Roksolana Mistress of the Ottoman Empire Country: Ukraine

Biography of Roxolana (Anastasia Lisovska)

Roxolana, also known as Anastasia Lisovska, was a powerful figure in the Ottoman Empire. She was born around 1506 in Rogatyn, a small town in Western Ukraine. During her time, this region was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was frequently raided by Crimean Tatars.

As legend has it, in the summer of 1522, Roxolana was captured by slave raiders just before her wedding. She was taken to Crimea and then transported to Istanbul on a large ship to be sold as a slave. However, fate had other plans for her.

On her first day in the market, Roxolana caught the eye of the influential grand vizier Rustem Pasha, who decided to buy her and present her as a gift to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. She was given the name Roxolana, which referred to the Sarmatian tribes that lived in the steppe region between the Dnieper and Don rivers. This name was chosen because some believed that the Sarmatians were the ancestors of the Slavic people.

In order to secure her position and become the legal wife of the Sultan, Roxolana converted to Islam. She embarked on a long and calculated plan to gain power, using her wit and charm to manipulate Sultan Suleiman. Over time, she became his favorite and bore him several children.

However, the path to power was not easy for Roxolana. She faced strong opposition from Gulbehar, the first wife of the Sultan, and her sons who were seen as potential heirs to the throne. Roxolana engaged in intrigues and rivalries within the harem, where women from different backgrounds competed for the Sultan's favor.

Roxolana's ultimate goal was for her son Selim to inherit the throne. She orchestrated a series of events that led to the execution of Mustafa, the eldest son of Sultan Suleiman, as well as other potential rivals. She even ordered the murder of her own sons from previous relationships to eliminate any threats to Selim's claim to power.

After nearly forty years as the Sultan's wife, Roxolana died, leaving her husband as a widower. Her son Selim II ascended to the throne, but his reign was plagued by his excessive alcohol consumption. He is remembered as Selim the Drunkard.

The true story of Roxolana is one of manipulation, power struggles, and violence. While some may try to portray her as a virtuous figure, the historical accounts reveal a cunning and ruthless woman who would stop at nothing to secure her position and protect her son's claim to the throne.