What Life Was Like As A Member Of The Sultan's Harem In The Ottoman Empire

The valide sultan ruled at the top of what was eventually a highly structured harem full of different titles, rankings, and seemingly endless movement within the hierarchy. It gets all the more confusing because, as All About Turkey reports, the "sultan" title wasn't always reserved solely for the man ruling the Ottoman Empire. Beginning in

The valide sultan ruled at the top of what was eventually a highly structured harem full of different titles, rankings, and seemingly endless movement within the hierarchy. It gets all the more confusing because, as All About Turkey reports, the "sultan" title wasn't always reserved solely for the man ruling the Ottoman Empire. Beginning in the 16th century, both men and women who were part of the family could potentially be called a "sultan." Things got more complicated as the years progressed, so that, by the 17th century, a harem woman might be a "kadin sultan" or "haseki sultan," for instance.

So, what, exactly, was the power structure? According to The Ottomans, women could enter as "acemi," basically a kind of apprentice. When they got to the point where the sultan might pick them, they were "gediks." If they became pregnant and had a daughter, they got a nicer set of rooms and became a "kadin." All About Turkey also points out that "kadin" could refer to being a favorite wife of the sultan, while "ikbal" was reserved for favorite but still unmarried concubines. Meanwhile, at the very bottom of the pyramid were the "odalisques," female servants who were deemed unworthy of making it to the sultan's bedchamber.

Having a son meant someone was a "haseki." That brought even more privilege, though, if the sultan died, mothers of sons might have needed to watch their own necks in the ensuing power struggle.

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