When it comes to the fate of historical figures, the issue of preference between being forgotten in solitude and early death is sometimes discussed. This was reported by Upl.uz.
In the context of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, this question becomes particularly relevant, as the final years of the lives of Hurrem Sultan and Mahidevran Sultan are compared. The famous television drama "Magnificent Century" does not fully reveal their subsequent events, leaving an important time layer off the air.
In the "Magnificent Century" series, the death of Hurrem Sultan is depicted as a great mourning in the Ottoman state. Sultan Suleiman's decree to stop musical performances and extinguish instruments indicates his personal and state-level loss.
At this time, in the distant city of Bursa, Mahidevran Sultan lived deprived of political influence and having lost her son. According to historical sources, both women held significant positions in the sultan's palace.
Mahidevran Sultan was active as the mother of Prince Mustafa, while Hurrem Sultan was initially the sultan's favorite and later became his official wife. Their long-standing rivalry was marked by deep hatred, and there was almost no possibility of reconciliation between them.
However, the historical events are more complex and interesting than depicted in the series. Hurrem Sultan died in 1558.
Historians note that she was approximately 55 years old at the time of her death. She passed away in conditions befitting her status in the sultan's palace and was by Suleiman I's side in his final days.
After her death, a prolonged mourning period ensued in the palace, and entertainment events were temporarily banned. Mahidevran Sultan, however, lived on even after Hurrem Sultan and even after the death of Suleiman I.
Although she was deprived of political influence and protection, she lived for a long time. When Hurrem Sultan's son Selim II ascended to the throne, he did not pursue Mahidevran Sultan; instead, she was granted a status and a state pension, and permission was given to build a tomb for Prince Mustafa.
Historical sources indicate that Mahidevran Sultan lived approximately 22 years after Hurrem Sultan, with her death occurring around 1580 or 1581. Among the reasons for her long life are said to be fewer childbirths and a decrease in stress levels in the palace.
Nevertheless, her long life was not a triumph of the world but rather a quiet and solitary existence. The series concludes her life early, while historical events remain as a long-lasting epilogue.
The tomb of Prince Mustafa, built on the order of Mahidevran Sultan and with the permission of Selim II, still attracts the attention of historians and history enthusiasts today. Historians evaluate Selim II's action not only as an act of compassion but also as a political move aimed at overcoming the political divisions during his father's reign.
