This thesis presents the role of rulers' wives of the Ottoman Empire in the selected 15th century. A brief description of the empire in this period first summarizes the events and ruling of the sultans at that time from a political and social point of view. The next chapter presents some important and repeatedly mentioned words (sultan, hatun, harem) derived from Arabic, and explains the Ottoman politics of reproduction with polygamy and concubinage, which allowed the sultan several wives and concubines. An inter-dynastic marriage was usually performed due to political and territorial aspirations, usually the conclusion of alliances with other countries. The goal of their politics of reproduction was to ensure as many descendants as possible. The mothers of the heirs were both wives and concubines, and it turned out that several heirs were conceived in concubinage. The concubines gained a slightly better position when they became mothers. Wives who came from other dynasties, however, could be left without the sultan’s attention, as they were married not out of love but for political purposes. At the end of the century, concubinage prevailed over inter-dynastic marriages, the reasons for which were in favour of the Ottomans, as they were not bound by neighbouring dynasties and found it easier to conquer and move the borders of their territory. Sources, upon which the research of women in the sultans’ harems was made easier, were their legacies - tombs, mosques, schools, and monasteries.
|
