Şekerpare Hatun

Şekerpare Hatun
DiedAfter 1648
Chios or Egypt, Ottoman Empire
Spouse(s)Kara Musa Pasha

Şehsuvar Şekerpare Hatun (Ottoman Turkish: شکر پارہ خاتون, "shine heroine" and "sugar lump"), previously known as Şehsuvar Usta, was a lady-in-waiting to Sultan Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire.

Career

She began her career in Sultan Ibrahim's harem as the Hazinedar Usta (treasurer) of the imperial harem.[1] She was later appointed Kethüde Hatun (mistress housekeeper).[2] At the start, she was a high ranked lady-in-waiting of Kösem Sultan, the mother of Ibrahim.

In 1644 the Grand vizier Kemankeş Mustafa Pasha's standing was threatened by a powerful faction which was controlling the appointment and dismissal of certain individuals, even enriching its members in the process. This party included Şekerpare as well as Ibrahim's other male favourites.[3] Mustafa Pasha was executed and Ibrahim appointed his favourite Sultanzade Mehmed Pasha as the new Grand Vizier.[2]

Şekerpare had great influence in the harem and attained wealth, apparently through bribery. A dispute arose between her and Kösem Sultan due of this bribery,[4] and finally Şekerpare was exiled[2] to the island of Chios or to Egypt in May 1648.[5]

Personal life

In 1647, Şekerpare married Grand vizier Kara Musa Pasha.[1] She played an important role in his career. He advanced in his career through his connection to Şekerpare; he first became agha of janissaries with the vizierate, and then held the post of intendant of finances.[6]

The treasure of Egypt was lavished on Ibrahims favourite wives and women, which also included Şekerpare.[7] A house was also bought for her.[8] She also owned sixteen chests of jewelry.[9]

It was known that Ebezade Hamide Hatun, wife of Hasan Pasha, the governor of Aleppo, was a friend of Şekerpare Hatun.[2]

Sponsorings

The tomb built by Şekerpare Hatun.

In early 1648 she endowed a fountain in Istanbul,[10] and commissioned the building of her own mausoleum at Eyüp, which, however, remained empty.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Sakaoğlu 2008, p. 353.
  2. ^ a b c d Sakaoğlu 2008, p. 354.
  3. ^ Ágoston & Masters 2010, p. 263.
  4. ^ Argit 2020, p. 82.
  5. ^ Argit 2020, p. 83.
  6. ^ Argit 2020, p. 130.
  7. ^ Çelebi & Erkılıç 1954, p. 62.
  8. ^ Peirce 1993, p. 317.
  9. ^ Argit 2020, p. 189.
  10. ^ Tanışık 1945, p. 219.
  11. ^ Haskan 2008, p. 542.

Sources

  • Ágoston, Gábor; Masters, Bruce Alan (May 21, 2010). Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-438-11025-7.
  • Argit, Betül Ipsirli (October 29, 2020). Life after the Harem: Female Palace Slaves, Patronage and the Imperial Ottoman Court. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-48836-5.
  • Çelebi, Evliya; Erkılıç, Süleyman Cafer (1954). Turk Klasikleri - Issue 34.
  • Haskan, Mehmet Nermi (2008). Eyüp Sultan tarihi - Volume 2. Eyüp Belediyesi Kültür Yayınları. ISBN 978-9-756-08704-6.
  • Peirce, Leslie P. (1993). The Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-195-08677-5.
  • Sakaoğlu, Necdet (2008). Bu mülkün kadın sultanları: Vâlide sultanlar, hâtunlar, hasekiler, kadınefendiler, sultanefendiler. Oğlak Yayıncılık. ISBN 978-9-753-29623-6.
  • Tanışık, İbrahim Hilmi (1945). İstanbul çeşmeleri: Beyoğlu ve Üsküdar cihetleri. Maarif Matbaası.

External links

  • "Şekerpare Hatun" (in Turkish). Ottoman Bank Archives.