The Harem

The Turkish word harem is derived from the Arabic haram, which means “forbidden” or “sacred” or something forbidden or kept safe. Contrary to popular Western point of view, the harem was not a brothel, or a place where men kept their wives primarily for their sexual satisfaction. It was rather a secluded home where wives, children and all female relatives lived.  In Ottoman households, the men also had rooms reserved for them, called selamlık.

The harem at Yildiz Palace

The Imperial harem (also known as the Seraglio) was the combined households of the Sultan’s Mother (Valide Sultan), his wives, concubines and odelisques. Each of these households also lodged servants and eunuchs. Because it was a luxurious environment – a world in and of itself – the Imperial harem has often been referred to as the “golden cage.” 

Hurrem Sultan (1500-1580) wife of Sultan Suleiman. A Russian, she was captured at age 20 and sold as a slave. She achieved power and influenced the politics through her husband and played an active role in state affairs of the Empire.

The Valide Sultan had utmost authority over the harem and ruled over all of the other women and their servants. Often of slave origin herself, she arrived with pomp and circumstance upon the ascension of her son, and claimed her title and position. She was in charge of regulating the relations between the sultan and his wives and children and nobody was allowed to enter or leave the harem without her permission. There were several instances in the history of the empire when the Valide Sultan held the political power to influence state affairs. 

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An odalisque

Many of the concubines and odalisques of the Imperial harem were reputed to be among the most beautiful of women in the Ottoman Empire. Young girls of extraordinary beauty were sent to the Sultan's court, often as gifts from the governors. Others were captured in war or obtained from neighboring countries. Numerous harem women were Circassians, Georgians, and Abkhazians. They were usually bought from slave markets after being kidnapped or sold by impoverished parents. Many Georgian and Caucasian families encouraged their daughters to enter concubinage through slavery, as that promised to be a life of luxury and comfort.

When women or girls first entered the harem, they were deemed odelisques – or general servants. Odelisques were trained in all the arts – dance, poetry and music – in order to be groomed as potential concubines. Many were assigned to various mistresses of he harem – to be servants to either the Mistress of the Robes, or the Keeper of Baths, or Mistresses of hair. If they were of extraordinary beauty and talent, they would be presented to the Sultan as concubines and this gave them the opportunity to rise through the ranks of harem hierarchy.

If a concubine became a wife, the Sultan would gift her with apartments, slaves and eunuchs, as well as jewels and other luxuries – all in proportion to the Sultan’s affection for her.

Neslişah Sultan, Imperial Princess, was exiled to France when she was 3 years old. She married an Egyptian Prince and returned to Turkey later in life. At the time of her death, Neslişah was the most senior Ottoman princess.

Fehime Sultan (2 August 1875 – 15 September 1929) was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan Murad V and his wife Meyliservet Kadınefendi, an ethnic Circassian