10 Amazing Facts About the Remarkable Life of Roxelana

The courts of kings past were full of interesting people vying for power and plotting against one another. These people were, of course, often men from privileged backgrounds. But Roxelana, who rose to power in the palace of Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566, was neither of these things. A rare combination of fate and cunning allowed this low-born foreign woman to become one of the most influential political figures of her day. A fascinating and complex character, she is revered for her philanthropy while at the same time alleged to have been behind deadly plots against her rivals. Here are ten facts about the fascinating life of Roxelana.

Related: Ten Tough & Terrible Queens Who Ruthlessly Ruled Their World

10 She Was Sold into Slavery as a Child

Roxelana’s path to power started in the unlikeliest of places. She was born around 1505 in a small town in what is now western Ukraine. In fact, the mononym Roxelana, the nickname she was known by in Europe, is a reference to her origins. It roughly translates as “the girl from Ruthenia.” Ruthenia was at that time subject to regular raids by Tartars from the Crimean Peninsula. They would kidnap people and sell them at the slave markets of Caffa, which were owned by the Ottoman Empire. Roxelana was among those taken, being sold at Caffa and then transported to the Ottoman capital of Constantinople.

She was probably a teenager at this point, which was lucky because young female slaves commanded a high price and were often treated better to preserve their beauty. In Constantinople, a childhood friend of the sultan’s son, Suleiman, bought Roxelana as a gift for his friend. She was brought to the sultan’s palace, where she became part of a harem of women who served the male royals.^[1]

9 She Had Many Names, but Nobody Knows Her Real One

Although she became widely known by the name “Roxelana” in Europe, which is said to have been bestowed upon her by some Venetian ambassadors, this was only one of several nicknames given to her. Her actual birth name is uncertain. Some sources list it as Aleksandra Lisovska, but others suggest it could have been Anastasia. While the moniker “Roxelana” paid homage to her roots, another nickname references a prominent feature of her appearance that was common to people from her region—red hair.

This led some to call her “La Rossa” and would likely have made her seem exotic in the Ottoman Empire. Her appearance might help to explain how she supplanted the incumbent haseki or royal favorite, but it is not believed to have been the main thing that caused Suleiman to fall for her. In fact, it was her personality that charmed the sultan and others. Her pleasant and cheerful demeanor led to another nickname by which she would become well known, “Hürrem,” which translates as “joyful one.”^[2]

8 The Sultan Fell Madly in Love with Her

There are differing versions of how the sultan came to be charmed by Roxelana. As part of the harem, she was only one woman among hundreds there to serve him. Each could expect only a small chance of ever actually meeting him in person. One way they might succeed is if his mother picked them out, which some say is how Roxelana met him. The other is more romantic.

It is said that the sultan overheard her singing while she was doing chores and struck up a conversation with her. But one thing that is not disputed is that she became his favorite. Not only did he free her from slavery and marry her, but after she had given birth to a son, Suleiman broke the existing tradition of sending princes and their mothers away to govern parts of the empire so that he could keep her close.

He then had four more sons with her, whereas the custom was for each woman to only have one. Despite being allowed another three more wives and any number of concubines, Suleiman is said to have never spent time with another woman again.^[3]

7 She Was a Loving Wife to the Sultan

Suleiman’s loyalty was repaid by his new wife. According to the French historian Fontenelle, after Roxelana converted to Islam, she refused to sleep with any man to whom she was not married—which at that point included the sultan himself. Initially resistant, he is said to have given in and agreed to marriage after three days. However, other sources say that he proposed first. The couple’s deep love for one another is evident from the sentimental poems they wrote to each other, some of which have survived.

The sultan signed poems to his wife with the word “Muhibbi,” roughly “lover” or “sweetheart.” This was how they kept the spark alive while Suleiman was away on military campaigns; however, Roxelana also dutifully served him during these times by keeping him updated about affairs in the palace and around Constantinople. By taking on these duties and more while the sultan was away, she was able to increase her own power and influence.^[4]

6 She Became an Important Political Player

Freed from slavery and now wife to the smitten sultan, Roxelana began to take on important responsibilities. Suleiman admired her intelligence, and she had taken it upon herself to increase her knowledge ever since she had first arrived in the palace. In addition to learning the local language, she is said to have received lessons in mathematics, geography, diplomacy, literature, history, and other subjects. While such lessons being offered to women at that time might seem strange, it was meant to prepare them to advise their sons, who were expected to someday govern parts of the empire.

Roxelana’s hard work paid off, and the sultan welcomed his wife’s advice on important issues. He even entrusted her with keeping the peace with the Kingdom of Poland. She also took steps to stop the Crimean Tartars from raiding towns and villages for slaves, so despite her powerful position and cheerful personality, it is possible she was still upset about the way she was cruelly snatched as a child.^[5]

5 She Was a Philanthropist Who Funded Many Public Projects

Roxelana was responsible for more than just international relations. Suleiman’s trust in her was so strong that she was given considerable freedom over planning and infrastructure in Constantinople. This is where she earned her reputation for generosity. One of her largest and most well-known projects in the city was the Haseki Mosque complex, which she commissioned and was designed by the royal architect Sinan.

More than just a place of worship, it included two schools and a hospital. Roxelana also commissioned public baths and fountains, soup kitchens and poorhouses, and hotels for visiting pilgrims. She also financed projects that would benefit the public in other cities, such as Mecca and Jerusalem. Several of her projects have endured into modern times, and some, such as the bathhouse she built for visitors to the Hagia Sophia, are still in use.^[6]

4 Her Enemies Accused Her of Witchcraft

Despite the good she was trying to do for her people, Suleiman’s other advisers were less than pleased about Roxelana’s unlikely rise to power. Here was a female former slave who had not only the ear of the sultan but also his heart, granting her a level of access that no other adviser could hope to rival. In an attempt to counter her influence, her contemporaries, both at home and across Europe, disseminated slanderous rumors about her in pamphlets and literary works. These included one rumor that could have serious implications in the 16th century—that she was a witch.

One widely circulated and translated pamphlet accused her of “corrupting the Kyng’s mynd” by using “certayne sorceries.” It also described her as being “crafty” and “wicked.” While her public image may have taken a bruising, the attempts to discredit her did nothing to dampen her husband’s feelings. She remained as influential as ever, and Suleiman was said to have punished people who were caught sharing nasty stories about his wife.^[7]

3 She Was Also Accused of Plotting the Assassination of Rivals

Roxelana certainly was not a witch, but whether she was totally generous and noble is less clear. That is because she directly benefited from the assassinations of two important figures during her lifetime. The first was Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha, the sultan’s friend. He had become the grand vizier, chief adviser to the sultan, a role that frequently brought him into conflict with Roxelana. In 1536, Suleiman became convinced that Pasha was a threat to his position as sultan and ordered him to be executed.

Who convinced him? The person with the most to gain appeared to be Roxelana, and some historians suspect that she was involved.

The other assassination was that of the sultan’s son and heir from the previous haseki, Mustafa. Mustafa felt that people were growing tired of Suleiman, who was well into his fifth decade as sultan. His circle wanted to see him seize power, but Suleiman caught wind of the plot and had him killed. This, of course, made Roxelana’s eldest son the heir apparent, further securing her own position.^[8]

2 She Survived Some Assassination Attempts of Her Own

Roxelana was also on the receiving end of violence. As well as the other political advisers being unhappy with her power, the sultan’s previous favorite, Mahidevran, also known as Gülbehar, was hardly thrilled at being replaced. During a spat, she called Roxelana “sold meat” and savagely scratched her face with her nails. When invited to join Suleiman that night, Roxelana refused to go, claiming that the sultan’s eyes would be offended by her injuries. Suleiman insisted on seeing her, and when he did, he was so furious that he banished Mahidevran from the harem and sent her to be with her son in another province.

Reportedly, there were also some more serious attempts to attack Roxelana. It was not only her character that her rivals tried to assassinate. However, she proved more than capable of protecting herself, and she took even the smallest threats seriously. She would get upset when young new slaves from Ruthenia joined the harem and would have them married off so that they could not tempt her husband.^[9]

1 Her Legacy Led to the “Sultanate of Women” Era

By moving into the palace, acting as an adviser, and marrying the sultan, Roxelana set a new precedent for imperial women. She did not, however, get to see her son become sultan. She died in 1588, but Suleiman would live for another eight years before their son Selim II took over. Nonetheless, the next century became widely remembered as the “Sultanate of Women” due to the significant influence women had in the imperial courts during that era.

Many historians trace this influence back to Roxelana. Her son Selim’s haseki, Nurbanu, outlived Selim but was able to use the fact that she was the mother of the new sultan to influence the court. The mother of the sultan then became known as the “valide,” and other hasekis and valides after her also used their positions to advise their sultans and become involved in foreign affairs ^[10]