156 | A Princess Constructs Ottoman Dynastic Identity
Ali claimed that Sinan had been “viciously contentious, impetuous with words,
dreadful, and tyrannical!”
In contrast, Süleyman had appointed Hayreddin Pasha as admiral in 1534
because he needed an effective leader in charge of the empire’s naval forces.
When Hayreddin died in 1546, Süleyman had considered promoting Turgud, one
of Hayreddin’s experienced captains, to be admiral, but Rüstem dissuaded him,
warning that Turgud had received his training “outside” (presumably outside
palace circles), and therefore his loyalty was suspect. Rüstem used his influence
to prevent an independently minded corsair obtaining control of a crucial aspect
of the logistics ensuring the succession of one of Mihrimah’s brothers.
Mihrimah as Adviser
Süleyman’s views as to which son should succeed him appear to have evolved over
time. Some evidence indicates that after the death of his son Mehmed, Süleyman
supported Hurrem’s son Selim as his heir. Initially, Hurrem and Mihrimah did
not oppose this plan, although later they favored Bayezid. However, Süleyman’s
support of Selim in 1559 ensured his succession.
Mihrimah’s involvement in the final phase of succession struggles is re-
vealed in the letters that she wrote to Süleyman preserved in the palace archives.
Topkapı Sarayı Arşivi E. 5859 is a collection of several undated letters that she
sent to Süleyman that mention Selim and Bayezid and appear to date to 1558–1561,
after Hurrem’s death and when only these princes still lived. In the final page of
this document Mihrimah expresses great anxiety because Süleyman had been
informed that she had deliberately not forwarded correspondence between the
sultan and his son Selim:
I sent the note that came from Selim Han to you as decreed in your auspi-
cious, felicitous letter, you did not send your answer. My felicitous sultan, my
padishah, I, your female slave, am the dust under your foot, excuse my defect
forgive my insolence. May my sultan be blessed. When your felicitous letter
came from my felicitous sultan, I, your female slave, was God forbid at the
hamam [bath], I had read and written the note [already]. My sultan, [I am]
the dust under your foot, after writing the felicitous note, it became evening, I
did not write [again?]. Would I ever in the world approach [this, that] I would
not write an answer to my prosperous sultan? I swear it is so, my prosperous
sultan, that when I had read Sultan Selim’s note, I made a fair copy. That is to
say, I, your female slave, sent the note, I swear it is so, in God’s name, for the
honor of the apostle of God on the day of the last judgment, may I be deprived
of intercession, in the name of the noble blessing I do not have news. I did not
send the note to them, he says, he sent the daughters’ [illegible] God knows
my sultan, I swear this night I never slept because of this disturbing matter,
also has it ever in this world occurred other than as soon as my felicitous sul-
tan’s noble order is issued I send news. I am the dust under your foot, whose