The series “The Magnificent Century” immersed Russian viewers in oriental fairy tales for several years. Romance and intro
How concubines were prepared: secrets of the Sultan's harem
17:30 December 29, 2016The series “The Magnificent Century” immersed Russian viewers in oriental fairy tales for several years. Romance and intrigue! Dozens of beautiful women and, most importantly, men. Largely under the influence of the multi-part masterpiece, the young Muscovite went to Turkey, married a local macho and entered Istanbul University. It was here that she discovered sensational documents that helped develop a unique weight loss complex. Yana Bai-Lilik shared the details.
Minus 10 kilos
“The university was built on the site of the Old Palace, where the sultans’ concubines were trained in the Middle Ages. Including Suleiman the First, who is shown in the series. I wanted to study all the documents from that period that have survived to this day.
When I read the household books of the harem, I realized how many inventions there are in the “Magnificent Century”. That is, writers, artists, and now directors embellish everything. For the sake of a beautiful story.
The real life of concubines was three hundred times more boring. But how many useful things they did with themselves to remain beautiful and slim! They had already developed entire complexes of proper nutrition (the rule of seven meals was in effect in the harem) and reasonable physical activity. So that beauties do not pump up their abs, but remain feminine.
I lost 10 kilos of excess weight on this diet. I hope that the invaluable experience of medieval beauties will also be useful to modern women.”
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
Brunettes are trending
In fact, the word "harem" is translated as a protected area. That is, a place where all men except the Sultan are prohibited from entering. Well, and eunuchs (although they don’t count). This is not just a hostel. There was a fitness center, a beauty salon and an institute for noble maidens all rolled into one.
The books record that selection was strictly monitored in the harems. It was not for nothing that they brought beauties from all over the empire. Or there captives were captured in raids on neighboring countries. There was a clear plan: how many new girls were needed per year. What color should the hair be? According to statistics, 85–90 percent were given to brunettes. There were significantly fewer blondes. But red-haired beauties were considered taboo: in the Middle Ages, rulers saw them as the embodiment of demonic forces. By the way, look at what all the winners of the Miss World contest look like, for example. You will see the same trend!
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
Where will we make the waist?
You will be surprised, but the height of the girls was not particularly important. The main thing is that they are slim. Many Russian tourists have probably seen fat animators who perform belly dancing in Turkish hotels. So they have nothing in common with those beautiful concubines who lived in the harem.
Sultans valued hips and waist. And, oddly enough, they paid almost no attention to the chest. The ideal difference between waist and hips was described as 2/3. This fits well with the modern 60/90 beauty ideal.
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
Walk, or better yet run
The Sultan's harem had about 500 rooms. And also a huge park. Concubines were forbidden to ride in a carriage (with the exception of the ruler's beloved wife). I had to walk everywhere. And this was only the first of the medieval fitness activities.
Every day there were competitions in the park - one girl ran away, clutching a scarf or handkerchief in her hand. The rest were caught. The one who managed to deftly snatch the handkerchief from the driver became the queen of the day. She was allowed rude treatment, massage and other cajoling. The reward was magnificent, since only the winner of the race and the concubine who was preparing for the night with the Sultan were allowed to participate in such procedures. This is understandable, there was a crowd of people (up to a thousand women lived in the harem at the same time), and they couldn’t all fit into the steam room.
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
Dance while you are young
And there was also dancing. We danced a lot until the orchestra fell from fatigue. Contrary to popular belief, concubines did not know anything other than belly dancing. But the books record that during classes they learned up to 20 different dances, all with heavy loads.
Both at rehearsals and in front of the Sultan, the girls wore heavy bracelets on their wrists and ankles, and sometimes also necklaces. Or you could simply hold oranges or pomegranate fruits in your hands... Try dancing in this mode at least 2-3 times a week - an amazing effect.
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
Don't swim behind the buoys
Another type of physical activity is swimming. The concubines splashed in three large pools on the territory of the harem. It is believed that in the 15th century there were already some elements of water aerobics: girls did stretching in pairs with each other. By the way, it was at the pool that the Sultan watched his beauties and compiled a list of contenders. For Wednesday - Thursday - Friday, for example.
But most importantly, all these exercises - walking, running, swimming and dancing - did not require any superhuman effort. Everything happens as if by itself, and the effect is amazing. Modern girls can enjoy it and at the same time become slimmer.
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
Rule of seven meals
1. In the morning, the girls drank ayran on an empty stomach. In Turkey they prefer it salty, but it can be replaced with regular one.
2. Breakfast: boiled eggs, chicken, vegetables, fruits. And again ayran, but with greens chopped into it.
3. Coffee break. Coffee in those years was considered a drink only for the elite. And women were generally forbidden to drink it. An exception was made only for the Sultan's concubines. Dates and raisins were usually served with coffee.
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
4. Lunch. There was the obligatory soup - vegetable (like Minestrone) or lentil. They also served meat, olives and thin lavash rolls stuffed with cheese and herbs. By the way, stuffed olives (with salmon, lemon and other delicacies) are very popular now, so this idea was invented in the harem of Sultan Suleiman. Historical fact.
5. Another lunch. But already fishy. As well as octopus and other seafood. And again, vegetables, cheese (most often feta cheese) and olives.
Important! In harem books, the consumption of portions is indicated. Girls were not allowed to eat more than 250 grams per meal. And the plates were small, so as not to lead into temptation.
Photo: still from the series “The Magnificent Century”
6. Dinner. Most often just fruit. But those who went to the bedchamber of the Sultan (and several spare concubines) were allowed to drink coffee.
7. At night, another glass of ayran with herbs.
The concubines limited themselves only to sweet pastries. It was permitted only the next morning, after a night in the Sultan’s chambers. Before noon! Considering how rarely concubines entered the lord's bedroom, many of them had not eaten cake for years.
Features of national cuisine
Turkish cuisine is ideal for those who want to go on a diet.
Firstly, everything is cooked in olive oil, which is not only tasty, but also very healthy.
Secondly, they use the most dietary meat - lamb, veal and chicken.
Vegetables in large quantities are also a plus. Especially baked eggplants (after all, babaganoush was also invented in the Sultan’s harem).
One can also note the passion of Turkish chefs for yogurt, with which they actively flavor everything. Even meat is cooked in yogurt.
Not much is known about how the first Ottoman sultans lived. Turkish scientists to this day, literally, piece by piece, collect information about the rulers themselves, their closest relatives, wives, etc.
The more time passes, the more difficult it is to find true information regarding the first Ottomans.
So, it is still not known exactly how many wives and children the first rulers, Osman and his son Orhan, had. However, according to the discovered historical data, it can be assumed how exactly marriages took place in the early Ottoman beylik.
It is known that Osman’s tribe was not so strong, as a result of which neighboring states did not want to marry off their noble girls to the sons of the Sultan. Men had to choose between neighboring tribes, as well as some Christian peoples, with whom either there was a war, or, on the contrary, there were good neighborly relations.
As we know, a Muslim has the right to have four wives, but in conditions where marriage is sometimes the only opportunity to conclude a peaceful union, such a restriction is very problematic.
Accordingly, it was decided to take foreigners into his harem, giving women all the same rights as official wives with whom the nikah was concluded.
One of the European scientists who is interested in the history of the Ottoman Empire is A.D. Alderson claims that Orhan, the son of Osman, had 6 women in his harem. All of them were women of noble origin: some of them were Byzantines, including the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor John VI, one was the daughter of the Serbian King Stephen, and two local women, including an uncle’s cousin.
Thus, harems were a necessity, which later became traditions. As the empire grew, there were more and more women in the harems, and most of them did not come of their own free will, as in the case of Orhan’s family, but were brought from military campaigns and were captives.
But, as we know, each such slave had a chance to become a mistress.
Did the Sultan only want virgins?
Girls from different parts of the planet came to Topkapi Palace. From everywhere the Ottoman army reached, the soldiers brought women of different origins and ages to Turkey. Among them were rich merchant women, poor peasant women, noble ladies, and rootless girls.
However, not everyone ended up in the Sultan’s harem. Girls for the ruler were chosen according to several criteria at once, in addition to beauty. This includes a healthy body, healthy teeth, beautiful hair and nails. Fair-haired girls with light brown hair and untanned skin were highly valued.
The figure was also important - the slave should not be too thin or overweight. A thin waist and wide hips, a small tummy were valued, but no one really cared about breast size.
Having thoroughly studied the girls at the slave market, they selected the best. They were sent for examination to a doctor, where their health and virginity were checked again. The last parameter was especially important, because each of the slaves could subsequently become the Sultan’s concubine.
Yes, the purity of a woman was important to the Sultan. Despite the fact that a slave is far from a legal wife, her main purpose remained the birth of an heir. Like any eastern man with a hot temperament, the Sultan could not allow the possibility of a connection with a previously used girl.
Moreover, the girls had to keep secret even the fact that while living in their homeland they were engaged or in love. It was necessary to maintain the appearance that the Sultan was the only man interested in his concubines.
However, in addition to virgins, older women, or young women who were already living a family life, were also taken into the harem. They were needed for housework, cleaning, and cooking.
Were there non-virgins in the Sultan's harem?
The girls for the Sultan's harem were carefully selected. Not only beauty was important, but intelligence and the ability to present oneself. Of course, there were certain standards that a concubine had to meet. These standards were generally known, so if the slave traders came across a suitable girl, they already knew who to offer her to.
As a rule, girls no older than 14 years old were selected. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska fell into the harem at the age of 15 - and this is quite late, for this reason there are many rumors around her life before Suleiman. But she got into the harem already trained in everything necessary, which is why she so quickly ended up in the Helvet of the young Sultan.
But let's return to the concubines. Most often, these were very young girls, from whom they “molded” what the Sultan liked. But it is also known that there were older women, and even those who had already been married and had children.
Of course, they were not suitable for the Sultan’s chambers, but they still remained in the palace as laundresses, maids and cooks.
However, there is some evidence that several of the Sultan’s concubines, once in the palace, were no longer virgins.
For example, it is assumed that Safiye Sultan originally belonged to a noble pasha, and then was transferred to Murad II, as the Sultan really liked it.
It is also known that Selim I stole from the Safivid Shah Ismail one of his wives, Tajla, who remained in the Ottoman harem for several years, but was later given to one of the political figures.
Not only Muslims, but also Orthodox princes had harems
The people have the opinion that harems are a primordially Eastern tradition. It is assumed that polygamy is characteristic only of Muslims, and Christians have never practiced such a thing.
However, such a statement is fundamentally incorrect. Even in the Bible we find lines about King Solomon that say “...and he had 700 wives and 300 concubines...”. In general, King Solomon is considered the richest man in the entire history of the Earth, so he could well afford to support such a huge number of women.
As for Rus' specifically, here monogamy began to be instilled only after baptism, and this took more than one century.
It is known that Prince Vladimir could match any Ottoman Sultan with his voluptuousness.
Vladimir had several official wives: Rogneda, who bore him four sons and two daughters; there was also a wife - Greek by nationality, who gave birth to a son; there were wives from the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. In addition, there are 300-500 concubines in Belgorod and Brestov. It is also known that Vladimir did not stop there. He could easily point to any girl he liked, and she was immediately taken to his chambers.
After the baptism of Rus', Vladimir calmed down. He disbanded his harem and even divorced his wives, leaving only one of them. He married the rest to his closest associates.
It took Rus' itself a lot of time to put an end to its “lustful” past. Even several centuries later, many peasants continued to practice polygamous marriages, although the church did not marry them.
Rights of slaves in a harem
Despite the fact that society has a stereotype that states that in the East a woman is a creature without rights, in reality this is far from the case. Of course, we are not discussing countries such as Afghanistan, where only the name remains of religion.
If you study the history of developed Muslim states, it becomes obvious that the attitude towards women there is very stilted. Yes, there are some peculiarities that seem to a European either eccentricity or immorality, but it should be understood that these are completely different laws of life.
For example, take harems. The Sultan's harem is a place where hundreds of women, gathered under one roof, wait for their turn to spend the night with the ruler. Some waited for years and were left with nothing.
However, it's not all that bad. Girls who did not get to the Sultan were married to noble pashas, they were provided for by rich devotees. And, moreover, if they wanted, they could get a divorce and even ask to return to the harem, as a servant or kalfa, for example.
Every girl received an education. Over the years of living in the harem, she accumulated a good fortune, because everyone was paid a salary.
The fact is that a Muslim, regardless of his position, taking a woman into his possession, also took upon himself the obligation to maintain her. He had to dress her, feed her deliciously, and treat her well.
And, meanwhile, a Muslim could not take any woman into his harem. Either it had to be a legal spouse, or a prisoner captured in war. A Christian or Jewish woman could not get into a harem, being a free woman.
And, by the way, the harem slaves could also communicate with their relatives. This was not prohibited, but on the contrary, it was encouraged. Islam does not approve of breaking family ties, so the girls could easily correspond with relatives.
The position of a slave who became pregnant by the Sultan
The ultimate dream of every girl living in the Sultan's harem was the birth of a child to the ruler. Pregnancy opened up completely new opportunities for slaves, increasing their status and living conditions. Although the girls of the harem were already taken care of in the best possible way.
Nevertheless, the slaves dreamed of going to the Helvet. To achieve this, any tricks and even bribery of eunuchs were allowed in. It should be noted that the latter had a very good income from the harem girls.
However, the concubines did not enter the harem in a chaotic order, but in accordance with which of them was capable of conceiving a child. Each girl had to keep a calendar where she noted her menstrual cycle and its features. If the Sultan summoned a girl to him not intentionally, but at the discretion of, for example, a eunuch or Valide, then the one who, according to calculations, was ovulating, was sent to his chambers.
After some time, if the concubine reported menstrual delay, she was taken to the doctor, who, based on the results of the examination, reported whether there was a pregnancy.
If a slave was pregnant, she was housed in separate chambers. She received gifts and decorations from the Sultan and Valide, and a maid was given to help her.
The birth itself often took place in the presence of several midwives; a male doctor could communicate with the woman in labor and give instructions only through a screen.
The pregnant favorite was taken care of in the best possible way. The girl herself prayed to give birth to a son for the Sultan, that is, a shahzade. Girls in the ruling family were loved no less, but the birth of a son brought the slave to a different level. The boy could participate in the struggle for the throne. True, if this struggle was defeated, then the Shahzadeh, as a rule, faced death. But they tried not to think about it.
Why did slaves sleep in the same room?
Topkapi is a huge palace complex, the size of which is comparable to a small town. The main Topkapi Palace was very functional. The residence of the ruling sultan, the kitchen, and the harem were located here. It was the latter that aroused the most interest, both among the Turks themselves and among guests of the capital.
At different times, there were up to several hundred slaves in the harem. And only a few of them had a privileged position, while everyone else had to be content with less.
Thus, only the Sultan’s favorites lived in their own chambers. The rest slept in one large hall. Here they had meals, spent leisure time, and even celebrated holidays.
In the series Magnificent Century, the same large room was shown where the life of the concubines took place. However, the question arises, for what reason did all the girls live together?
There were several reasons for this. Firstly, it was less expensive in terms of landscaping and heating.
But more importantly, it was easier to keep track of the slaves. Calfs and eunuchs had to control everything that the concubines did. The rules of behavior in the harem were very strict, so constant supervision was required. God forbid, the concubine would commit some indecent act. Even the harem duty officer could have paid for this with his life.
If the girls had separate rooms, it would be much more difficult to keep track of them. Thefts and quarrels would become more frequent; concubines, having felt freedom, would not be afraid of relationships with eunuchs and male servants.
Nobody wanted such problems. So the life of the slaves was arranged as simply as possible.
Did the Sultans sleep with black slaves?
The original function of the harem was to prolong the line of the ruling sultan. Each ruler had to have at least about ten sons in order to provide himself with heirs.
Unfortunately, a large number of shahzade eventually led to fighting between them, and even fratricide. But, apparently, so that the brothers would not be so offended by killing each other, the rule was introduced: “One concubine - one son.”
The Sultan's concubine could be of any nationality. For a long time, fair-haired rulers born from Slavic and European women sat on the Ottoman throne. But over time, Circassian women came into fashion, and the sultans “darkened.”
However, there were never black concubines in the harem. That is, they were used very successfully as servants, since they were hardy and unpretentious, but they were not destined to get into the Sultan’s chambers.
Of course, it was a matter of succession to the throne. A black sultan could not ascend to the Ottoman throne.
And in general, black women were perceived by Turkish men as something exotic, but completely unattractive. Since ancient times, Turks have had a lust and interest in fair-skinned and fair-haired women.
But, of course, it cannot be ruled out that occasionally the sultans did sleep with black women.
By the way, as for Turkish TV series about the reign of the sultans, we didn’t see black women in the Magnificent Century, but in the Kösem empire we were still shown what place they occupied in the hierarchy of the harem.
Why did men dream of marrying a girl from a harem?
As is known, the Sultan's harem could number from several dozen to several hundred young and beautiful girls. Slaves were brought here from all over the world, each of whom was distinguished not only by beauty, but by intelligence and many talents.
It would seem that if the Sultan invests so much money in ensuring that his slaves are the best women in the country, then they can belong exclusively to him. But this issue is not so simple.
Indeed, they put a lot of effort into raising concubines, and money into their maintenance. But at the same time, not every slave was lucky enough to get into the Sultan’s chambers on the Helvet, and giving birth to an heir is generally happiness.
So dozens of young healthy women were left, as they say, not destiny. A few were destined to become favorites, while the rest whiled away their days studying, sewing, and music lessons.
Such an idle life could not continue forever. By the age of 19-20, the girl was approaching the threshold when she was no longer considered young. Yes, yes, at that time girls matured by the age of 13-15. At this age, they were quite capable of conceiving children and were already coping well with childbirth.
As a result, it turned out that dozens of girls of “advanced” age simply lived in the palace, without any benefit or benefit. At the same time, each was smart, educated, knew how to play musical instruments, danced beautifully, cooked - well, in general, a miracle, not a woman.
What to do with such a miracle? The only way out is to get married. Oddly enough, suitors lined up for such a beauty. At the same time, they didn’t even look to see if the girl was a virgin. Even if she was once with the Sultan, but was not in favor, there was still a groom for her.
Moreover, even those concubines who gave birth to a child to the Sultan could be given in marriage, but that one, let’s say, was not destined for a long life. These girls also found their family happiness outside the walls of the palace.
Why would life in a harem seem like hell to you?
There is a false opinion among people that life in a harem was pure pleasure for a woman. No worries, there are caring eunuchs around - and you know, eat sweet delight, and satisfy the Sultan, if he even remembers about you, because there are hundreds of people like you.
However, it was precisely the latter fact that often led to bloody events in the harem. Oddly enough, for the Sultan’s slaves the main goal in life was to get to the Helvet to the ruler. It would seem that there is every chance to quietly sit out in a harem, and after 9 years successfully marry some rich pasha - but no, the concubines were not happy with this prospect.
The girls fought a fierce battle for the ruler's attention. Each wanted to become his favorite and give birth to an heir, or, at worst, a girl.
What is the reason for such an unbridled desire to become a sultana? After all, not every ruler was handsome, and many were so - not only were they not distinguished by beauty, but they also had a lot of addictions - alcoholism, opium addiction, and some were generally mentally retarded.
Obviously, most women were attracted to the possible prospects. The truth is that for some reason few people cared about the future fate of their children. After all, the Fatih law was in force in the palace, which allowed the Sultan to kill all male heirs in order to rid the country of possible unrest.
One way or another, women used every opportunity to attract attention to themselves. Rivals were eliminated in the most cruel ways - poisoned, strangled, damaged, etc.
Agree, it is a very dubious pleasure to while away your life in such conditions. But there were still those who wanted it.
In what cases could a concubine become free?
Spectators of the Magnificent Century remember that Suleiman granted Hurrem freedom, and then married her, making her his legal wife. In fact, such a practice was so rare before Suleiman that such cases are only legendary. It was Suleiman’s descendants who began to marry one after another, and their ancestors treated this with great skepticism.
However, the concubine could still receive the long-awaited freedom and become an independent woman.
Surely you already guessed what was required for this. Yes, give birth to a son for the Sultan. However, this alone was not enough. Then it was necessary to wait until the Sultan left this world. He will give his soul to God, in other words.
Only after the death of her master did the concubine become free. But if her child died in infancy, and the Sultan was still alive, healthy and his business was prosperous, she still remained a slave.
A clear example of such situations is Makhidevran and Gulfem. As we know, both lost their children during the Sultan’s lifetime, never receiving freedom.
However, all this looks quite simple only in theory. In fact, it turned out that after the death of the Sultan, his concubines, who gave birth to sons, not only did not receive freedom, but were also sent to the Old Palace, unable to see their children, who meanwhile lived for years in cafes - golden cages.
Only a few slaves managed to live to see their sons become sultans. Then they were returned with honors to the capital's palace, where from now on they were free and ruled the harem.
The real position of concubines in the Sultan's harems
The Sultan's palaces are shrouded in many secrets, most of which are not usually remembered in Turkish society. Much of what is known about the life of the people of the medieval Ottoman state is kept, as they say, under seven seals. And only the descendants of the sultans themselves, their courtiers and employees know how the people of that time actually lived.
These stories are passed down from generation to generation. It is not customary to distribute or make them public. However, we still learn more and more facts every day.
So, one of the most important questions that worries people of our time is how the concubines actually lived in the harem? All over the world there is an opinion that the harem is a kind of place of debauchery and vulgarity, where the sultans satisfied their lust.
However, in fact, it is completely wrong to compare a harem with some kind of brothel. In reality, up to several hundred women could live in a harem at a time. These were young girls who came here, usually at the age of 13-15 years. And if you are now thinking about child molestation, then you are mistaken.
In the Middle Ages, as we know, women matured earlier. By the age of 15, the girl was ready to start a family and become a mother. And in the harem, by this age, girls were taught everything necessary to not only be able to please a man, but also to be a full-fledged member of society.
The girls were taught language, literacy and various skills. And by the time the training was over, the slaves were so accustomed to their position that many did not even think about another life for themselves.
The girls from the harem were treated quite carefully, taking care of their mental and physical condition. They were well fed, dressed in the best clothes, and given jewelry. After all, any of them was a potential favorite of the Sultan, capable of giving birth to a shahzade.
But such a pastime also had its downsides. The first is huge competition. And as a result - constant intrigues, conflicts, reprisals.
At the same time, the behavior of the girls was monitored quite strictly. Any mistake could lead to depressing consequences, even severe punishment.
What could have caused the anger of the overseers, whose role was played by eunuchs and calfs? Any quarrel, God forbid - a fight, a disrespectful look, loud laughter. Yes, yes, laughing and having fun loudly in the palace was strictly prohibited. And not only for girls and servants, but even for members of the Sultan’s family.
As for those girls who were lucky enough to give birth to a child for the Sultan, their lives were a little more interesting. However, not everyone was lucky. Plus, there was a rule according to which after the birth of a son, a slave could no longer visit the ruler’s chambers. Only a few managed to occupy a significant place in the heart of the Sultan and be something more than an “incubator” for the gestation of shahzade.
In a word, the fate of the harem girls was not the most enviable. Living in luxury, each of them was limited in her own will. Birds in one big golden cage.
Everyone probably saw the famous photo with an ugly, fat woman, supposedly the beloved wife of the Sultan, and many had the opinion that all the women there were like that, if this one was the beloved. And that's a lie. A harem is a variety of faces, bodies and images. However, see for yourself
This is the same photo that formed the opinion of many about harems. Now let's see if this is really so
These photos are circulating on the Internet with the caption “Harem”. In fact, these are photographs of male actors of the first state theater created by order of Shah Nasereddin (a great lover of European culture) at the Dar el-Funun Polytechnic School in 1890, who performed satirical plays only for the palace nobility.
The organizer of this theater was Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Naggashbashi, who is considered one of the founders of modern Iranian theater. Since women were prohibited from performing on stage, these roles were performed by men. The first women appeared on stage in Iran in 1917.
And here are real photos of women from the harems of the sultans of different periods. Ottoman odalisque, 1890
There are few photographs, because, firstly, men were prohibited from entering harems, and, secondly, photography was just beginning its development, but some photographs, paintings and other evidence have been preserved that only the most beautiful were selected for harems representatives of different nations.
Women in a harem, 1912
Woman in a harem with a hookah, Türkiye, 1916 
Women from the harem going for a walk. Photo from the Museum of Peru (Istanbul) 
Concubine, 1875 
Gwashemasha Kadin Efendi, wife of Sultan Abdul Hamid II 
Her mother, Geverin Nedak Seteney, together with her sister, was kidnapped by Turkish slave traders around 1865 in Circassia, shortly before devastated by Russian troops, and sold into slavery in the harem of Sultan Abdul Aziz I. On the way to Istanbul, Geverin's sister, not wanting to be slave, threw herself overboard and drowned.
Circassian women were especially popular in harems for their beauty and grace.
Painting by the French orientalist artist Jean-Leon Gerome “Circassian woman under a veil”, painted by him during a trip to Istanbul in 1875-76. The painting supposedly depicts Nedak Setenei, the mother of Gwashemash.
Gulfem Hatun (Ottoman: گلفام خاتون, Turkish: Gülfem Hatun) - second concubine of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman, mother of Shehzade Murad, Circassian
A very young Circassian woman in the Sultan’s harem 
Khyurem Sultan, the same Roksolana (1502-1558) was his concubine-favorite, and then the main and legal wife of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent 
Princess Durru Shewar (1914 - 2006) Princess of Berar and Imperial Princess of the Ottoman Empire, wife of Azam Yah, eldest son of the seventh and last Nizam of Hyderabad 
And look not at children and members of the royal family. What a beauty! Durrüşehvar Sultan, daughter of the last caliph Abdulmecid Efendi and grandson of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz 
Princess Begum Sahiba Nilufer Khanum Sultana Farhat 
Nazime Sultan and Caliph Abdulmecid Sultan 
Ayse Sultan (Osmanoglu) II. She is the daughter of Abdulhamit 
Dürrüşehvar Sultan with his father and husband. 1931 
And here are photos of real Turkish women (period 1850-1920). Not in a harem, however, but the Turks clearly had someone to choose from for a wife 
But in reality, the harem was a real nest of snakes, where intrigues were woven, and people, without sparing, were used up.
“Smart Magazine” invites you to look into the palace of the Ottoman Sultan and find out how concubines were threatened by lesbian relationships and what sexual positions even the Sultan was forbidden to use.
Why are there eunuchs in harems?
The harem was usually located on the top floor of the front of the house and had a separate entrance.
In the minds of Europeans, life in the Sultan's harem (seraglio) consists of luxurious rooms, baths, fountains, incense and, of course, erotic pleasures.
In fact, only the rooms of the Sultan's family members and the most beautiful concubines - favorites - shone with luxury. Most of the inhabitants of the harem - rejected or not yet presented to the Sultan - huddled in modest rooms. African maids also lived there, there were kitchens, pantries and laundries. For example, the harem of Sultan Selim III, who lived in the 18th century, consisted of about 300 rooms.
The official wives of the ruler lived in separate houses, among servants and wealth.
The sultanas, by the way, did not rest on their laurels, but loved to lead an active life: they built schools, mosques, helped the poor, and purchased water for pilgrims to Mecca.
Where did eunuchs come from?
Supervision of the harem and the connection of the concubines with the outside world is maintained with the help of eunuch slaves - representatives of a special court caste. Literally, “eunuch” is translated as “guarding the bed,” although the range of their responsibilities was much wider.
Eunuchs supervised the maids, managed the household, kept records and books, maintained order, and punished concubines, for example, for lesbian relationships or for relationships with other eunuchs.
Usually they were bought from slave traders at the age of eight to twelve years and the procedure of castration was performed on them - complete or partial removal of the genitals in order to eliminate possible sexual relations with the concubines. After castration, the boy’s bleeding was stopped, the wound was sterilized, and a goose feather was inserted into the ureter so that the hole would not become overgrown.
Eunuch of the Ottoman Sultan, 1870s
Not everyone could endure such a barbaric procedure, but the survivors cost a fortune, and only very wealthy families could afford a castrato servant. They were purchased in the hundreds for the palaces and taught the Turkish language and military affairs.
Eunuchs were either “black” or “white”. “Black” eunuchs were brought from Sudan and Ethiopia, and “white” ones from the Balkan Peninsula. It was believed that black boys were more resilient and better able to withstand painful emasculation.
How concubines were selected
Future concubines for the Sultan's harem were acquired at the age of six to thirteen years. Since Islam does not allow Muslims to be enslaved, most slaves came from the Christian provinces of the Ottoman Empire.
By the way, girls were not always forced into the harem. Often their parents sent them there, signing an agreement to completely abandon the child. For poor families, this was the only chance to survive and give their daughter a chance.
The girls were “molded” into ideal interlocutors and lovers: they taught the Turkish language, music, dancing, and writing exquisite love messages - depending on their abilities.
But each of them was necessarily taught the main thing - the art of giving a man pleasure.
When a girl reached puberty, she was shown to the grand vizier (a title conventionally corresponding to a minister), and if he did not notice any obvious shortcomings in her, she became a potential concubine, but only the most beautiful and smart could get into the main harem.
Of course, most never managed to end up in the Sultan’s chambers, but if they wanted, girls could make a court career, become matrons, or look after the treasury. Some concubines could live in a harem without ever meeting the owner.
If a girl still managed to become a favorite, this did not mean that a fabulous life awaited her in luxurious chambers, because in fact she remained a powerless slave. One of the concubines of Suleiman the Magnificent was executed because she dared not to appear to the Sultan when he was waiting for her, someone was caught stealing, someone was killed for shameless behavior (which, however, could consist of the fact that the woman spoke louder laid down).
If after nine years the concubine did not become one of the Sultan's wives, she was released, married to one of the officials and provided with a large dowry.
Of course, everyone dreamed of becoming the ruler’s favorite or even the mother of the new heir. Yes, yes, in the Ottoman Empire, a child conceived from a free man and a concubine was equated to a legitimate child.
Sisters and wives of the last ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Abdul Hamid II
It turned out that with such a wide choice, the Sultan was never left without an heir.
However, this principle made the transition of power very bloody. When one of the sons inherited the throne, the first thing he did was order the death of his brothers. There are known cases where even pregnant women were killed so that their unborn children would not become rivals in the struggle for power. Afterwards, a law was passed prohibiting the shedding of the sacred blood of royal persons within the walls of the palace, so the victims of palace intrigues began to be strangled with a bowstring or a silk scarf.
To guarantee the life of herself and her son, the favorite must certainly place him on the throne. Otherwise, her son will be killed, and she will be sent to the “Palace of Tears.”
How were the nights of love
Sexual relations between the concubine and the Sultan took place in accordance with strict regulations. If the Sultan wanted to listen to a musical instrument play or watch a dance, then the senior wife or the chief eunuch would gather all the concubines who were skilled in this matter and conduct a kind of “casting.” Each in turn showed the Sultan her skills, and the owner chose the one with whom he would share the bed.
The chosen one was taken away and her preparations began for the night of love with the Sultan.
They washed her, dressed her, did makeup, hair removal, massage and, of course, tested her knowledge of the material - where and how to please the Sultan.
Nights of love took place in the presence of Ethiopian maids, who made sure that the torches illuminating the bed did not go out.
Typically, lovers used the position in which the man was on top. It was forbidden to use positions that resembled animal mating or any kind of perversion. However, the amount of lovemaking performed by the concubines more than compensated for the monotony of the poses.
Despite the colossal number of wives and mistresses, the Sultan never spent the night with more than one of them at a time.
The schedule according to which the favorites ascended to the Sultan's bed was drawn up by the chief eunuch. If the beauty was skillful and passionate, then the next morning she would find next to her the clothes in which the owner spent the night with her. Usually an expensive gift or a large sum of money was wrapped in the clothes.
The end of the Sultan's harem
In 1908-1909, Turkish revolutionaries put an end to the monarchy, forcing the last autocratic ruler, Abdul Hamid II, to abdicate, and the crowd hanged the chief eunuch of his harem from a lamppost.
All the concubines and junior eunuchs ended up on the street, and the Sultan's palace was turned into a museum and opened to the public.
The Turkish chronicler Dursun Bey once wrote: “If the sun were a man, even he would be forbidden to look into the harem.”
The harem was a haven for several hundred odalisques (concubines) and the ruler's wives. Only selected members of the Sultan's family had access there, and the most famous of the harems was the Istanbul Seraglio Palace, which was a small city of amazing beauty, surrounded by high walls and having its own guards. The Seraglio had about 400 rooms in which more than 2,000 beauties lived.
However, getting into the harem was very difficult. It was a careful selection, and random girls never ended up there. A strict number of brunettes and blondes were selected for the harem, and Slavic appearance was also highly valued. Most often, attention was paid to the hips and waist, while height and bust size were of secondary importance.
But not only appearance was important - having a tenacious mind was always welcomed. After the girl managed to get into the harem, a two-year general education course awaited her: it was inappropriate to approach the Sultan unprepared. The concubines studied languages, the Koran, literature, danced, learned to play various musical instruments, composed poems and even knew how to fill the Sultan's pipe.
The training course also included knowledge of the intricacies of body care - odalisques knew how to prepare this or that mask and what to rub themselves with. The girls were also taught to dress properly and choose jewelry. In addition, they mastered the art of seduction and learned the subtleties of intimate gymnastics. It was a special striptease and wumbling dance aimed at training the vaginal muscles.
In those days, cosmetics were only of natural origin and were very expensive. Mallow oil was in particular use - hundreds of kilograms of these flowers were delivered to the palace every year. There were also supplies of rare clay, henna and various herbs and flowers. What can we say about cinnamon, lemons, antimony and tons of jewelry.
However, no matter how diligently the girl studied, there was no guarantee that she would ever appear before the Sultan. It often happened that a concubine lived in a harem all her life, but she never got an appointment with the master. And this is not surprising, because hundreds of magnificent girls showed off in front of the Sultan every day, and it was necessary to spend a lot of effort to be among them. Therefore, no one canceled intrigues and competition.
But if the Sultan did notice the girl, the “golden path” awaited her - the road from the common bedroom to the coveted chambers of the ruler. Especially talented concubines won the attention of the Sultan for many years, sometimes turning him into a dependent person.
Sometimes it happened that the favorites not only pleased the ruler, but also carried out state affairs on his behalf. A striking example is Hurrem Haseki Sultan, better known as Roksolana.
