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
Admission to the Schools
When the youths are admitted to the Seraglio, they are placed in one of two schools, called Oda. These are
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 Careful Choice of Officers
The Turks were very careful in choosing their officers. They preferred to be served by men they had raised and
The Attendance of Young Men in the Courts
In the courts of the great men of the Ottoman Empire, it was customary for their personal attendants to be
The Traitor’s Hairs and Ambition
These are the hairs of the traitor Kulkahya, a man who once boasted that before losing his head, there would
The Flight into the Garden
Seeing the danger before him, the man fled quickly through the terrace and ran into the royal garden. However, he
Lessons for Christians
From the example of the Turks, all Christians can learn an important lesson about obedience and law. The Turks show
The Limits and Extent of the Prime Vizier’s Power
The Prime Vizier held authority almost as wide as that of the Sultan who granted it to him. In most