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We in the west know her as Roxelana. Remember my post a while back about her? She's the Sultan's wife with an amazing story - a real life Scheherezade.
Kidnapped by the Tatars and sold into the Ottoman harem, Aleksandra Lisowska fell in love with the Sultan, changed her religion, and changed her name to Hürrem. (Roxelana means 'the Ruthenian/Russian'.) Suleiman the Magnificent legally married her, deposing his first son in favor of Hürrem's child. The scenario caused quite a stir.
With the rise of Otto-mania and the TV series Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Magnificent Century), Hürrem has found a new following. The storyline about the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent is the equivalent of the The Tudors for Turkey.
Even if some think portraying Ottoman court rivalry is unbecoming, there's great stuff coming out of this show, especially the jewelry. Example: Hürrem's ring. Lots and lots of girls are wishing for that one. (I'm one of them.) Don't like green? They have a purple one too. You can probably find one in every color, if you try hard. Wow rings are in this year. ;)
The series story behind the ring is interesting, even if I'm not sure how much of it is historically accurate. Hürrem's ring is symbolic of her status.
Suleiman was in the process of making the ring himself before he was decreed as the Sultan. His first Haseki Sultan ('commonlaw wife') assumed he was making it for her. Then Suleiman is called to Topkapi Palace to fulfill his birthright. Aleksandra is brought to the harem, and she hatches a plan to become the favorite. (Not hard, since she was beautiful and smart.) The first wife, Mahidevran, arrives with the Sultan's first born son. She thinks she's the favorite, but it's already clear Aleksandra is taking the lead. Guess who gets the ring.
Mahidevran is furious and manipulates some girls into stealing the ring from Aleksandra - now officially named "Hürrem" (my joy) by the Sultan. In the power struggle, Hürrem gets tossed in a dungeon and beaten to a pulp, but Mahidevran is banished in the end.
Meryem Uzerli plays Hürrem. Uzerli is half Turkish, half German. Her hair is not naturally red, but it looks good on her, don't you think?She co-stars with Halit Ergenç, a popular star from the other TV series Binbir Gece. I should write something about him one of these days. He really deserves his own post.
Here's a trailer clip for you.:
You had me at The Tudors for Turkey. I'm riveted!
ReplyDeleteGood grief!! These bad men pitting beautiful women against each other!! Booo! Wish the women could band together and depose the silly king/sultan/whatever and take the kingdom for themselves and give it to their daughters! Sigh! LOL!
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm calm now! LOL!
Ooooh hope they have a pink ring! Take care
x
That's funny, because they did and destroyed the Ottoman empire in less than 100 years.Greedy, very power hungry, not capable to care for the empire, because every single one was fighting to be the top dog, completely selfish reasons. Before women got involved it was the most powerful and richest empire on earth at that time. Hareem was run by women, so they were fighting with each other very much on their own accord, men weren't pitting them against each other. These women went through the same pain when young and then insisted on the same rules for the next generation.
DeleteWomen shouldn't think all problems are because of men. There are plenty modern examples where all female companies mixed before and very successful after they become female only gets run down, even bankrupt very quickly.
Wow. I'd love to read about it since I can't understand the language. All the intrigue, etc.--sometime truth is juicier than fiction.
ReplyDeleteAll 139 episodes of the Turkish television series Magnificent Century with English subtitles are posted on YouTube.
DeleteSquee!
ReplyDeleteDon't know why I didn't think to ask if you were watching this show. I've been watching it for "research" - ha ha! It's set about 50 years after my story's timeline, of course. But court customs, clothing styles, it's all there! I think the actors are great - though it does keep repeating cycles of Hürrem and Suleyman love each other, someone conspires against them, then they get together again. And I wish they'd dwell more on the moments when they get together again :-)
ReplyDeleteI've gotten up to episode 17 on YouTube.
I love that ring! I'm such a sucker for ancient jools. The story sounds so awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat's some story behind the ring!
ReplyDeleteWow, that ring it beautiful and I loved the video clip.
ReplyDeleteomg, that ring is GORGEOUS. And I love this story! Yep, that actress is very pretty, and see? These are wonderfully engaging tales~ <3
ReplyDeletewww.boutiqueottoman.com for Hurrem Sultan Jewelry
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with hurrem ring?
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that the word "Saracen" wasn't meant to be nice, it was derogatory. Also, your info was taken from a tv show and not totally accurate.
ReplyDeleteJust finishing watching the show Absolutely loved it but sub titles could have been written properly. Even had the word web site.and zoom..😁Calling men ladies.
ReplyDeleteDid writers of the show explained why they changed the design of the emerald ring?
ReplyDeleteIn the show the ring seems to be replaced with another design by episode of Hürrem Sultan last day after seeing a fiery winged figure. I was just curious as to why the change and also if the ring ever existed & if it was recovered after being stolen during the washing/cleansing of Hürrem Sultan body?
Beautiful Love story I must say.... I would most definitely be researching this couple...I think it's lovely a couple true love has lasted over 400 years and there's so much still around as proof. It kinda reminds me the Taj Mahal LoVe story as well.
Love rhe story but who took pictures of ottoman 400years ago
ReplyDelete