Reader's Theatre
Ottoman Harem during the reign of Sultan Suleyman
at the height of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500’s

by Rit Nosotro

Characters:
Hurrem - - the new concubine in the Ottoman Harem of Sultan Suleyman
Suleyman - - Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Mihrimah: Hurrem’s daughter. She influences Suleyman the Sultan, and is greatly loved by him.
Safiye: Hurrem’s teacher and friend in the harem (which means Sultan’s household)
Kizlar Agha - - the 'head black eunuch' who is the only male allowed into the harem because he is ‘not fully man’ and therefore poses no threat to the purity of the harem

Kizlar Agha: (opens the door to the Harem): Newcomer! She comes from the Balkan where Suleyman has been conquering land for the Turkish Empire. I purchased her at the slave markets. Ibrahim, the Grand Vizier is giving her to Sultan Suleyman. Think she said her name was Hurry-them. She’s a beauty, so make sure you treat her well.
Hurrem (bright and smiley and speaking to Gulbahar especially): Hi everyone, I’m Hurrem and I’m from the Caucasus. Do you know the funniest thing happened to me the other day? Well anyway, I was being dragged along in this foreign town not knowing a soul and all of a sudden a lady bug just landed right on my nose and I smiled. Who couldn’t smile? It’s been such a lovely day since then. Hehehee.
Safiye: Welcome to the Harem, Hurrem. My friend and I were just commenting on how cheerful you are. I loved that ladybug story. Perhaps you could tell me another story while we get started with your lessons. We must begin immediately for I am sure you will have a chance to be a concubine of the Sultan. Oh and don’t mind Gulbahar’s stares. She’s the Sultan’s favorite, the bas Kadin, her son Mustafa is the heir to the throne. Hurrem, let’s begin your poetry and music lessons. I am sure you will have a chance to be one of the Sultan’s concubines so you must be trained! Let’s begin with the poetry. Now to impress the Sultan your reading must flow and your voice express passion. I will coach you through the Turkish. Yes, that’s it exactly! You catch on much quicker than the other odalisques and concubines do!
Hurrem: Thank you! You are all so kind. Narbanu was already telling everyone how pleasant I was and I only saw her for a few moments when I came in!
Eunuch (reenters): Hurrem? Suleyman is calling for you. He wants to meet his new ‘story telling’ and ‘laughing’ concubine. Seems praise of you travels quickly. Get ready and I will present you to the Sultan.
Safiye: Here is your dress, and let me rouge your cheeks. Narbanu, please hot iron Hurrem’s hair. Ah, now you are ready.
(The eunuch escorts Hurrem to the Sultan’s bedchamber)
Suleyman: Ah, Hurrem, every bit as beautiful as I have heard. Come, I am weary of battles in Austria and Hungary, however victorious I am.

(Next morning)
Safiye: Hurrem, Hurrem, how was your night with the Sultan?
Hurrem: He liked me very much. He asked to see me again tonight. Safiye, it’s just an inkling, but I think I’m pregnant.
Safiye: How delightful! Let me teach you some skills that will assist you tonight!

Suleyman: There you are Hurrem, I think you shall be one of my favorites. How was your day?
Hurrem: It was wonderful, Sultan. I wanted to tell you something. I think I am carrying your child.
Sultan: Are you sure? That is wonderful! I wanted to ask you if you would accompany me on a trip to see how my mosque in Istanbul is coming along, already I have come to truly love your company, but that must wait until you have delivered. I will put the dates in the book for this time next year.
Hurrem: Yes, Sultan, I am honored.

(Next morning)
Safiye: Hurrem, tell me about last night!
Hurrem: It was lovely. The Sultan asked me to come with him to inspect a mosque he is having built. Isn’t that wonderful? He said I was becoming a favorite!
Safiye: Really? How exciting! But you can’t go to the mosque on that date; it’s our summer excursion to Golden Horn.
Hurrem: I must honor the Sultan’s request, although I was looking forward to seeing the busting port you all talk about.
(A year has past and Hurrem continues to win the affection of Suleyman. Meanwhile her child is born. It is a daughter Mihrimah, 1522)
Kizlar Agha: Hurrem? We must meet Suleyman now. His carriage is already waiting to go to Istanbul.
Hurrem: I am ready, let’s go.
Suleyman: Ah, Eunuch give Hurrem a hand up into the coach. Thank you, we will return in a few days. Keep order in the harem.
Hurrem: Thank you for inviting me along. I was going to ask you a question Sultan. I was thinking that Mustafa would be wonderful as the governor of one of those far off provinces. Don’t you think that he and Gulbahar could help advance your troops enormously? I know that you have joined with France to fight Charles V.
Suleyman: Oh, no, I need them here at home, I love my Gulbahar. Why do you ask?
Hurrem: I wanted you to be happy, Sultan. I’ve seen Gulbahar sneering at me. She is jealous you want to be with me and not her. We don’t want her envy to ruin our happiness, do we? Besides, there is another little one on the way.
Suleyman: Hurrem, you must be joking. So soon? How wonderful! We shall see about Mustafa.
Hurrem: You are very wise, Suleyman, you will make the right choice.

(Hurrem and Suleyman have returned)
Suleyman: So how did you like the mosque?
Hurrem: I loved it, Sultan. I can’t wait to see the aqueducts, fountains, gardens, and other monuments you have built. You are the most amazing man I have known.
Suleyman: Not to brag, but the Europeans are even calling me Suleyman the Magnificent. Did you know that the Ottoman Empire is close to spanning from Eastern Europe to North Africa to North Asia? My armies have conquered one nation and city after another. I am continuing the legacy of Mehmed when he conquered Constantinople in 1453. I am only the 4th Sultan since him.
Hurrem: It must be wonderful to have such a lineage. I don’t know where my relatives are, the last time I saw them was right before I was captured and brought here. As you know, we concubines in the harem are considered to have no heritage. It is not that I mind; I just long for family at times. Oh, speaking of family, I had an idea. You and I could become a family. A real, true, genuine family.
Suleyman: What do you mean? You know I love you. Of course you’re in my family.
Hurrem: I mean a real one. A confirmed one. A kind you’ve never had before. Official marriage.
Suleyman: (cough) Marriage??!! No Sultan has never officially married a woman before! You know that! We have our concubines and favorite kadins but never true wives. The risk is too great. You have ties to your family; you might desert me and tell the secrets of my Empire!
Hurrem: Why would I care about my family or silly old secrets when I could have you instead, oh Suleyman? You write poetry, you are an excellent goldsmith, you manage your empire brilliantly, and I could go on for days listing your accomplishments!
Suleyman: Hurrem, Hurrem, you’re right. You’ve convinced me. Why should our love not be official? You are they only woman I have ever truly loved.
Hurrem: Let’s do it quickly then. And have you thought about what I said about Gulbahar? She will be really mad if she finds out that we are married.
Suleyman: You are right as always. I will tell Mustafa and Gulbahar tomorrow that I have appointed them to govern one of my far off provinces. She will not bother you there.
Hurrem: Oh thank you Sultan. I didn’t want anything to happen to my babies. I’d hate to see them put up in the kufes, so that Mustafa doesn’t have any competition. What if he dies and you need my children. They would be completely unprepared to govern. Besides, you never know what Gulbahar might do to have her way.
Suleyman: Yes, I understand. Let’s not talk about any more politics. The Empire is battling the Russians for control of the northern border and not doing so well. I want to enjoy myself tonight.

(Several years pass, Selim and another son are born to Hurrem, Mihrimah marries Rustem Pasha. It is now the year 1541)
Safiye: What is that odd smell? It has the same fragrance as when the cook forgets to take the cloth that covers the bread out of the oven and it gets burned.
Hurrem: Yes, sniff, sniff, Safiye, call the Eunuch, I see smoke!
Kizlar Agha: Everyone out! The harem chambers have caught fire. We must evacuate immediately!
All: Achahhh, hack, hach, ahhhh, help!!!
Kizlar Agha: All right, calm yourselves, everyone is out safely. Men are putting out the fire and everything will be fine. Hurrem, the Sultan is ready for the night. Please come with me.
Suleyman: Are you all right?
Hurrem: Yes, Suleyman I am well. I wanted to present a thought to you. Now that the Old Palace harem chambers are burned, perhaps it would be wise to move your Imperial Harem to the Topkapi Palace in Seragilo.
Suleyman: Yes, what a brilliant idea. I will have Ibrahim prepare it at once.

(A week later when the women of the harem and Hurrem and her servants and waiting concubines move into the Palace)
Safiye: This is so exciting! We are actually in Seraglio. This is where the action of the Ottoman Empire goes on, and to think that I am a part of it!
Hurrem: Do you think I suggested this idea to the Sultan for no reason? Safiye, if we are here right next to the Second Court, only one courtyard away, we will be able to influence the government! You know I was thinking of something, Selim is grown and Mustafa is still the heir of the Sultan, what will become of my son if he takes the throne? This has been swirling around in my head for years. I think if I can convince Suleyman that Ibrahim is conspiring against him I will be able to get my son-in-law, Rustem Pasha appointed Grand Vizier. Then I will have a real connection in the Ottoman government and even more sway over the Sultan. Perhaps Rustem and Mihrimah can convince him that Mustafa is also trying to become Sultan. You know the Sultan relies on Mihrimah’s advice. He will do anything that she asks; he loves her so much. I will bring these things up tonight with Suleyman. He should be in good spirits since his plan for reforming the army seems to be working amazingly well.

(That night)
Suleyman: How are you tonight, Hurrem? How are Mihrimah and Selim and all my other beloved children? Did you know just today Mihrimah was here giving me advice on my new poem and the politics of the Empire? She is quite a budding politician!
Hurrem: Yes, Sultan she most certainly is. Sultan, I have some disturbing news. It seems that Ibrahim is acting like he is the Sultan; it seems that he is conspiring to take over. I know how securely you hold your power so I thought you should know.
Suleyman: What? This cannot be true! Ibrahim? No, no, you must be right. You’ve never misguided me before, and I did give Ibrahim more power lately, it must have gotten to his head. I will take care of him tomorrow.
Hurrem: I’m sorry to bring you grief, but you will need a new Grand Vizier, and I think I know just the man: Rustem Pasha, Mihrimah’s husband.
Suleyman: Yes, he would do fine, I suppose. I’m sorry Hurrem but I need to make some arrangements. I will see you tomorrow; by then Ibrahim will be dead and Rustem in his place. (Walks away sad yet angry)

Safiye and Mihrimah: Did the Sultan believe you? Did he catch on to your plan?
Hurrem: No, he didn’t detect a hint of dishonesty. He is still in love with me as usual and gives in to my every whim. Mihrimah, I need you to do something for your brother and me. Rustem will be Grand Vizier by the time the night is over. You and he must come up with a clever lie about Mustafa that will panic Suleyman. We must do away with Mustafa so that Selim can become heir, and I will be Valide Sultan!
Mihrimah: Yes, mother. I will approach Suleyman right now. He called for me just a moment ago. Rustem has just returned and I bet we could convince the Sultan that Rustem ‘heard’ about Mustafa’s fame becoming so great that his men are vying for him to become Sultan.
Hurrem: Excellent. I am going to bathe and then meet the Sultan in his bedchamber. In the meantime go talk to him.
Suleyman: I just had a troubling talk with Mihrimah, it seems that now Mustafa has turned against me as well. I informed the army that I am taking over tomorrow. I will summon Mustafa to report to me and then I will kill him with my bow.
Hurrem: I believe that is wise, Suleyman. You can’t have anyone threatening your rule over the people who conquered the Byzantine Empire! Besides, Rustem has been out in Mustafa’s governship and saw the parties the men were throwing for him.
Suleyman: Yes. Now I suppose Selim will become my heir. When I die you shall become the Valide Sultan, mother of the Sultan, the most powerful woman in the empire. I hope that this great Muslim Empire will last past me. I’ve tried to keep a Christian invasion at bay by supporting the European Protestants. If Christianity is divided, perhaps the people won’t unite against Islam!
Hurrem: Thank you Sultan! I’m sure your empire will continue on.

So ends the story of Hurrem. Alas, she does not live to be Valide Sultan; Hurrem dies in 1558. Her son does claim the throne after Suleyman dies in 1566. Selim is corrupt, and from here on out the Empire goes downhill. Sultans stop directly governing the empire and going out with their troops. They focus on their harems and the women of the harem distract the Sultans and in doing so get their heirs on the throne. Sultans are unprepared to rule because they are kept in kufes so that they don’t give competition or danger to the present Sultan. When a captive prince becomes Sultan, he doesn’t know what to do.

2. Sansel, Burak. "Suleyman the Magnificent" and "Hurrem Sultan" and " Mihrimah Sultan" Sansel Burak Last Accessed: October 25, 2003

3. Sayfa, Yazdirilabilir "Excursions and Entertainments" Ottoman Research Foundation. Last Accessed October 25, 2003

4. Safya, Yazdirilabilir "The Harem in the Ottoman Empire A Speech for General Audience at the Anniversary of 700th Ottoman State." Ottoman Research Foundation. Last Accessed October 25, 2003

5. The Applied History Research Group " "The Ottoman Empire" University of Calgary. Last Accessed October 25, 2003

6. The Applied History Research Group " "The Ottoman Empire" University of Calgary. Last Accessed October 25, 2003

7. Severy, Merle "The World of Suleyman the Magnificent" National Geographic Magazine. Last Accessed October 25, 2003

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