Hürrem Sultan, one of the most iconic women in Ottoman history, is renowned for her beauty, power, and influence. From TV series to novels, her story has captivated audiences for centuries. But did you know that her lineage continued with equally remarkable descendants? Meet 10 Ottoman princesses who inherited her grace, elegance, and charm. Discover their stories and see how Hürrem's legacy of beauty lived on through generations. Let’s take a closer look at these royal figures! 🌹
Hanzade Özbaş, the granddaughter of Ulviye Sultan, daughter of Sultan Vahdeddin, was born in 1953. During her school years, she once portrayed her great-great-grandmother, Hürrem Sultan, in a play! A successful businesswoman, Özbaş studied business administration. She is currently the chairwoman of the board of a famous hotel in Cyprus.
Her full name is Emel Nurcihan Hodo. She is the granddaughter of Sultan Reşad. She was born two years after the proclamation of the Republic. It is known that Nurcihan Sultan, who has led a more comfortable life compared to other members of her family, resides in Ortaköy, Istanbul. It is said that she wanted to marry a clerk working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the state did not permit it. It is noted that Nurcihan Sultan learned of her Ottoman lineage when she was told, 'You cannot marry a foreign ministry officer!'
Neslişah Osmanoğlu, the granddaughter of Sultan Vahideddin and Caliph Abdülmecid, was born in 1921 in a mansion in Nişantaşı. She passed away on April 2, 2012. Her father was Prince Ömer Faruk Efendi, son of the last Caliph II. Abdülmecid; her mother was Sabiha Sultan, daughter of the last Ottoman sultan, Sultan Vahideddin. Neslişah Sultan was also the wife of Prince Muhammad Abdul Moneim, the former Regent of Egypt. She is known as the last person to be recorded in the Ottoman Dynasty Registry. Her birth was announced with 121 cannon salutes, and gold coins were minted in her name by the sultan.
Kenize Murad was born in Paris in 1940. Her grandmother was Hadice Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Murad V. After becoming a Turkish citizen, she changed her name from 'Rajkumari Kenize de Kotwara' to Kenize Murad. In 1965, she began her career as a journalist, covering the India-Pakistan war. In her novel From Palace to Exile, published in France in 1987, she tells the story of her mother, who passed away in exile.
In her appearance on the show The Hidden Side of History, Kenize Murad described her childhood, saying, 'I was raised as a little French girl. I was supposed to forget my family. I was supposed to forget that my roots were Turkish and Indian. But ever since I was a baby, I always knew my origins...'
Her full name is Fazile İbrahim Bernard. She is the granddaughter of Sultan Vahideddin. She was born in 1941 and is also the daughter of Prince Mehmet Ali İbrahim of Egypt. Two weeks before she was to marry the King of Iraq, a coup occurred, and her fiancé was killed. After going through difficult times, the princess married Hayri Ürgüplü, the son of former prime minister Suat Hayri Ürgüplü. Princess Fazile has two sons from this marriage, Ali Suat and Selim. She is currently known to reside in Paris.
Mihrimah Sultan, the granddaughter of Sultan Reşad, was known as the 'green-eyed princess' of the dynasty. She was born in 1923 at her father Prince Ziyaeddin Efendi's mansion in Çamlıca, and at the age of one, she was sent into exile with other members of the dynasty. She passed away in 2000 in Amman, Jordan.
Her full name was Bala Hodo. She was born in 1955 and was the 4th-generation descendant of Sultan Mehmed Reşad, the 35th Ottoman sultan. Bala Sultan, who lived in Istanbul, passed away in November 2023. She was also a descendant of Sokullu Mehmed Pasha and was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.
Lara Adra, the great-great-granddaughter of Sultan Abdülhamid II, was born in Lebanon in 1986. Since the age of two, she has lived in Paris. Lara Adra compares herself to a French cake called 'quatre-quart.' She says, 'Four ingredients: butter, milk, sugar, and yogurt. I am like that cake—French, Lebanese, Russian, and Turkish.' Lara Adra, who was educated in France and now works at a bank in Paris, does not speak Turkish. She is one of Hürrem Sultan's living descendants.
Her Instagram account features both the French and Turkish flags.
Her full name is Ayşe Gülnev Osmanoğlu Sutton. She is the great-granddaughter of Sultan Murad V. Born in England in 1971, she studied history and politics. Her work focuses on Ottoman history, and she has written a novel titled The Golden Cage on the Bosphorus. Ayşe Gülnev Sultan has five children.
She was born on January 26, 1914, and passed away on February 7, 2006. Dürrüşehvar Sultan was the daughter of the last Ottoman caliph, Abdülmecid II, and the wife of the Prince of Berar, Nawab Azam Shah. When her father, Abdülmecid Efendi, passed away, she returned to Turkey and negotiated with state officials for his burial in Turkey. Her father's body waited in a mosque in Paris for ten years. When permission was not granted, he was buried in Medina.
Dürrüşehvar Sultan, who lived in London, continued to visit Turkey for years. During her visits, she typically stayed with Enver Pasha's daughter, Mahpeyker Hanım. She passed away in London at the age of 92 on February 7, 2006.