The Sultanate of Women 2/3: Nurbanu & Safiye

One of the most anticipated, and ceremonially significant parts of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla was what the royals would wear. And everyone wanted to know if Catherine, Princess of Wales would be wearing a Tiara. From real fur to faux tiaras, and ...  Show more

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. And in the case of the six most famous wives in history, it’s true. Catherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine and Catherine again all had mothers who greatly influenced them and played important roles in their dramatic lives. Some o ...  Show more

Exploring the Early Life of Kösem Sultan: The Rise of a Legendary Figure Kösem Sultan's journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most powerful and influential women in Ottoman history is truly remarkable. Born in humble surroundings, she navigated the complex world o ...  Show more

When we last left Kosem Sultan, she was already super powerful, but with the death of her eldest son, Murad IV, she's now about to start a life of a new kind of power under her unwell son, Ibrahim. Ibrahim, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire has gone down in history as Ibrahim the Mad, ...  Show more

"If you have to take an beautiful enslaved convert boy from another province to become your lover, and then you fall hopelessly in love with him, and then promote him and he attains great power, do be aware than he might actually want to take your throne." Somehow, this extrem ...

What was life like for women in the Ottoman Empire? Was the Sultanate of Women the golden era? What was the role of the Harem? Listen as William and Anita are joined by Bettany Hughes to discuss the role of women in the Ottoman Empire. LRB Empire offer: lrb.me/empire Twitter: @ ...  Show more