Biography Nurban Sultan

Its significance in the history of the Ottoman Empire was manifested in the fact that it became the first official bearer of the Valide-Sultan title. Thus, Nurban Sultan became the first woman who possessed such a title during the Ottoman Sultanate. Childhood in the year, on the island of Paros, which in those days was part of the Venetian Duchy of Naksos, the future wife of the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Cecilia Baffo was born.

The history of her life is shrouded in a secret to a certain period, and the circumstances of the origin are served by various versions. Venetian Violant Buffo is recognized as her mother, while paternity is attributed to Nikolo Venil, the governor of the island, and the Spaniard named Nasi, which is doubtful among researchers, although it is not completely refuted.

Cecilia was brought up in an atmosphere of nobility and received a Catholic education up to twelve years. Her childhood broke in the year when the Ottoman Admiral Hayraddin Barbarossa attacked Paros, ruined the island and grabbed many of its inhabitants, including Cecilia. Being captive and mourning her fate in the hold of the ship, she could not imagine what trials and greatness she had to be in further life in a foreign land.

Life in the palace hit the Sultanian harem as a captive, Cecilia Bufffo was quickly introduced into the number of the prince’s concubines, which became the result of both the influence of noticeable Italian relatives and an amazing combination of circumstances. There is an assumption that her choice for such a role was due not only to her external data, but also by personal qualities recognized by Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska-Sultan, the mother of the Sultan, who saw in Cecilia the potential of the future influential figure of the court for her nobility, education and fortitude.

The change of religion and the new name to Nurban, symbolizing the “luminous”, became for her the beginning of a new life. When Selim was the age of majority, he, together with Nurban, went to manage the province of Konya, where she soon gave him a daughter, a shah-Sultan, and two more daughters and the cherished son of Murad followed her, who approved her status of the main wife and mother of the heir to the throne.

The achievement of the status of Haseki, introduced for Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska-Sultan, emphasized the important role of Nurban in the Hierarchy of Garem, especially after the birth of his son. Her ability to maneuver between palace intrigues, while maintaining the support of significant personalities at the court, like Gazanfer-aga, the keeper of the chaos of Shehzade, and Janfeda, the maid, allowed her not only to strengthen her position, but also to make a significant contribution to the political life of the empire.

Nurban retained the favor of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska-Sultan to the end, as evidenced by mention in harem records, where she calls her “Mother Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska”, demonstrating respect and gratitude to a woman who played a considerable role in her fate. The Safi-Sultan concubine in the year may be familiar, immediately after Selim II entered the throne of the Ottoman Empire, followed by the death of his father Suleiman Great and eliminating his brother Bayazid as a competitor, the Sultan decided to replenish his harem in the Topkapi palace with new concubines.

This did not prevent him from maintaining deep respect for Nurban, which remained his favorite. Having fixed his loyalty, Selim officially married Nurban, providing her with a generous wedding gift in gold ducats, which was superior to a gift intended for Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska from Suleiman. Nurban played the role of the ideal wife throughout Selim, providing him with support in state matters due to her sharp mind and wisdom.

The entry into a legitimate marriage with the Sultan did not force Nurban to stay away from palace intrigues, especially when there was a threat to the throne to success her son Murad, sent to manage the manisa at the age of 20. She was ready to protect his interests at all costs. After the death of Selim II in the year, whose death is associated with an accident after drinking alcohol, Nurban, together with Vizier Mehmed Sokolla, was able to hide the fact of his death for 12 days.

This allowed her to protect the throne for Murad III, while eliminating potential rivals according to the brutal tradition of the time when the new Sultan exterminated all men from the family, except for his sons. Having become Valide-Sultan after an accession to the throne of her son, Nurban received virtually boundless powers. She was actively engaged in charity, erecting religious and social structures, strengthened international ties, including France and Venice.

Her ability to build profitable family alliances also manifested in the marriage of her daughters. Despite his influence on the government, Nurban failed to prevent Murad's attachment to his beloved concubine Safi-Sultan. This caused the subsequent confrontation between two influential women at the court, aggravating internal palace intrigues. Death unfortunately, Valide-Sultan Nurban did not live to the defeat of his opponent, who passed away in the year.The official cause of death, confirmed by court doctors, pointed out natural circumstances, but among the people there were rumors about the poisoning of the Genoese ambassador opposing the pro -Western policy pursued by the Empire under its influence.

Deeply mourning the loss of his mother, Murad III showed an expression unusual for the Ottoman tradition, dressing in black. On his orders for Nurban, truly majestic funerals were arranged. Her grave is located in the complex of the Mosque of St. Sophia in Istanbul, not far from the tomb of her spouse, Selim II, which was a unique exception for the Sultan's concubine.

The tomb of Nurban Sultan so ended with the earthly path of an outstanding woman who was able to overcome the path from the captive to Valide-Sultan, leaving an indelible mark in the history of the Ottoman Empire. Despite the limited number of surviving portraits of Nurban-Sultan during her lifetime, her image continues to live in historical works and popular culture, including in the film epic "Great Age", where actress Merve Bolugur played the role of Nurban-Sultan, drawing attention to this significant period of Ottoman history.