SUMMARY:
This piece depicts the true story of Hürrem Sultan, also known to history as Roksolana (the Ruthenian). She is regarded as both a heroine of Ukraine and one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history. Born Anastasia Lisowska, a Ukrainian girl from the village of Rohatyn, she was captured by Tatars and trafficked to the harem of the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent. Her joyful nature and charm earned her the name Hurrem (joyful one) and quickly captivated the Sultan’s heart, gaining her favor and elevating her above Mahidevran Hatun, the Sultan’s consort and mother of his eldest son. Roksolana ultimately became the Sultan’s legal, monogamous wife and principal advisor, whose influence was able to keep Ukraine free from Ottoman invasion (Nitschke, 2022).

Nitschke, L. (2022, January 10). Hurrem Sultan: The Sultan’s Concubine Who Became Queen. Retrieved from The Collector: https://www.thecollector.com/hurrem-sultan-concubine-
to-queen/