Zia Wesley's Blog: The Veil and the Crown - Posts Tagged "istanbul"

“Will I live with this Kizlar Agasi as I live here with you? And when will I go to the Sultan?”

“Live with the Kizlar Agasi?” he laughed. “No, no my sweet. You will live in the harem with all of the other odalisques—the women belonging to the Sultan. The Kizlar Agasi and his men protect and serve the harem. He is the most important person in the Sultan’s employ, and you must make him your ally. He is in charge of the harem, and it is he who will bring you to the Sultan. Remember this dear one, make the Kizlar Agasi your friend and you will need no others.”

From The Stolen Girl – Book 1 of The Veil and The Crown by Zia Wesley

Due to his proximity to the Sultan and the role the women of the harem played in court intrigues, the Kizlar Agha ranked among the most important posts in the Ottoman Empire. The post was traditionally occupied by African eunuch slaves, which garnered the alternate title of Chief Black Eunuch. Black eunuchs were believed to be more trustworthy in the harem because they were totally castrated -- unlike the white eunuchs who only lost their testicles.

The roles of the two separate groups were clearly defined: white eunuchs were relegated to the male quarters of the palace, while black eunuchs were tasked with the supervision of the Sultan’s private palace apartments and his harem.

The Kizlar Agha also served as an intermediary between the women of the harem and the male servants of the palace as well as the sultan. He was the only one allowed to carry communications between the sultan and the Grand Vizier, which gave him considerable political clout. Other duties included overseeing the early education of the imperial princes, and investing funds belonging to the Valide Sultana (The Queen Mother, who dominated internal politics within the palace). His unique position also enabled the amassing of great wealth and carried the right to retire from service. Traditionally, Kizlar Aghas retired as extremely wealthy men.

In the 1830s, governmental reforms initiated by Nakshidil’s son, Sultan Mahmud II, curtailed the power of the Kizlar Agha and relegated the post to a more ceremonial role.

Had Sultan Abdul Hamid been more like his predecessors, he would have had his gardeners strangle Nuket Seza and Mustapha long ago. That was the preferred method used by Sultans for hundreds of years to rid themselves of treasonous officials, unpleasant wives, and relatives who might one day pose a threat to the throne. But Abdul Hamid thought the practice barbaric, and had never employed it himself. He disliked murder almost as much as the Kafes [cage] in which he had resided for fifteen years before assuming the sultancy.

From The French Sultana – Book 2 of The Veil and The Crown by Zia Wesley

Abdul Hamid I was born in 1725 to Sultan Ahmed III and his concubine, Sermi Rabi Kadin. Following his brother’s death, Abdul Hamid became Sultan at the age of 49 after spending fifteen years immured in the Kalfe or cage. Since no contact with the outside world was permitted from the cage, it was fortunate that Abdul Hamid had previously received a good education. Due in part to his lack of governance, Abdul Hamid left many of the administrative powers to his Grand Viziers, who oversaw the authority of the government while the Sultan ruled in an advisory capacity.

Abdul Hamid came to power at the end of the first Russo-Ottoman War of 1768-74 and his reign continued to be plagued by conflicts with Russia. The Treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca, which ended the war, left the Ottoman Empire vulnerable to further incursions by Russia. The provisions of the treaty made the Crimea, which had been an Ottoman principality, an independent state that was heavily influenced by Russia. In 1783, Russia absorbed Crimea by annexation, thus leaving the Ottoman Empire open to a full invasion from the north.

It was in this tense political time that two factions arose within the Viziers of the Ottoman government. The first faction, lead by Gazi Hasan Pasha and Koca Yusuf Pasha (who would later become Grand Vizier to Abdul Hamid) took a more aggressive stance in dealing with the Russian incursion into the Crimea. The second faction, led by the Grand Vizier Halil Hamid Pasha, sought a diplomatic solution with Russia. The diplomatic faction however would falter when rumors spread of Halil Hamid plotting for the succession of Selim III (Abdul Hamid's nephew). For this, Halil Hamid was executed and the faction of Gazi Hasan and Koca Yusuf began the second Russo-Ottoman war of 1787-92 to take the Crimea back.

During the new conflict with Russia, it became obvious that the Ottoman military was badly in need of modernization. Gazi Hasan began a campaign to strengthen the fortresses along the Russian Frontier. Both the sultan and his heir had been campaigning for modernization but were opposed by the Janissaries who believed any change contradicted the teachings of the Koran. French military advisors were brought in to train the Ottoman soldiers in modern warfare and weapons but the Janissaries refused to learn from “the infidels.” Because of this opposition, a new “secret army” was created and trained by the French. French engineers were also brought in to strengthen the fortresses and build cannon factories to supply the new Corps of Cannoneers, Corps of Bombardiers and Corps of Miners. Two new military schools run by French officers, were also established: The Imperial Naval Engineering School and The School of Fortification.

Regarding domestic matters, a series of devastating fires in the capital city of Istanbul (possibly started by Janissaries) resulted in Sultan Abduil Hamid becoming both a benefactor and supervisor of the city. He organized provisions for the city and (influenced by his favorite French Sultana) created various charities including soup kitchens and libraries. He also founded two new mosques: the Beylerbeyi and Emirgan mosques, and the Hiamidiye Library; the first library in the empire founded and administrated outside a mosque.

With his 7 concubines, Abdul Hamid sired a total of 24 children; 10 male heirs of which only two survived. Abduil Hamid died in 1789 of a stroke while reading a dispatch regarding the capture of Oczakov by the Russians. His nephew, Selim III, succeeded him and when he was overthrown, Abdul Hamid’s son Mustapha was crowned. That ended in less than one year with Mustapha’s death, ordered by Abdul Hamid’s son with Nakshidil, who then became Sultan Mahmud II.