Zekiye Sultan
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Zekiye Sultan (; "''innocent, untainted''"; 12 January 1872 – 13 July 1950) was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan
Abdul Hamid II Abdulhamid II or Abdul Hamid II (; ; 21 September 184210 February 1918) was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1876 to 1909, and the last sultan to exert effective control over the fracturing state. He oversaw a Decline and modernizati ...
and
Bedrifelek Kadın Bedrifelek Kadın (, "''moon of the sky''"; 4 January 1851 – 8 February 1930) was the third consort of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire. Early life Bedrifelek Kadın was born on 4 January 1851 in Anapa. She was a member of Circa ...
.


Early life and education

Zekiye Sultan was born on 12 January 1872 in the
Dolmabahçe Palace Dolmabahçe Palace ( ) is a 19th-century imperial palace located in Istanbul, Turkey, along the European shore of the Bosporus, which served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and from 1909 to 1922. Histor ...
. Her father was
Abdul Hamid II Abdulhamid II or Abdul Hamid II (; ; 21 September 184210 February 1918) was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1876 to 1909, and the last sultan to exert effective control over the fracturing state. He oversaw a Decline and modernizati ...
, son of
Abdulmejid I ʻAbd al-Majīd (ALA-LC romanization of , ), also spelled as Abd ul Majid, Abd ul-Majid, Abd ol Majid, Abd ol-Majid, and Abdolmajid, is a Muslim male given name and, in modern usage, surname. It is built from the Arabic words '' ʻabd'' and ''al-Maj ...
and
Tirimüjgan Kadın Gülnihal Tirimüjgan Kadın (16 October 1819 – 3 October 1852; , ''young rose'' and ''darting eyelashes'') was a consort of Sultan Abdulmejid I, and the mother of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire. Early life Tirimüjgan was of Sha ...
. Her mother was
Bedrifelek Kadın Bedrifelek Kadın (, "''moon of the sky''"; 4 January 1851 – 8 February 1930) was the third consort of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire. Early life Bedrifelek Kadın was born on 4 January 1851 in Anapa. She was a member of Circa ...
, daughter of Prince Mehmed Karzeg. She was the third child, and second daughter of her father and the second child of her mother. She had two brothers,
Åžehzade Mehmed Selim Åžehzade Mehmed Selim Efendi (; 11 January 1870 – 5 May 1937) was an Ottoman prince, the eldest son of Sultan Abdul Hamid II and his consort Bedrifelek Kadın. Early life Åžehzade Mehmed Selim was born on 11 January 1870 in the Dolmab ...
, two years elder than her, and Şehzade Ahmed Nuri, six years younger than her. She was one of Abdülhamid's favorite daughters, with Naime Sultan and Ayşe Sultan. After Abdul Hamid's accession to the throne on 31 August 1876, the imperial family remained in the Dolmabahçe Palace. In 1877, Zekiye and other members of the imperial family settled in the
Yıldız Palace Yıldız Palace (, ) is a vast complex of former imperial Ottoman Empire, Ottoman pavilions and villas in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was used as a residence by the List of sultans of the Ottoman ...
, after Abdul Hamid moved there on 7 April 1877. Zekiye began her education in 1879, age seven, at the Ihlamur Pavilion together with her brother Åžehzade Mehmed Selim, and Sultan Abdul Aziz's children,
Şehzade Mehmed Şevket Şehzade Mehmed Şevket Efendi (; 5 June 1872 – 22 October 1899) was an Ottoman prince, the son of Sultan Abdulaziz and Neşerek Kadın. Early life Şehzade Mehmed Şevket was born on 5 June 1872 in the Dolmabahçe Palace. His father was Abd ...
,
Esma Sultan Esma or ESMA may refer to: Acronyms * ''Escuela Superior Militar de Aviación "Cosme Rennella B."'', Ecuadorian Air Force * Former ''Escuela Superior de Mecánica de la Armada'', used as a detention centre in Argentina 1976–1983, now Navy Petty- ...
and
Şehzade Mehmed Seyfeddin Şehzade Mehmed Seyfeddin Efendi (; 22 September 1874 – 19 October 1927) was an Ottoman prince, the son of Sultan Abdulaziz and Gevheri Kadın. Early life Şehzade Mehmed Seyfeddin was born on 22 September 1874 in the Çırağan Palace. His ...
. She studied geography, the Quran, and Turkish language. She also read English and French books. She was also taught music. She first took her music education from Lombardi Bey, and following her marriage from Madame Avisnad Bavis, a French. She learnt both Turkish and European music.


Marriage

In 1887, Zekiye was engaged to Ali Nureddin Pasha, eldest son of
Gazi Osman Pasha Osman Nuri Pasha (‎; 1832, Tokat, Ottoman Empire – 4 to 5 April 1900, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire), also known as Gazi Osman Pasha (), was an Ottoman Turkish field marshal. Being one of the most respected and decorated Ottoman pa ...
and Zatıgül Hanım, a lady formerly in harem of Sultan Abdulaziz, In 1889, aged seventeen, her father arranged her trousseaux and marriage together with three of Sultan
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz (; ; 8 February 18304 June 1876) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 25 June 1861 to 30 May 1876, when he was overthrown in a government coup. He was a son of Sultan Mahmud II and succeeded his brother Abdulmejid I in 1861. Ab ...
's daughters, princesses Saliha Sultan,
Nazime Sultan Nazime Sultan (; "''clouds''" or "''poetic''"; 25 February 1867 – 9 November 1947) was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz and Hayranidil Kadın, and the full-sister of Ottoman Caliphate, Ottoman Caliph Abdülmecid II. ...
, and
Esma Sultan Esma or ESMA may refer to: Acronyms * ''Escuela Superior Militar de Aviación "Cosme Rennella B."'', Ecuadorian Air Force * Former ''Escuela Superior de Mecánica de la Armada'', used as a detention centre in Argentina 1976–1983, now Navy Petty- ...
. The marriage contract was signed on 15 March 1889 in the
Yıldız Palace Yıldız Palace (, ) is a vast complex of former imperial Ottoman Empire, Ottoman pavilions and villas in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was used as a residence by the List of sultans of the Ottoman ...
. Zekiye's deputy was Mehmed Yavar Agha, and witness was Mehmed Cevher Agha. Ali Nureddin's deputy was Grand Vizier Mehmed Kamil Pasha. The wedding took place 20 April 1889 in the Yıldız Palace. Her husband became
Damat Damat (, from {{langx, fa, {{nq, داماد (dâmâd) "bridegroom") was an official Ottoman title describing men that entered the imperial House of Osman by means of marriage, literally becoming the bridegroom to the Ottoman sultan and the dyn ...
through marriage. It was a tradition that princesses were allocated palaces on their marriage. She was allocated the Ortaköy Palace. This palace once belonged to her aunt Mediha Sultan, half-sister of her father, where she resided with her first husband. Zekiye moved to Ortaköy Palace, on the second day after the marriage, where 80 men and 80 women were in their service. In 1898, Ali Nureddin's younger brother, Mehmed Kemaleddin Pasha, married her younger half-sister Naime Sultan. Her palace was constructed next to Zekiye's palace, and the two buildings used to be called "The Twin Mansions". The two together had two daughters, Ulviye Şükriye Hanımsultan born in 1890, who died at the age of about three on 23 February 1893, and Fatma Aliye Hanımsultan, born in 1891. Fatma Aliye married Mehmed Muhsin Yeğen, member of the
Egyptian ''Egyptian'' describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of year ...
YeÄŸen power family, in 1911. The couple had two sons, Osman Hayder Bey, born on 5 September 1912, and Salih Zeki Bey, born on 4 September 1921. By them, Zekiye had a great-granddaughter, Fatma Yasemin YeÄŸen (b. 18 September 1973) and a great-grandson, Muhsin Osman Yegen (b. 14 December 1977). Zekiye Sultan and Ali Nureddin Pasha esteemed music, and she used to play piano at her mansion. She was also interested in arts. During the month of
Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...
, she fed the poor and provided financial aid to them. She also presented gifts to the guests who came to the Iftar. She participated in various donation campaigns, that made her known as a receptive and benevolent princess. Rumours had it that Nureddin Paşa had met a beautiful Greek Ottoman woman outside Bon Marché in Beyoğlu and that she later became his mistress. The rumours reached Abdülhamid II, who urged Zekiye Sultan to divorce her husband but she refused. Apparently, after a while, the Greek Ottoman woman was killed by the Sultan’s men.


Exile and death

At the exile of the imperial family in March 1924, Zekiye and her family including her husband, daughter, and grandsons settled in
Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pau (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune overlooking the Pyrenees, the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions of France, region of Southwestern France. The city is locat ...
,
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
where the whole family lived in one room in a hotel, which they never paid because the PaÅŸag had been the grandson of Gazi Osman PaÅŸah. Her mother chose to remain in Turkey, in her mansion in Serencebey, where she died in 1930. According to NesliÅŸah Sultan, she was chubby and had lost most of her hair, and scarcely left the house. She would dress up and wear a blonde wig. She used to collect miniature animals, goats, and flowers, and also ate a lot of sweets. Zekiye Sultan died on 13 July 1950 in
Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pau (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune overlooking the Pyrenees, the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions of France, region of Southwestern France. The city is locat ...
,
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
at the age of seventy-eight, and was buried there. Her husband outlived her by two years, and dying in 1952.


Honours

* Order of the House of Osman * Order of the Medjidie, Jeweled * Order of Charity, 1st Class


Issue

By her husband, Zekiye Sultan had two daughters: * Ulviye Şükriye Hanımsultan (1890 - February 1893). Born and died in the
Ortaköy Palace Ortaköy (, ''Middle Village)'' is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Beşiktaş, Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its population is 9,121 (2024). It is on the European shore of the Bosphorus. it was originally a small fishing villag ...
, buried in Yahya Efendi cemetery. * Fatma Aliye Hanımsultan (1891 - 14 April 1972). Born in the Ortaköy Palace. In 1911 she married Mehmed Muhsin Bey Yeğen, from the powerful Yeğen Egyptian family. They had two sons: ** Osman Hayder Bey Yeğen (5 September 1912 – ?), unmarried and without issue ** Salih Zeki Bey Yeğen (4 September 1921 – ?), married and had a daughter and a son: *** Fatma Yasemin Yeğen (b. 18 September 1973) *** Muhsin Osman Yeğen (b. 14 December 1977)


In popular culture

* In the 2017 TV series '' Payitaht: Abdülhamid'', Zekiye Sultan is portrayed by Turkish actress Tuğçe Kumral.


Ancestry


References


Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zekiye Sultan 1872 births 1950 deaths Royalty from Istanbul 19th-century Ottoman princesses 20th-century Ottoman princesses Daughters of Abdul Hamid II