The imperial harem: women and sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire

THE IMPERIAL HAREM......Page 2
Contents
......Page 4
Preface
......Page 6
Acknowledgments
......Page 10
Glossary of Essential Terms
......Page 12
Notes on Transliteration and Translation
......Page 14
List of Illustrations
......Page 16
Harem: Sacred, Protected, Forbidden
......Page 22
The Spatial Dimensions of Gender and Power
......Page 25
The Inner as the Source of Power
......Page 29
I
......Page 32
The Women of the House
......Page 34
Controlling Power: Seniority, Sexuality, and Succession
......Page 37
Marriage and Concubinage: An Overview
......Page 47
Why Concubinage?
......Page 56
Single-Son Concubines
......Page 61
The Princely Household
......Page 64
Mother of the Prince
......Page 66
The Iconography of Royal Tombs
......Page 69
Sexuality and Power in the Princely Household
......Page 71
The Last Concubine of the Provinces: Mahidevran Khatun
......Page 74
The Age of the Favorite: 1520-1566
......Page 76
The Concubine as Favorite
......Page 77
The Sultan’s Counselor
......Page 82
The Problem of Succession
......Page 98
Conclusion
......Page 105
The Age of the Queen Mother: 1566-1656
......Page 110
Lapse of the Princely Governorate
......Page 116
The Transition to Seniority
......Page 118
Decline of the Haseki: Reproductive Politics From Mehmed III to Mehmed IV
......Page 122
The Imperial Harem Institution
......Page 132
Hierarchy of the Harem Institution: The Family Elite
......Page 144
The Valide Sultan
......Page 145
Princess and Prince
......Page 149
The Hierarchy of the Harem: The Household
......Page 151
The Hierarchy of the Harem Institution: The Physical Structure
......Page 155
The Harem as a Training Institution: Purpose and Organization
......Page 158
Harem Networks of Power
......Page 162
II
......Page 170
Shifting Images of Ottoman Sovereignty
......Page 172
The Caliph of Islam
......Page 178
Lapse of Sultanic Ghaza
......Page 187
The Palace Sultan
......Page 191
The Display of Sovereign Prerogative
......Page 205
The Valide Sultan and the Symbols of Imperial Dominion
......Page 206
Display of the Body Sovereign: Ceremonies and Progresses
......Page 210
The Philanthropy of Royal Women
......Page 217
The Philanthropy of the Valide Sultan
......Page 224
Sources of the Valide Sultan’s Wealth
......Page 231
Conclusion
......Page 235
The Politics of Diplomacy
......Page 238
The Haseki as Diplomat
......Page 239
Mother of the Prince: Guardian and Tutor
......Page 248
The Valide Sultan; Mentor and Guardian
......Page 255
Conflict: Uncertain Boundaries of Power
......Page 260
The Valide Sultan as Regent
......Page 267
The End of the “Sultanate of the Women”
......Page 274
Reproducing the Dynasty
......Page 278
Preserving Dynastic Continuity
......Page 279
Women, Sovereignty, and Society
......Page 286
APPENDIX: Genealogical Charts......Page 307
Preface......Page 309
NOTES TO CHAPTER 1......Page 312
NOTES TO CHAPTER 2......Page 314
Notes to Chapter 3......Page 321
NOTES TO CHAPTER 4......Page 328
Notes to Chapter 5......Page 333
NOTES TO CHAPTER 6......Page 340
Notes to Chapter 7......Page 346
Notes to Chapter 8......Page 353
NOTES TO CHAPTER 9......Page 356
Notes to Conclusion......Page 360
BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 365
INDEX......Page 383