarters. The friends of the Prince suspected danger and begged him not to go, but Mustafa proudly replied that if he were to lose his life, he could wish no better than to give it back to him from whom he had received it. Mustafa boldly set up his tent next to that of his father and calmly took the salutes of the officials that he met on his way to the Sultan’s pres ence. On his entrance, he was strangled with a bowst ring by special servants delegated for the task. Sulei man waited and listened behind a curtain. He had executed his eldest and favorite son. The death of Mustafa left nothing in the path of Roxolana’s family to supreme power. But the favored wife of Suleiman the Magnificent did not live to see one of her sons on the throne. In April, 1558, she died. Suleiman built her a respectable tomb next to a great mosque that he was constructing. And when some years ’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЖОВТЕНЬ 1995 19
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