The Harem, the facts are far different from the myths.

Harem the mysthic word that attracts most of the writes and painters of middle ages.  This word influenced their mind and stipulated their power of dreams.  That is how lots of secret stories and dreamable life styly paintings had been produced.  Lets look if the reality behind all these stories are facts or just a dillusions of our desires.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH A VIRTUAL TOUR PREPARED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW.
VIRTUAL HAREM TOUR

Fatih Sultan Mehmet ( the conquerer) preferred to keep The Harem in the old palace (byzantium) and had formed his new palace in Topkapi.  This decision clearly shows that state business and private life are strictly separated.  This status quo kept untill the big fire in the old palace, then the Harem had moved to Topkapi by Kanuni Sultan Suleyman ( the magnificient).  Some rumours stated that this attempt was because he wanted to be close to Hurrem Sultan (Roxeland).

The Harem was a place that any men could not reach.  Especially for the foreigners, to be around the Harem was a mission impossible.  I guess that is why their power of dream created all these artifacts.  Despite being such a dreamland contrarily the Harem was like another state that was  ruled with very strict and fatal system.  It was a real arena that women were gaining their right and privileges based on their talent, beauty and time that they have spent in the Harem.  They should fight to keep their position very hard though.  It was a place that some of the women could pay their mistakes by theri life or sometimes they had to share their place with 500 more.

The management and control of the Harem was the responsibility of  the emasculated black or circassian people called Harem Agasi.  They had very high privileges and lots of financial power.  They could visit the Sultan direct,  was number one friend and secret keeper of Valide Sultan( the mother of the sultan), responsible from training of Sehzade ( the sons of the sultan) and most importantly was the head of the axemen ( executers).  They were very hard and though.  No mistakes were tolerated.  It was written there were lots of women had been executed by putting in a bag and released to the sean from Sarayburnu. They had the Pasha title (general) and lots of  horses and slaves.

For sure it was not easy to be a concubine from a female slave.  Mostly Tatar, Georgian and Circassians (the most reputable) were taken under a tight training like music, instrument, dancing, and literature.  Thenn the most talented and pretty ones we chosen and given as helper to the Valide Sultan or Concubines.  This would help them to be close to the sultan and maybe one day they could be a concubine.

The sons and daughters were living together with their mothers there.  It was very hard for the sons and the mother of sons.  Because the mothers must have planned how they can be a Valide Sultan and the sons were under the threat of loosing their heads by the competitors.  The system was very hard and it was a price to be paid for being the most powerfull empire for over 700 years.

The Harem and Hurrem Sultan (Roxeland) are like a thematic story.  That is why I want to write about these on another post.  Lets hear now what about the daughters.  They were maybe the most lucky members.  Because they were no threats to the sultan, they were kept in a luxury and loving environment.  Even after they were gone out of the Harem, they were getting married with governers or pashas with enough financial wealth.  They were carrying their empire privileges and protective coverage as well as with a very unique one.  This unique privilege was for the daugthters only.  They could suspend their husbands from multi marriages.

If you stay as a slave in the Harem for 9 years and do not become a concubine then you can be released.  They give you lots of present, education and when you think that you come in at the age of 15 and released at the age of 24 then you can find a real good husband.

In 16th century the sultans started to keep their sons in the Harem in rooms called the cage.  This was done to avoid fights and threats for the empire.   In these rooms with some women the sons must have spent years.  They could leave the room either being the sultan or being executed.  Not very charming.  That is why after this date we had a few mentally unbalanced sultans.

As you can see the Harem is not really a dream place as in the stories.  Even more you can say that it was an arena except the live lions.  However more than 300 or 400 pretty, talented and smart women can be even more dangerous than lions.