The personality of Hurrem Sultan, the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, has been the subject of much debate in Ottoman history. This was reported by Upl.uz.
One of the most significant events that reflects the complexity of her legacy is related to the heir apparent, Prince Mustafa, being unable to marry Aybige Hatun, the niece of the Crimean princess. This event demonstrates the multifaceted nature of political games and had far-reaching consequences beyond personal interests.
This planned dynastic alliance was of strategic importance. Mustafa's first favorite, Mahidevran, marrying Aybige Hatun, who came from the lineage of the Crimean khans, would not only strengthen the military-political alliance between the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanate but also serve to elevate the status of the prince and his mother in the palace.
For Hurrem Sultan, however, this situation posed a serious threat to her own children's chances of claiming the throne. Yet, the situation became even more complicated due to personal relationships.
Aybige Hatun was opposed to a politically motivated marriage and her affection was directed towards the famous military commander of the empire, Malkoçoğlu Bali Bey. This very situation led to Hurrem Sultan's actions being influenced.
Based on her influence and deep understanding of palace psychology, Hurrem engaged in conversations with Aybige, urging her not to give up her true feelings. During this process, rumors spread about plans for Aybige to elope with Bali Bey.
Whether there were indeed plans to elope or if this was a skillfully orchestrated false information, the result was that Mustafa's marriage to Aybige was annulled. This was a serious blow to Mahidevran and Mustafa's supporters.
Historians evaluate Hurrem's actions in two different ways. Some see her as a savior of Aybige in an unfortunate situation.
According to them, marrying Mustafa would have condemned Aybige to an unhappy life, as the prince had many wives, making it difficult for her to be the primary wife. At the same time, Mustafa's subsequent fate is also significant evidence.
Suleiman suspected him of treason and ordered his execution. According to Ottoman laws, when a claimant to the throne was killed, his male descendants were also to be eliminated.
Thus, Hurrem's intervention is considered to have saved Aybige's life. On the other hand, many historians regard Hurrem's actions as politically motivated and part of a well-thought-out strategy.
She orchestrated this event to weaken Mustafa and his family. This was part of her strategy to eliminate rivals in her quest to place her own children on the throne.
From this perspective, this action is assessed not as a rescue but as a skillful political maneuver to weaken a rival. This event illustrates how personal drama in the Ottoman palace can manage political changes and highlights the necessity of evaluating the actions of historical figures from various perspectives.
Hurrem Sultan's original name is not known, but according to Polish sources, she was called Aleksandra or Anastasiya Lisovskaya. Suleiman referred to her as "Hurrem," a word that means "cheerful" or "laughing" in Persian, reflecting her vivacity.
