Ottoman Court

Kösem Sultan (c. 1589-1651), also known by her harem name Mahpeyker, was the wife of Sultan Ahmed I and mother of Sultans Murad IV and Ibrahim I. As valide sultan and regent she dominated Ottoman politics for four decades before being killed in a palace power struggle with her rival, Turhan Sultan.

Roxelana (c. 1502-1558), known as Hürrem Sultan, rose from slavery to become Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent's legal wife and the most powerful woman in Ottoman history.