Abdul Hamid had numerous consorts, but allowed none of them to have political influence; in the same way he did not allow his adoptive mother,
Rahime Perestu Sultan, or other female members of his family to have such influence, though some of them still had some degree of power in private or in the daily life of the harem. The only, partial exception was
Cemile Sultan, his half-sister and adoptive sister. He was convinced that his predecessors' reigns, especially those of his uncle
Abdülaziz and his father
Abdülmecid I, had been ruined by the excessive meddling of the women of the imperial family in affairs of state.
Consorts Abdul Hamid had at least 23 consorts: •
Nazikeda Kadın (1848 – 11 April 1895).
BaşKadin (First Consort). She was an Abkhazian princess, born Mediha Hanim, lady-in-waiting to
Cemile Sultan. She died prematurely after years of deep depression, due to the death of her only daughter. •
Safinaz Nurefsun Kadın (1850–1915). Her real name was Ayşe and she was the younger sister of the last consort of
Abdülmecid I,
Yıldız Hanım. When Yıldız Hanım married Abdülmecid, Ayşe was sent into the service of
Şehzade Abdülaziz, where she was renamed Safinaz. According to Harun Açba, Abdülaziz was fascinated by her beauty and wanted to marry her, but she refused because she was in love with Şehzade Abdul Hamid. The feeling was mutual and the young prince asked for the help of his stepmother
Rahime Perestu Kadin. She told Abdülaziz that Safinaz was ill and that she needed a change of air; later, Abdülaziz was informed of her death. Abdul Hamid then secretly married Safinaz, who was renamed Nurefsun, in October 1868. However, she could not get used to life in the
harem and wanted to be Abdul Hamid's only consort. She then asked for a divorce, which was granted to her in 1879. She had no children. •
Bedrifelek Kadın (1851–1930). Circassian Princess who took refuge in
Istanbul when Russia invaded the
Caucasus. She ruled Abdul Hamid's harem when
Rahime Perestu Sultan died. She left Abdul Hamid when he was deposed, perhaps disappointed that their son had not been chosen as successor. She had two sons and a daughter. •
Bidar Kadın (5 May 1858 – 13 January 1918).
Kabartian princess, she was considered the most beautiful and charming of Abdul Hamid's consorts. She had a son and a daughter. •
Dilpesend Kadın (16 January 1865 – 17 June 1901).
Georgian. She was educated by
Tiryal Hanim, the last consort of
Mahmud II, who was Abdul Hamid's grandfather. She had two daughters. •
Mezidemestan Kadın (3 March 1869 – 21 January 1909). She was born Kadriye Kamile Merve Hanim, she was the aunt of
Emine Nazikeda Kadın, future consort of
Mehmed VI. She was loved by everyone, including his other consorts and her stepchildren. She was the most influential of his consorts, but she never abused her power. She had a son, who was Abdul Hamid's favorite. •
Emsalinur Kadın (1866–1952). She entered the Palace with her sister Tesrid Hanım, who became a consort of
Şehzade Ibrahim Tevfik. She was very beautiful. She did not follow Abdul Hamid into exile and died in poverty. She had a daughter. •
Destizer Müşfika Kadın (1872 – 18 July 1961). She was Abkhazian, born Ayşe Hanim. She grew up with her sister under the tutelage of
Pertevniyal Sultan, the mother of
Sultan Abdülaziz, uncle of Abdul Hamid. She followed Abdul Hamid into exile and was with him until his death, so much so that it is said that the sultan died in her arms. She had a daughter. •
Sazkar Hanım (8 May 1873 – 1945). She was a noble Abkhazian, born Fatma Zekiye Hanım. She was among the consorts who followed Abdul Hamid into exile, and later left Turkey with her one daughter. •
Peyveste Hanım (1873 – 1943). Abkhazian princess, born Hatice Rabia Hanim and aunt of
Leyla Açba. She served Nazikeda Kadın, with her sisters, and then became the treasurer of the harem. She was highly respected. She followed her husband into exile and then her one son. •
Pesend Hanım (13 February 1876 – 5 November 1924). Born princess Fatma Kadriye Achba, she was one of Abdul Hamid's favorite consorts, and was known for her kindness, charity, and tolerance. She was one of the consorts who stayed with Abdul Hamid until his death; and, on his death, she cut her hair and threw it into the sea as a sign of mourning. She had a daughter. •
Behice Hanım (10 October 1882 – 22 October 1969). She was Sazkar Hanım's cousin, her real name was Behiye Hanim. She was arrogant and proud, initially she had to marry Şehzade Mehmed Burhaneddin, son of Abdul Hamid, but in the end the sultan decided to marry her himself, against Behice's will. She had twin sons. •
Saliha Naciye Kadın (1887–1923). She was born Zeliha Ankuap and was also called Atike Naciye Kadın. Known for her kindness and modesty, she was Abdul Hamid's favorite among the consorts who stayed with him until his death. She had a son and a daughter. • Dürdane Hanım (1869 - January 1957). • Calibös Hanım (1890 - 1955). • Simperver Nazlıyar Hanım. • Bergüzar Hanım. • Levandit Hanım. • Ebru Hanım. • Sermelek Hanım. • Gevherriz Hanım. • Mihrimend Zelide Hanım (? - 1946). • Nevcedid Hanım.
Sons Abdul Hamid had at least eight sons: •
Şehzade Mehmed Selim (11 January 1870 – 5 May 1937) – with Bedrifelek Kadın. He did not get along with his father. He had eight consorts, two sons and a daughter. •
Şehzade Mehmed Abdülkadir (16 January 1878 – 16 March 1944) – with Bidar Kadın. He had seven consorts, five sons and two daughters. •
Şehzade Ahmed Nuri (12 February 1878 – 7 August 1944) – with Bedrifelek Kadın. He had a consort but no children. •
Şehzade Mehmed Burhaneddin (19 December 1885 – 15 June 1949) – with Mezidemestan Kadın. He had four consorts and two sons. •
Şehzade Abdürrahim Hayri (15 August 1894 – 1 January 1952) – with Peyveste Hanım. He had two consorts, a son, and a daughter. •
Şehzade Ahmed Nureddin (June 22, 1901 – December 1944) – with Behice Hanım. Twin of Şehzade Mehmed Bedreddin. He had a consort and a son. • Şehzade Mehmed Bedreddin (22 June 1901 – 13 October 1903) – with Behice Hanım. Twin of Şehzade Ahmed Nureddin. Born in
Yıldız Palace. He died of meningitis and was buried in the Yahya Efendi cemetery. •
Şehzade Mehmed Abid (May 17, 1905 – December 8, 1973) – with Saliha Naciye Kadın. He had two consorts but no children.
Daughters Abdul Hamid had at least 13 daughters: • Ulviye Sultan (1868 – 5 October 1875) – with Nazikeda Kadın. Born in
Dolmabahçe Palace, she died at the age of seven: while her mother played the piano and the servants were dismissed for their meal, Ulviye Sultan began to play with some matches. Her dress caught fire and her gold belt trapped her inside it, even though her mother burned her hands trying to unhook it. In panic, Nazikeda picked up her daughter and ran down the stairs, screaming for help, but the movement fueled the flames and Ulviye Sultan died burnt alive, leaving her mother in despair from which she never recovered. Nazikeda was buried in the
Yeni Cami. •
Zekiye Sultan (12 January 1872 – 13 July 1950) – with Bedrifelek Kadın. She married once and had two daughters. She was one of Abdul Hamid's favorite daughters. •
Fatma Naime Sultan (5 September 1876 – 1945) – with Bidar Kadın. She is the favorite daughter of Abdul Hamid, who called her "my accession daughter", because she was born close to the date of his accession to the throne. She married twice and had a son and a daughter. In 1904 she was embroiled in a scandal when she discovered that her first husband was cheating on her with her cousin
Hatice Sultan, daughter of
Murad V. •
Naile Sultan (9 February 1884 – 25 October 1957) – with Dilpesend Kadın. She married once, with no children. • Seniye Sultan (1884 – 1884) – unknown motherhood. • Seniha Sultan (1885 – 1885) – with Dilpesend Kadın. She died at five months. •
Şadiye Sultan (30 November 1886 – 20 November 1977) – with Emsalinur Kadın. She married twice and had a daughter. •
Hamide Ayşe Sultan (15 November 1887 – 10 August 1960) – with Müşfika Kadın. She was married twice and had three sons and a daughter. •
Refia Sultan (15 June 1891 – 1938) – with Sazkar Hanım. She married once and had two daughters. • Hatice Sultan (10 July 1897 – 14 February 1898) – with Pesend Hanım. She died of smallpox and was buried in the Yahya Efendi cemetery. • Aliye Sultan (1900 – 1900) – unknown motherhood. She died a few days after her birth. • Cemile Sultan (1900 – 1900) – unknown maternity. She died a few days after her birth. • Samiye Sultan (16 January 1908 – 24 January 1909) – with Saliha Naciye Kadın. She died of pneumonia and was buried in the
mausoleum Şehzade Ahmed Kemaleddin in the Yahya Efendi cemetery. == In popular culture ==