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Safiye Sultan (Valide Sultan) by Unknown Author –

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Safiye Sultan

Safiye Sultan was the principal or chief consort to Sultan Murad III of the Ottoman Empire. She was by far Murad III’s favorite consort. She later became de-facto co-ruler and Valide Sultan under her son’s rule.

Safiye was an ambitious, clever, and cunning consort who managed to consolidate great influence and wealth in the Ottoman Empire. Her story as a mere slave who was presented as a concubine at a mere 13 years of age is a tragic one but at the same time one of triumph.

Safiye is one of the more prominent women from the era known as the Sultanate of Women. Below are some interesting facts about Murad III’s first wife, Safiye Sultan.

1. Born Around 1550

Safiye’s birth date is based on predictions and much like most women in her generation, her early life is a mystery. However, most reports show she was born on or around 1550.

Her name by birth name was Sofia and she had golden hair and fair skin. Many Venetian sources say that she is of Albanian origin although some early sources claim she was a slave from Bosnia.

Whatever her origin, Sofia was educated at a young age and this serves as proof to some that she had royal origins. Or at least she hailed from a rich family.

2. Sold as A Slave at Age 13

Chained Slave by PublicDomainPictures from

In 1563 (13 years old), Sofia, later Safiye was presented as a slave to the young prince Murad III. Safiye was a gift to Murad III from his cousin Hümaşah Sultan, granddaughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hurrem Sultan through their deceased son Şehzade Mehmed.

After being presented to Murad, she became his concubine and was given the name Safiye. This was due to her golden hair (blonde) and fair skin.

3. She Was Murad’s Sole Concubine for Years

Sultan Murad III by Belli deÄŸil –

Three years after her presentation as Murad’s concubine, Safiye bore Murad his first son on 26th May 1566. This future son would become Mehmed III at a future date.

This was the same year that Murad’s father, Suleiman the Magnificent, died and Murad ascended into power. As the mother of his heir, Safiye remained Murad’s sole concubine for the next five to six years.

The couple went on to have three more children during the Murad’s monogamous period. The children include Şehzade Mahmud, Ayşe Sultan, and Fatma Sultan.

Other children claim to have been children from the marriage but the claims have never been proven. They include; Şehzade Selim, Hümaşah Sultan, Mihrimah Sultan, Fahriye Sultan, and a European braggart Alexander of Montenegro (Şehzade Yahya).

4. She Helped the Sultan Pick His Concubines

For a while, Murad insisted on monogamy despite his family’s advice to father more children. This led to Safiye’s stepmother (Nurbanu Sultan) accusing her of rendering her son impotent using witchcraft. This increased tensions between the two with Murad’s mother imprisoning and torturing Safiye’s servants to confess.

However, one of Murad’s sisters presented Murad with 2 concubines skilled in music and dance and it worked. Instead of being jealous, Safiye understood that more offspring underscored his right to succession.

She therefore joined and actively participated in the practice of locating concubines for her husband. Eventually, Sultan Murad III would end up fathering over 50 children with his concubines.

5. Granted the Rank of Haseki

She tolerated losing her position as Murad’s lone bedmate but retained her influence as his favorite consort and confidante. She received the title of Haseki, or principal concubine, a year after Murad ascended to the throne.

As the mother of the prince, she occasionally intervened in matters of state. She was highly regarded by many in the empire and listened to by His Majesty who deemed her intelligent and prudent. It is also said that despite the many concubines, “everyone” referred to her as his wife.

6. Most Powerful Woman in The Empire

Safiye Sultan Had Great influence throughout her son’s rule in Harem and the empire at large. However, she was always an understudy to her stepmother Nurbanu Sultan.

Nurbanu passed away in 1583 making Safiye the most powerful woman in the entire empire as the principal concubine. In 1595, Murad III passed away and Safiye’s eldest son Mehmed III ascended into power.

With his ascension, Safiye gained even more power as she became the Sultan’s primary advisor. She also effectively became the Valide Sultan, the legal mother of the presiding sultan. Ambassadors and government employees pleaded with her to get involved in the affairs of the state.

In 1596, Mehmed took part in the Erlau Campaign. The campaign resulted in the Ottoman conquest of Erlau (Eger) and victory at Hachova (Mező-Kersztes).

Safiye was given executive authority during the campaign, formalizing her de facto position as co-ruler. Additionally, she was a key player in choosing her son-in-law to be the Grand Vizier, favoring his nomination.

7. Close Friendship with Queen Elizabeth I

Painting of Elizabeth I of England, also known as the Ermine Portrait. Elizabeth is wearing a richly decorated black dress and The Three Brothers jewel by William Segar –

Having amassed such great influence in the Ottoman empire, Safiye often corresponded with other Monarchs at the time. This was out of interest in supporting Venetian interests as well as her personal goals.

It was through this correspondence that she struck up a close and personal relationship with Elizabeth I, Queen of England. Elizabeth gifted Safiye with a golden coach and it was the subject of a massive scandal as she rode it through the streets.

In return, Queen Elizabeth I was gifted clothing appropriate for an Ottoman noblewoman by Safiye in return for her gift. It was described as “two garments of cloth of silver, one girdle of cloth of silver, and two handkerchiefs fashioned with massy gold.” She used five different ink colors and gold dust to write letters to the queen.

8. She Lived Through the Reigns of 7 Ottoman Sultans

Safiye Sultan was very clever, educated, and equally cunning. This is why she was able to outlive many and bear witness to the reigns of seven Ottoman Sultans.

The first one was Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Second was Sultan Selim II. The third was Murad III, her husband. The fourth was Mehmed III her first son. The fifth and sixth Sultans were her grandsons Ahmed I and Mustafa I. The seventh and final was Sultan Osman II, her great-grandson in whose reign she passed away.

9. Responsible for The Death of Her Grandson

Under her son’s reign, Safiye amassed great influence, power, and riches in the Ottoman empire. So much so that Mehmed III’s rule was beginning to be questioned due to her influence.

This led to Mehmed trying to control her by moving her out of the new palace. However, she had appointed her allies in high-ranking positions and this did not stop her.

One of her lowest moments came when one grandson spoke against her and criticized her power. Safiye convinced Mehmed III that he was a threat to his throne and Mehmed III had him executed immediately.

10. Buried Alongside Murad III

Hagia Sophia by Arild VÃ¥gen –

On 20th April 1619, Safiye Sultan passed away during the reign of her great-grandson Osman II. Safiye was then buried alongside her husband Sultan Murad III in a tomb at Hagia Sofia.

Hagia Sofia is a mosque and a significant historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. It was a Greek Orthodox church from 360 AD up until the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire in 1453.