Brothers and Sisters of Sultan Abdul Hamid
The Third Brother Prince Kemal Eddin
Physical and Mental Challenges
Prince Kemal Eddin, the third brother of Sultan Abdul Hamid, faced serious health problems that made him very different from his siblings. He was described as an invalid, meaning he suffered from chronic illness or disability that severely limited his physical abilities. His condition was so serious that he was considered quite feeble in both mind and body, suggesting that his health problems affected his mental capacity as well as his physical strength.
Character and Personality
Despite his physical limitations, Prince Kemal Eddin was said to possess “a low degree of cunning and strong animal instincts.” This description suggests that while he may have lacked intellectual sophistication, he retained a basic shrewdness and was driven by fundamental desires and impulses. This combination of mental weakness with cunning made him an unpredictable and potentially difficult family memberA Sixth Letter on the Balkans.
Family Health Problems
The prince’s condition was not entirely surprising, as he “inherits the family tendency to pulmonary complaints.” This means that lung diseases and respiratory problems ran in the Ottoman royal family, and Kemal Eddin had unfortunately inherited these genetic weaknesses. Pulmonary complaints in the 19th century often included tuberculosis and other serious lung diseases that could be fatal.
The Younger Brothers A Study in Contrasts
Greater Freedom of Movement
Prince Suleiman and Prince Wahid Uddin, the two youngest brothers, experienced very different treatment from their elder siblings. Unlike Reshad Effendi, who was kept under strict house arrest, or Kemal Eddin, who was limited by his health, these younger brothers were allowed to move about Constantinople much more freely. This freedom made them the most visible members of the royal family to the general public.
Public Recognition
Because of their freedom to appear in public, both Prince Suleiman and Prince Wahid Uddin were “quite familiar to the public” and were “better known perhaps than any other members of the family.” This public visibility was unusual for Ottoman royals, who were typically kept isolated from ordinary citizens. Their recognizability made them something like celebrities in Constantinople’s social circles sofia sightseeing.
Luxurious Lifestyle
Both younger princes lived in handsome palaces and received generous allowances from the public treasury. This financial support came from the taxes and revenues of the Ottoman Empire, meaning that the people of the empire were effectively paying for their lifestyle. The brothers used these funds to maintain an extremely luxurious standard of living.
Extravagant Spending Habits
Unfortunately, the princes spent their allowances “with great extravagance in luxury and vice.” This suggests that they indulged in expensive pleasures, wasteful spending, and possibly immoral activities. Their behavior was considered excessive even by the standards of wealthy aristocrats, indicating that they lived without restraint or consideration for the cost of their lifestyle.
Social Isolation Despite Wealth
Despite their wealth and public visibility, neither Prince Suleiman nor Prince Wahid Uddin had achieved any meaningful social position or respect. The article notes that “neither Turks nor foreigners seem to care much for them.” This lack of regard from both Ottoman subjects and foreign diplomats suggests that their reputation for excessive behavior had damaged their standing in society.
Limited Social Circle
The princes’ poor reputation meant that they had “very few friends.” This social isolation was particularly significant because, in Ottoman court culture, having influential friends and supporters was crucial for maintaining power and influence. Their lack of meaningful relationships left them vulnerable and without the political connections that might have been useful.
The Sultan’s Sisters
Introduction to the Imperial Women
Sultan Abdul Hamid had several sisters who played important roles in his life and in the broader political landscape of the Ottoman Empire. Unlike many royal women of the time, some of these sisters maintained significant influence and were involved in palace politics and family affairs.
Djemile Sultana: The Influential Sister
The most important of Abdul Hamid’s sisters was Djemile Sultana, who was six years older than the Sultan. Her age and experience gave her a unique position within the family, as she had lived through more of the empire’s history and had greater knowledge of palace politics and court traditions.
A Woman of Strong Character
Djemile Sultana was described as “a woman of strong character” who had “a great deal of influence with her brother.” This influence was unusual for the time, as women in the Ottoman Empire typically had limited political power. Her ability to affect the Sultan’s decisions made her one of the most powerful people in the empire, even though she held no official position.
Active Political Involvement
Unlike many royal women who remained in the background, Djemile Sultana was “with him frequently and takes an active interest in public affairs.” This involvement in government matters was extraordinary for a woman in the Ottoman system. She essentially served as an unofficial advisor to the Sultan, participating in discussions about policy and state matters.
Personal History and Widowhood
Djemile Sultana had been a widow since 1858, which meant she had been without a husband for many years by the time this article was written. Her widowhood may have actually increased her influence, as she was free from the obligations of marriage and could focus entirely on her relationship with her brother and her interest in political affairs.
The Special Bond Between Siblings
A Maternal Relationship
The relationship between Abdul Hamid and Djemile Sultana was particularly close because “she really has been a mother to him.” This maternal role was significant because it gave her a special claim to influence over the Sultan that no other person could match. Her guidance and support had been crucial during his rise to power and continued to be important throughout his reign.
Shared Origins
The special bond between Abdul Hamid and Djemile Sultana was strengthened by the fact that “they were born of the same mother, a Circassian slave.” This shared parentage created a unique connection between them that was different from the Sultan’s relationships with his other siblings, who were children of different wives of his father.
Tragic Birth Circumstances
The circumstances of Abdul Hamid’s birth were particularly tragic, as his mother “lost her life in giving him birth.” This means that Djemile Sultana was the only person who shared his mother’s heritage and could connect him to that part of his family history. The loss of their mother at Abdul Hamid’s birth likely created a special bond between the surviving siblings.
Natural Attachment
Because of their shared mother and the tragic circumstances of their early life, Abdul Hamid and Djemile Sultana had “naturally been very much attached to each other.” This deep emotional connection helped explain why she had such unusual influence over the Sultan and why he trusted her advice in ways that he trusted few other people.
The Complex Family Structure
Multiple Mothers, Different Relationships
The Ottoman royal family structure was complex because “the other brothers and sisters are the children of different wives of his father.” This meant that Abdul Hamid had many half-siblings, but his relationship with each of them was different depending on who their mother was. The harem system created a complicated web of family relationships that affected politics and personal loyalties.
Equal Legal Status
Despite the complex family relationships, Islamic law and Ottoman tradition held that “all children born in the harem, whether of free women or of slaves, are legitimate and of equal rank.” This meant that it didn’t matter whether a prince’s mother had been a free woman or a slave—all the Sultan’s children had equal legal status and rights.
The Succession Law and Its Implications
The Rule of Seniority
The Ottoman succession followed a specific rule: “the crown is inherited by the senior male descendant of Othman, the founder of the present dynasty in 1299.” This law meant that the throne passed to the oldest living male member of the Ottoman family, not necessarily from father to son as in many European monarchies.
Impact on Abdul Hamid’s Children
This succession law had important implications for Abdul Hamid’s own children. The article explains that “so long as he has any brothers living, the children of Abdul Hamid will not come to the throne.” This meant that his sons could not inherit the crown as long as any of his brothers were still alive, regardless of their ages or capabilities.
The Irony of Family Relationships
This succession system created a tragic irony: Abdul Hamid’s greatest threats to his power came from his own family members, while his own children were excluded from succession. This law encouraged competition and conflict within the royal family while preventing the Sultan from establishing a direct dynasty through his own children.
Historical and Political Significance
A Dysfunctional System
The picture that emerges from this description of the Ottoman royal family is one of dysfunction and waste. With one brother imprisoned, another invalid, two others living dissolute lives, and the Sultan’s own children excluded from succession, the empire’s leadership system was clearly not producing effective governance or stability.
The Cost to the Empire
The empire was paying a heavy price for maintaining this large, dysfunctional royal family. The public treasury supported multiple palaces, large allowances, and the security needed to watch over potential threats to the throne. These resources could have been used for more productive purposes, such as military modernization or infrastructure development.
Women’s Influence in an Unlikely System
Despite the generally male-dominated nature of Ottoman politics, the story of Djemile Sultana shows that women could still exercise significant influence when they had the right relationships and personal qualities. Her example demonstrates that even in restrictive systems, capable individuals could find ways to affect important decisions and policies.
