Ottoman Empire

A vast empire where the sun rises over golden domes, fragrant gardens, and marble palaces. Stretching across three continents, its heart beats in the capital, a city between two worlds, where East and West merge in a single breath of splendor, ambition, and power. The laws are firm, the customs sacred, and the court is both a trap and a paradise. Honor, cunning, and beauty define the destiny of those who dwell within its walls.

1. Sultan (Padishah): Absolute monarch of the empire. His word is law. Total control of the army, politics, the harem, and the provinces.

2. Valide Sultan (Mother of the Sultan): The most powerful woman in the empire. She rules the harem, influences politics, negotiates alliances, and protects the princes and princesses.

3. Şehzade – Imperial Princes: Male children of the sultan. Heirs, educated in strategy, religion, poetry, war, diplomacy. They live with eunuchs, tutors, and personal guards. They have precedence over all female figures, except the Valide Sultan.

4. Blood Sultanas – Imperial Princesses: Daughters of the sultan. They are born sultanas but never acquire the title. Diplomacy, marriage alliances, representation of the empire. Educated in etiquette, music, poetry, philosophy, and soft politics. Their rank is superior to that of all women (except the Valide and their mothers).

5. Grand Vizier: Prime Minister. His power is immediately subordinate to that of the sultan.

6. Imperial Divan: Council of State (viziers, generals, judges, high officials).

7. Governors (Beylerbey): They administer large regions of the empire.

8. Emirs and Beys: Regional nobles with military or economic influence.

9. Judges (Qadi): Local judicial and religious authority.

10. Ulemas: Religious scholars, teachers, and influential figures.

11. Wealthy merchants and artisans: Citizens with influence in the economy.

12. Elite soldiers (Janissaries): A feared and respected military force. The Sultan's guards.

13. Free peasants and urban workers: Economic base of the empire.

14. Slaves and servants: They range from simple workers to important positions.

15. Foreigners and non-Muslims: Tolerated, but with legal and social restrictions.

⚠️ Important: Princes do NOT belong to the harem. Princesses live there as children, but their rank is above everyone except the Valide Sultan.

1. Valide Sultan: Supreme authority of the harem.

2. Blood Sultanas (Imperial Princesses): Private quarters, retinue, security, elite education. No one can touch them, look at them without permission, or speak to them directly without their consent.

3. Chief Favorite (Haseki Sultan): The sultan's favorite consort. She has political power and special privileges. She receives the title of "Sultana" upon conceiving a son.

4. Kadınlar (Official Wives): Women with high rank within the harem.

5. Ikbal (Minor Favorites): They compete to gain influence.

6. Gözde (The chosen ones): They have captured the attention of the sultan.

7. Outstanding Cariye: They have demonstrated skills or obedience.

8. Common Cariye: Servants or concubines in training.

9. Ustas: Older servants who educate and supervise.

10. Kalfas: Personal or trusted assistants.

11. New slaves: Newly arrived at the harem without rank. The most beautiful are trained to be concubines. The others are trained to be servants.

In court:

1. Do not speak to the sultan without permission.
2. Bows should be deep.
3. Absolute silence when members of the imperial family pass by.
4. When passing a prince or princess, one lowers their gaze.
5. The Blood Sultanas and the Şehzade always walk together.

Before a Şehzade (prince): No one may look him in the eye without permission. A deep bow is made. His presence commands silence. Soldiers kneel in greeting. This does not include the Sultan, Valide Sultan, and their mothers.

In the harem:

1. Valide is not mentioned unnecessarily.
2. No one may sit down without permission from a superior.
3. Body language is crucial for survival.
4. Greetings are done with a slow bow of the head.

Before a Blood Sultana: Concubines must bow deeply. She is not to be spoken to without her permission. Her clothing, veil, or jewelry must never be touched. Her chambers are sacred imperial territory.

1. Valide Sultan: Absolute veneration. They kneel before her. She has the right to make decisions.
2. Şehzade (Princes): Respect equivalent to that of the sultan in formation. Personal guards. Everyone steps aside as they pass.
3. Blood Sultanas (Princesses): Deep reverence. Total protection. Jewelry and clothing of the highest quality.
4. Principal Favorite: Custodian of power and privileges. She is served with luxuries and receives constant gifts.
5. Kadınlar receive: respect and have personal assistants.
6. Ikbal / Gözde: Surrounded by attention, but under surveillance.
7. Outstanding Cariye: Can live comfortably if she pleases her superiors.
8. Common Cariye: Performs basic tasks, receives training, is invisible to the upper echelons.
9. Kalfas/Ustas: They have power within their range, but they must be discreet.

1. Language and poetry: In Ottoman, Arabic and Classical Persian.
2. Calligraphy and writing: With bamboo brushes and black ink on thin paper.
3. Dance and music: They dominate the lute, the ney flute and the veil dance.
4. Etiquette and strategy: They learn to read emotions, to feign innocence or wisdom as required.
5. Religion and mysticism: Basic instruction in theology, prayers and recitation of the Quran.

The princesses receive instruction in: Philosophy, history, diplomacy, soft politics, refined arts, and ceremonial protocol.

Court language: Ottoman (a mixture of Turkish, Arabic and Persian).

Dominant religion: Islam, with respect for other religions under certain conditions.

Education: Only the privileged have access to in-depth studies, although women in the harem learn music, poetry, calligraphy, dance, and philosophy.

Fashion: Silk clothing, gold embroidery, fine veils, and delicate jewelry. Imported fabrics define status.

Architecture: Palaces with interior courtyards, fountains, gardens, and large domes.

—Beauty routine: -Baths in the hammam (steam bath) with essences of rose, jasmine or orange blossom. -Scented oils for body and hair. -Kohl on the eyes, henna on hands and feet, and skin exfoliated with silk gloves.

—Clothing according to rank: -Valide Sultan: Kaftans embroidered in pure gold, Bursa chiffon veils, imperial emeralds and rubies. -Main favorite: Tunics with floral embroidery, intense colors, headdresses with peacock feathers. -Common concubines: Simple silk dresses without adornments, modest jewelry or none.

—Symbolic accessories: -Crescent moon pendants denote closeness to the sovereign. -Multiple bracelets indicate fertility or the blessing of the Valide. -A feather in the turban is only worn if it was given as a gift by a member of the Divan or the sovereign.

Princes: kaftans with metallic embroidery, turbans with jewels.

Princesses: embroidered veils, fine jewelry, imperial colors.

-Tulip Festival (Lale Zamanı): The palace garden is filled with lanterns, music, and dancing. The favorites parade in new costumes before the sovereign.

-Night of Perfumes: The concubines perfume their bodies with rare essences. The most fragrant may be summoned to the royal chambers.

-Silent Coffee Ritual: A ceremony where coffee is drunk without speaking, only with looks and gestures, used for secret pacts and alliances within the harem.

-First Blood: When a concubine becomes a woman, a small symbolic ritual with white flowers and red cloth is performed in private.

-A circle of henna on the navel drives away envy.

-Blue eyes are believed to bring the evil eye, which is why many people wear nazar amulets.

-Concubines who dream of a falcon will be summoned by the sovereign.

-If a rose suddenly withers in the harem, someone of high rank will fall into disgrace.

-Throwing pomegranate seeds into bath water can attract fertility or love.

Main dishes: Pilav (flavored rice), dolma (stuffed vine leaves), kebab, lamb and chicken stews with dried fruit.

Sweets: Baklava, lokum (Turkish delight), sesame with honey.

Drinks: Sherbet (sweet fruit and herb drinks), ayran (salted yogurt), thick, spiced coffee.

Customs: Eating seated on cushions, sharing plates. Discretion and grace are expected when eating.