Safiye Sultan

Safiyā (Safiye) صفیه سلطان Valida Sultânā
Reconstructed scene of a Valide Sultan and her attendants in her apartments at Topkapı Palace
Born	Sofia Baffo circa 1550
Died	between 1605 and 1619
Known for	Valida Sultânā
Religion	Catholicism, subsequently converted to Islam after her capture
Spouse	Murad III
Children	Mehmed III
Parents	The daughter of the Venetian Governor of Corfu; a relative of Giorgio Baffo

Safiyā Valida Sultânā, (Ottoman Turkish: صفیه سلطان, or Devletlu İsmetlu Safiyā Valida Sultânā Aliyyetü'ş-şân Hazretleri), (Daulatlu Ismatlu Safiyā Valida Sultânā 'Aliyāt ūsh-Shān Hazrātlāri) née Sofia Baffo, (ca. 1550 - fl. 1603), was the consort of Ottoman Sultan Murad III, the Valida Sultânā and de facto co-regent to her son, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed III.

Biography

She was of Venetian descent. She was born in about 1550, but her date of death is uncertain between 1605 and 1619. Born as Sofia Baffo, daughter of the Venetian Governor of Corfu and a relative of Giorgio Baffo, it is possible that she was also related to the mother of her future mother-in-law, Nûr-Bānū Valida Sultânā.

Safiye was captured by corsairs and presented to the Ottoman harem sometime in the 1560s, where she was given the name Safiye: the pure one, and gave birth to Mehmed III in 1566. She became chief consort of the Sultan after the death of her mother-in-law in 1574. Following in the steps of her cousin Nûr-Bānū, Safiye Sultan played an important political role during the reigns of the next two Sultans after this year.

Interior design of Yeni Mosque in Eminönü, Istanbul. ( Her construction was begun during the regency of Safiye Valida Sultânā, the mother of Sultan Mehmed III).

The Yeni Mosque in Eminönü, Istanbul, (Her construction was begun by Safiye Valida Sultânā and completed during the regency of Turhan Hatice, the mother of Sultan Mehmed IV).

Upon the ascension of her son on the throne in 1595, Safiye became de facto co-regent of the Ottoman Empire. Alongside Nur Banu, Safiye Valida Sultânā was one of the most influential Valida Sultânā in history, a position she held between 1595 and 1603. Safiye followed Nur Banu's pro-Venetian policy. She corresponded by letter with Elizabeth I of England; in 1599, Elizabeth I presented Safiye with a carriage. Safiye had the carriage covered, and used it on excursions to town, which was considered scandalous.

Safiye Valida Sultânā is believed to have been strongly influenced by her kira. Kiras were typically Jewish women, who as non-Muslims could act as intermediaries between the secluded women of the harem and the outside world and performed as economic agents and secretatries. Safiye's kira was Esperanza Malchi. Esperanza was killed by a lynch mob in 1600.

Safiye Valida Sultânā is also famous for starting the construction of The New Mosque in Eminünü, Istanbul in 1598. The construction took more than half a century and was completed by another Valida Sultânā, Turhan Hadice Valida Sultânā, the mother of Sultan Mehmed IV. The Al-Malika Safiyya Mosque (Malika Safiya) in Cairo is named in her honor. All the succeeding Sultans descended from Safiye Valida Sultânā.

See also

• Ottoman Dynasty
• Line of succession to the Ottoman throne
• Ottoman family tree

References

• Maria Pia Pedani, Safiye’s Household and Venetian Diplomacy, Turcica, 32 (2000), pp. 9–32.

External links

• http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower1570.htm

Preceded by Nûr-Bānū

Valida Sultânā 1594 - 1603

Succeeded by Handan