The Fate of the Sultan’s Consorts After His Death
After the death of the Grand Signior, different rules applied to the women of the Seraglio depending on whether they
The End of the Private Ceremony
After the formal ceremonies and private meeting have ended, the woman chosen by the Grand Signior is returned to the
The Sultan’s Appearance in the Garden
When the Grand Signior wishes to spend time in the palace garden with a chosen number of women, a signal
The Organization of the Women’s Chambers
Just as the Pages of the Seraglio are divided into two chambers, so too are the young women divided into
Officers Serving the Queen Mother
Among the Black Eunuchs, several officers are assigned specifically to the service of the Queen Mother, whose household is one
The White Eunuchs and Their Rank
These officers described above are the principal and senior officers among the White Eunuchs of the Seraglio. Besides them, there
Officers of the Seraglio and Their Duties
Within the Seraglio of the Ottoman Sultan, many important officers served under the chief eunuchs. Each had a defined role
Of the Eunuchs in the Ottoman Court
Among the customs of Eastern courts, the use of eunuchs was long established and widely accepted. This practice arose from
The Dwarfs of the Ottoman Court
In the Ottoman court, there was another group of attendants besides the Pages and the Mutes. These were the Dwarfs,
The Silent Language of the Ottoman Court
One of the most unusual features of the Ottoman court was the use of mutes, whose language of signs was