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

Aimée opened her eyes. She was lying on a narrow bunk in an unfamiliar cabin. Afraid to move, she scanned the small quarters with her eyes, making sure she was alone. She was, indeed. Her hands shook as she ran them over her body to see if her clothing and person were intact. Everything seemed to be in order, except that her heart was pounding madly and she was beginning to panic. She remembered the pirates rushing into the ship’s salon, looking into one of their faces and seeing the devil himself. She must have fainted. How long have I been unconscious—and where am I? - From The Stolen Girl – Book 1 of The Veil and the Crown by Zia Wesley

Aimée Dubuq de Rivery (born 4th December, 1768) was a French aristocrat and cousin to Rose Tascher de la Pagerie (who would later become one of the most important women in France). Aimée was born on the Island of Martinique, and spent much of her childhood on Les Trois-Islets, the sugar plantation owned by her Cousin Rose’s family. While returning home in July of 1788, from a convent school that she was attending in France, the ship she was sailing on was attacked by Algerian corsairs (pirates) who abducted her.

It is at this point where Aimée’s story moves from history to legend, as few hard facts exist. It is known that less than one year later, a young, blonde, and blue-eyed French woman became the favorite of Sultan Abdul Hamid, the aging sultan of the Ottoman Empire. That young woman was given the Turkish name Nakshidil, and gave birth the following year to a son, Mahmud, who would eventually become sultan himself. It is also common knowledge that the sultan who followed Hamid, his handsome young nephew Selim, developed a fascination with all things French, and petitioned King Louis to send French military personnel to train his Turkish troops. The French also helped the Turks build a foundry to manufacture cannon and balls. A few years later, a French newspaper, printed by a French press in Istanbul, appeared along with a French library.

Might Aimée have perished at the hands of the corsairs or did she, as legend says, rise up from the ranks of the Sultan’s harem to become the first figure of European influence in the Ottoman Empire? It is interesting to note that blonde hair and blue eyes continued to appear in the sultans of the Ottoman line right up to the last sultan of the empire in 1924.

Rose took a deep, slow breath and softened her tone. “Try not to be such a baby, Maymay. Now, hold onto my hand. We are almost there.” Why did I insist Aimée accompany me tonight? Because I was too frightened to make the trip by myself. Her cousin’s constant whining raised her own fears. As if ridding herself of pesky demons. Rose swept her mane of black, wavy hair away from her face and continued to lead the way through overgrown hanging vines with leaves larger than her head. - From The Stolen Girl – Book 1 of The Veil and the Crown by Zia Wesley

Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie (born 23rd June 1763) was the cousin of Aimée Dubuc de Rivéry and member of an aristocratic French family who lived on the Caribbean island of Martinique. Called Rose by her family, she was the daughter of Joseph-Gaspard Tascher, Lieutenant of Troupes de Marine and Rose-Claire des Vergers de Sannois, a Creole. The Tascher family owned a sugar plantation called Les Trois-Islets, where both Aimée and Rose spent their early childhood.

In 1779, Rose traveled to France to marry her first husband, Alexandre de Beauharnais. The marriage was arranged by Rose’s paternal aunt, Desirée Renaudin, who was the mistress to Francois, Vicomte de Beauharnais, the father of Alexandre. The marriage had originally been arranged between Catherine, Rose’s younger sister, and Alexandre, but when the 12 year old Catherine died in 1777, Rose was offered in her stead.

Rose’s marriage with Alexandre resulted in the birth of two children: a son, Eugene de Beauharnais, and a daughter, Hortense de Beauharnais. The marriage lasted until July of 1794, when Alexandre was executed in Paris during the Reign of Terror.

Ten years later, Rose would marry her second husband, who would change her name to Josephine and bring her into the world spotlight to assure her place in history.

“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.

The men were sipping tea and eating dates when Baba Mohammed Ben Osman, the Dey of Al Djazāir, captain of all pirates and ruler of the port, entered the room. He was a huge, opulently dressed, imposing figure whose jet-black beard and mustache were waxed into sharply curling points. His almond-shaped black eyes, generously lined with kohl, looked deep and menacing. The men knew that his vaulted position was built on thirty years of ruthless piracy and bloodshed. Despite the mighty price on his head, Ben Osman’s ships continued to plunder what they pleased with the blessings of the Dey’s distant cousin, the Sultan of Turkey.

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

The Dey of Algiers was the title given to the ruler (or Regent) of the Port of Algiers starting in the late 17th century. The Dey was chosen to rule for life by a council of local civilian, military and religious leaders with the approval (or insistence) of the Ottoman Sultan.

With the death of Dey Baba Ali on February 2, 1766, Mohammed ben Osman, the former treasurer to Baba Ali, took over as Dey of Algiers.

Dey Mohammed ben Osman suffered many obstacles during his 25 year rule of Algiers, but through diplomacy and military prowess, he was able to keep the region relatively stable. In 1775, a Spanish expedition attempted to sieze the town of Mustapha and failed with the loss of 4000 Spanish Soldiers. They attempted again in 1783 and 1784, and failed both times.

Ben Osman’s fleet of ships not only protected the Barbary Coast (as it was dubbed by Europeans) from attack, but plundered any ships that came within their realm. As unofficial members of the Ottoman navy, the men were known as “Corsairs” which ultimately became synonymous with “pirates”.

Prior to the American Revolution, the British Navy protected United States merchant vessels operating along the Barbary Coast of Africa. Following the revolution, France continued to protect US ships according to a 1778 alliance. However, in July 1785, Algerians captured two American ships and the Dey of Algiers held their crews of twenty-one people for a ransom of nearly $60,000. Thomas Jefferson, then United States minister to France, opposed the payment of tribute, which was ultimately paid. You can read details of Jefferson’s proposals here.

In July, 1791 Mohammed ben Osman died and was succeeded by his son, Baba Hassen.

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.

I want to publicly express my gratitude to all of the readers in Europe and the US who have turned my two-book series, The Veil and the Crown (The Stolen Girl and The French Sultana) into runaway best sellers in the last two months. Please feel free to contact me here with any questions or comments you may have about the story or characters. Thank you from my heart.