Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Turkey Heads of State
Also see
Turkey Ministers
The various female rulers of Byzans and Constantinople
are found in the entry Greece Heads. See also Turkey Substates
B.C. ca.1590 Co-Regent, The Tawananna Harapscheki of the Hitit Kingdom
Married to King Hantili. The Queens, Tawanna's, is believed to have been a kind
of co-regents to their husbands and they wielded considerable influence. The
dates of this period is not very accurate.
B.C. circa 1550-05 The Tawananna Charapsilis
She was married to king Mursili I and later to Chantilis.
B.C. circa 1505.The Tawananna
Daughter of Charapsilis and also married to king Chantilis
B.C. circa 1500 The Tawananna Alluwanna
Married to King Ischtaparaija, who succeeded his father-in-law Telipinus. His
first wife was the Princess Harapsili
B.C. circa 1480 The Tawananna Ijaja
Married to king Zadanta
B.C. circa 1470 The Tawananna Summiri
Married to king Huzzija
B.C. ca 1460-40/20 The Tawananna Nikalmati I
Daughter of Queen Alluwamnas and married to Tutchalijas II
B.C. circa 1440-20 The Tawananna Asmunikal
Married to Arnuwanda I
B.C. ca 1400-1380 The Tawananna Nikalmati II
Married to Tutchalijas III
B.C. ca 1380-46 The Tawananna Pudhepa I
Married to king Suppiluliumas.Succeded by his second wife
B.C. ca 1380-46 The Tawananna Henti
Married to king Suppiluliumas. Succeeded by his third wife
B.C. ca 1380-45/15 The Tawananna Malnigal of Babylon
Married to king Suppiluliumas. She was also Tawananna under her son Mursilis II
but was deposed and succeeded by his wife
B.C. circa 1345-15 The Tawananna Gaschschulawija
Succeeded by husband Mursilis IIs second wife
B.C. circa 1345-15 The Tawananna Danuhepa I
Married to king Mursili II
B.C. circa 1315-1282 The Tawananna N.N.
Married to Muwatalli
B.C. 1282-85 The Tawananna N.N.
Married to King Mursili III
B.C. circa 1275-50 The Tawananna Pudhepa II
Married to king Hattusili III. She was also regent for their son Tuthalija IV
and later became his co-ruler
B.C. circa 1305-1282 The Tawananna Danuhepa II
Married to king Muwatalli
From 1362
Hulufira Nilüfer
Valide Sultan
After the death of her husband, Sultan Orkhan Ghazi of Anatolia and Rumalia
she became Sultana Valide during the reign of her son, Sultan Murad Hudavendigar
Han. According to some sources she had acted as regent during the military
campagns of her husband, whom she married in 1299. She was daughter of
the Bey of Yarhisar (b. 1283).
1451-87 Politically Influential Sultanina Mara Branković of the Ottoman Empire
(Osmanlı
İmparatorluğu)
Also known as Maryam Khanum, Despina Hatun or Amerissa, she was daughter of
Georg, Despot of Serbia, and when she was married to the Ottoman sultan Murad II
in 1433 her dowry was the larger part of Serbia. She had no children of her own
but was close to her husband's son, Mehmed II the Conqueror (1430-51-81), and
she was very influntial during his reign from 1451, and he often called upon her
for advice. She later held court at Jeero in Macedonia surrounded by exiled
Serbian nobles, 1461 she was joined by her sister, Catherine, widow of Ulrich II
Cantacuzene of Cilly, and they lead an unofficial "foreign office" from
Macedonia. In the war between Turkey and Venetia (1463-79) they played an
important role as intermediaries and were employed by both sides as diplomatic
agents. In 1471 Mara personally accompanied a Venetian ambassador to the Porte
for negotiations with the Sultan. She retained her influence of the appointment
of leaders of the Orthodox Church, and according to some remained influential during Mehmed's
successor, Bayezid II. She lived (circa 1412-87).
1469-1490/1492 Politically Influential Catherine
Cantacuzina Branković in the Ottoman Empire
When her husband, Count Ulrich II of Celli
(1406-56), died she inherited his properties, but was obliged to conclude a
treaty one year later with Friedrich III Duke of Austria under which she handed
over all the Cilli castles in Carinthia, Styria and Carniola while she retained
the family castles in Hungary and Croatia. However, in 1460 she was had to sell
her remaining properties to Vitovec, Ban of Slavonia, and retired to
Dubrovnik. 9 years later she joined her younger sister, Mara Branković, widow of
Sultan Murad II of the Ottoman Empire, at her residence in Jeevo (probably
identical to the modern settlement of Dafni in Mount Athos), who was and advisor
of her step-son Mehmed from 1451. Together with her sister, she acted as
intermediary during the Turkish/Venetian war which lasted until 1479. The
daughter of Despot Đurađ Branković of Serbia and
Eirene Kantakouzene, she
lived (circa 1418-1490/1492).
1481-92 Amina Gul-Bahar Khanum Valide Sultan
The Valide Sultan was the mother of the sultan, and had an important place
in the imperial family. In some aspects she was considerd as a joint-ruler with
theoretical jurisdiction over the women in the empire. She lived
(1434-94)
1520-34 Gulbehar Hatun Mahidevran Valide Sultan
Also known as Aisha Hafsa Khanum. Daughter of Isaa Bey, the
ruler of the Aydinoglu State.
1553-69 Influential International Banker Gracia Nasi in Europe and the Ottoman
Empire
She inherited the wast Mendes fortune after the death in 1542 of her
brother-in-law, Diego, whom she had joined in Antwerpen after the death of her
husband, Francisco whose wealthy Spanish Jewish banking family had also fled the
Inquisition and settled in Portugal. She then took over the management of the
international banking empire and continued using the family's contacts and
resources to help Jews escape the Inquisition, and this meant that she and her
remaining family were constantly in danger. Over the next 11 years, she moved
across Europe with her daughter, her sister, and her daughter- and son-in-law,
traveling from Antwerp through France, Italy, and Turkey. The Inquisition
pursued them, local rulers relentlessly crying heresy and attempting to
confiscate their fortune. With diplomacy, shrewdness, and business acumen, she
managed to escape each assault and continue building the family business. She
and her family finally reached Turkey in 1553, where they settled near
Constantinople. Here she persuaded Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to grant her
a long-term lease on the Tiberias region of the Palestine where she spearheaded
one of the earliest attempts to start an independent state for Jews in Israel.
She took back her maiden name and was called Gracia Nasi once and for all. She
lived (1510-1569).
1574-83 Nurbanu Sultan Valide Sultan
She took an active part in the governance of the empire as the chief advisor
of her son, Murad II. Of Italian origin, she lived (1530-83)
1594-1603 Politically Influential Safiye Vailde Sultan of The Ottoman Empire
Already as Chief Wife of her husband, Murat III from 1574 she was the power
behind the throne especially after the death of her mother-in-law Nurbanu. She
continued the pro-Venetian policy of Nurbanu and maintained an extensive foreign
correspondance, most notably with Queen Elizabeth I of England. When her husband
died, she kept the news secret, because wanted to give her son, Mehmet, time to
return from Manisa, where he was governor. In 1599 Queen Elizabeth presented
Mehmet with an organ and Safiye with a splendid carriage, which she used to
excursions into the town. When Mehmet died in 1603 her grandson, Ahmet I, sent
her to the Old Seray where she died 15 years later. She lived (1550-1618).
1594-1600 () Politically Influential Esperanza Malchi in the Ottoman
Empire
Throughout the ages the Queen Mothers had carried out their financial dealings
through a series of Jewish women (kira), who acted as commercial agents for the
secluded Harem women. Safiye's kira was Esperanza Malchi, who became enormously
rich, and the Secretary to the British embassy in the 1600s even attributed her
influence to the the fact that she and Safiye were lovers. In 1600 the imperial
cavalry rose up in a revolt because of the devaluation of the currency. Their
fury was directed towards Malchi, who was killed together with her son.
1603-05 De-facto Ruler Handam Valide Sultan
Her full title was Daulatlu Ismatlu Hansam Validi
Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari. She was mother of
Ahmed I, and lived (1576-1605)
1617-18 and 1622 Naib-i-Sultanat (Regent) Valide Sultana II
Of Caucasian origin, she lived (1576-1623)
[Fuldane Valide of caucasian origan and moteher of Mustafa I]
1618-20 Kahadija Hatice Mahfiruz Valide Sultan
Also known as Daulatlu Mahfiruz, her full title as mother of the sultan was Daulatlu Ismatlu
Mahfiruz Validi
Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari. Mother of Osman, and lived (1590-1620)
1623-32 Naib-i-Sultanat (Regent) Kösem Mahpeyker Valide Sultan
1632-51 De-fact regent
Her full name and title was Daulatlu Ismatlu Kulsum Mahpeyker Validi Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan
Hazratlari.
Kösem therefore was regent for son Murad, (1623-40) who succeeded at the age
of 11, for Ibrahim (1640-48) who was mentally disturbed and for grandson Mehmed
IV, who succeeded at the age of 7 in 1648. In 1651 she plotted against her
daughter-in-law, but was killed instead. Of Greek origin, she lived (1589-1651)
1651-56 Naib-i-Sultanat (Regent) Khadija Turhan Hadice Valide
Sultan
The widow of Ibrahim, she had been Valide Sultan since 1648, she took over as regent for her son,
Mehmed IV (1648-51-87) after her mother-in-law was killed. As her predecessor as
regent, she took part in the deliberations in the Imperial Diet seated behind a
curtain, she authorized all appointments and cooperated closely with the Grand
Vizir as "The Guardian and Representative of the Sultan". Of Russian
origin, she lived (1627-83)
1687-89 Saliha Dilasub Valide Sultan
Another widow of Ibrahim, her full title as mother of the sultan was Daulatlu Ismatlu Mahfiruzl Validi
Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari. Mother of Süleiman II (1687-91),
she was mother of Suleyman, and lived (1627-89)
1695-1715 Mah-Para Ummatallah Rabia Gül-Nüz Ummetulla Valide Sultan
Mother of Mustafa II (1695-1703) and Ahmed III (1703-30). She did not play any
major role during their reigns, but she was asked to approve and authorize the replacement
of Mustafa by Ahmed, which she did. As the senior representative of
the dynasty, her approval was considered to be imperative. Daughter of the
Venetian Retimo Verzizzi, she lived (1647-1715).
1718-30 Politically Influential Princess Hatice Sultan
Her father, Sultan Ahmed III largely left the affairs of
state to her husband, Grand Vizier Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha, and she had
great influence over both. Some sources regard her as the real ruler of the
later Tulip era (1703-1730), at least during the 1720s. She was to have assisted
Marquis de Villeneuve in a Pro-French politic during the war between France and
Russia. Some historians see her as the last de facto female ruler of the Ottoman
Empire.
1730-39 Saliha Sabkati Valide Sultan
Widow of Mustafa II and mother of Mahmud I (1750-54). She lived (1680-1739)
1754-56 Sehsuvar Valide Sultan
Another widow of Mustafa II, she was mother of Osman III (1754-57). Of Russian origin, she lived (1682-1756)
1789-1805 Mihr-i
shah Valide Sultan
Widow of Mustafa III and mother of Selim III (1789-1807)
1807-08 Ayse Seniyeperver Valide Sultan
Also known as Daulatlu Ismatlu Aisha Sina Parvar Validi
Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari, she was the fourth wife
of sultan Abdulhamid and mother of Mustafa IV (1807-08).
She lived (1761-1828)
1808-17 Naksh-i-Dil Valide Sultan
She was political influential as advisor of her husband,
Abdulhamid I 1733-73 and his successor, Sultan Selim III 1773-1789.
Also very powerful under reign of son, Mahmud II (1808-39), she lived (1768-1817)
1808-39 Politically Influential Princess Esma Sultan
Became very influential when her brother, Mahmud II, came
to the throne after a period of revolts by the Janissaries and a succession of
Sultans within few years. During her marriage to Kaptan-ı Derya Küçük Hüseyin
Pasha, a close friend of Sultan Selim III, she held quite important influence
over the society. He died in 1803 and she never married again. She was daughter
of Sultan Abdulhamid I and Kadın Efendi Ayşe Seniyeperver Sultan, and lived
(1778-1848).
1839-53 Bezmrâlem Valide Sultan
The widow of Mahmud II, she was also known as Daulatlu Ismatlu Bazim-i Alam Validi
Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari, she was mother of Abdülmecid I (1839-61)
and lived (1807-52)
1861-76 Pertherhiyal Valide Sultan
Also known as Nihal, she was the second widow of Mahmud II, she
was mother of Murad
1876-87 Rahime Perestu Valide Sultan
Mother Abdülhamid II (1876-1909) No Valide under the last sultans.
.... Shevka-efza Valide Sultan
She was widow of Abdülmecid and mother of Murad V.
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