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Kadinefendi Kösem

Kadinefendi Kösem

Female Abt 1589 - 1651  (62 years)    Has no ancestors but 77 descendants in this family tree.

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    All

  • Name Kadinefendi Kösem  
    Birth Abt 1589 
    Gender Female 
    Death 3 Sep 1651 
    Person ID I669686  Geneagraphie
    Last Modified 19 Nov 2009 

    Family Sultan Ahmed, I,   b. 18 Apr 1590   d. 22 Nov 1617 (Age 27 years) 
    Children 
     1. Sultan Murad, IV,   b. 26 Jul 1612   d. 9 Feb 1640 (Age 27 years)
    +2. Sultan Ibrahim,   b. 5 Nov 1615   d. 18 Dec 1648 (Age 33 years)
    Family ID F294711  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 15 Nov 2009 

  • Notes 
    • a Greek
      of a priest from the island of Tinos .
      She was transferred to the old palace on the death of Sultan Ahmed in 1617, but returned as Valide Sultan , when Murad IV was installed in 1623.

      She was appointed not only Valide Sultan but also, as her son was a minor, as official regent during his minority; between 1623 and 1632 she became one of the women in history who ruled a Muslim empire officially and alone. During most of the reign of Murad IV she effectively ran the empire attending meetings of the Divan (cabinet) from behind a curtain, even after she was not longer official regent.

      When Ibrahim succeeded his brother, he proved too mentally unstable to rule. This enabled Kösem to continue in power. Eventually Ibrahim was deposed and Kösem presented her seven year old grandson Mehmed IV to the divan with the words "Here he is!, see what you can do with him!" Thus, she declared herself official queen regnant for the second time, and ruled openly again between 1648 and 1651.

      It was Mehmed's mother Turhan Hatice that proved to be Kösem's nemesis. Turhan ordered Kösem's assassination when she heard that Kösem was said to be plotting Mehmed's removal and replacement by another grandson with a more pliant mother. Kösem was strangled with a curtain by the Chief Black Eunuch of the Harem, Tall Süleyman .
      Kösem was renowned for her charity work and for freeing her slaves after 3 years of service. When she died the people of Istanbul observed 3 days mourning



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