Mahidevran Hatun was a concubine of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire and the mother of Şehzade Mustafa, the eldest surviving son of the reigning Sultan. She was also known as Gülbahar Hatun, meaning “spring rose” in Turkish and Persian. She held a prominent position in the harem of her son in Manisa, where he was the governor of the province. However, her life was full of intrigue, rivalry, and tragedy. She died on 3 February 1581 in Bursa, but the exact cause of her death remains unknown. In this article, we will explore the possible scenarios of Mahidevran cause of death and the historical context behind them.
Contents
Mahidevran’s Origins and Early Life
Little is known of Mahidevran’s early life. Her ethnic background is a matter of controversy, but she was surely a Christian slave converted to Islam. Some sources claim that she was of Circassian origin, while others suggest that she was from Montenegro or Albania. Her name means “moon of fortune” or “one who is always beautiful” in Persian.
She was listed among the seventeen women of the harem of Suleiman while he was the governor of Manisa. She was not a highly ranked consort, as she earned 4 aspers a day along with two other concubines, while three others earned 5 aspers. Mahidevran gave birth to her only child, Mustafa, in 1515 while they were in Manisa.
Mahidevran’s Rivalry with Hürrem Sultan
After Suleiman ascended the throne in 1520 and his first son, Şehzade Mahmud, died a month after the ascension, Mahidevran acquired the rank of Baş Kadın, meaning the mother of the Sultan’s eldest son. She was referred to as Suleiman’s “first wife” by some diplomats, despite the fact that they were never married.
However, her status was soon challenged by Hürrem Sultan, a Ukrainian slave girl who became Suleiman’s favorite and legal wife. Hürrem Sultan was the first consort to receive the title of “Sultan” and later “Haseki Sultan”, a new title created for her. She also bore Suleiman six children, four of whom survived to adulthood: Şehzade Mehmed, Mihrimah Sultan, Şehzade Selim, and Şehzade Bayezid.
Hürrem Sultan and Mahidevran Hatun were bitter rivals for Suleiman’s affection and influence. They also competed for the succession of their sons, as Mustafa was the heir apparent, but Hürrem wanted her sons to inherit the throne. Hürrem Sultan was known to be cunning, ambitious, and ruthless, while Mahidevran was proud, stubborn, and loyal to her son.
Mahidevran’s Tragic Fate
Mahidevran left Istanbul with her son Mustafa due to his appointment as the governor of Manisa province and later Konya province. She stayed with him in his palace and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. She also had a good relationship with the local people, who admired her generosity and bravery.
However, her happiness was short-lived, as Mustafa became the target of a conspiracy orchestrated by Hürrem Sultan and her allies. During the campaign against Safavid Persia in 1553, Suleiman ordered the execution of Mustafa on charges of planning to dethrone his father. His guilt for the treason of which he was accused has since been neither proven nor disproven.
Mustafa’s execution caused unrest in Anatolia, especially in Amasya, Manisa, and Konya, where the people saw him as the next sultan. Mahidevran was devastated by the loss of her son and went into refuge in Bursa, where she eventually died. She was buried in the Muradiye Complex, next to her son’s tomb.
Mahidevran Cause of Death: The Possible Scenarios
The exact cause of Mahidevran’s death is not recorded in any historical source. However, there are some speculations and theories based on the available evidence and the historical context. Here are some of the possible scenarios of Mahidevran cause of death:
- Natural causes: Mahidevran died at the age of 80 or 81, which was considered a long life span for that time period. She may have died of old age or a natural illness, such as a heart attack or a stroke. She did not spend her last years in poverty, as Hürrem’s son, Selim II, the new sultan after 1566, put her on a lavish salary. Her rehabilitation had been possible after the death of Hürrem in 1558.
- Suicide: Mahidevran may have committed suicide out of grief and despair after the death of her son. She may have felt that she had nothing left to live for and that she had failed to protect her son from his enemies. She may have also feared for her own safety, as she could have been seen as a threat by Hürrem’s sons, who were competing for the throne after Suleiman’s death in 1566.
- Murder: Mahidevran may have been murdered by someone who wanted to eliminate her as a potential rival or a source of trouble. She may have been killed by one of Hürrem’s sons, who wanted to secure their claim to the throne by getting rid of the mother of the former heir apparent. She may have also been killed by one of her enemies in the harem, who wanted to take revenge for her past actions or to gain favor with the new sultan.
Conclusion
Mahidevran Hatun was a remarkable woman who lived in a turbulent and fascinating era of Ottoman history. She was the mother of Şehzade Mustafa, the eldest son of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and the rival of Hürrem Sultan, the sultan’s favorite and legal wife. She witnessed the rise and fall of her son, who was executed by his father on false accusations of treason. She died in 1581 in Bursa, but the cause of her death remains a mystery. There are various possible scenarios of Mahidevran cause of death, but none of them can be confirmed or denied with certainty. She was buried next to her son in the Muradiye Complex, where her tomb still stands today. She is remembered as a proud, loyal, and courageous woman who loved her son and fought for his rights. She is also a symbol of the power and intrigue of the Ottoman harem, where women played a significant role in the politics and culture of the empire.
