1510-1558
An Ukranian slave-girl, who by purposeful intriguing succeeded in becoming not only the wife of, but also a most influential adviser to Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, one of the most celebrated rulers of the Ottoman Empire. Roxelana is also known as Khurrem ("The laughing One", Hürrem in modern spelling) or Rossa (referring to her Ukranian-Russian Orthodox origin).
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What was going on during the Ottoman Empire during Roxelana's life?
During Roxelana's life, the Ottoman Empire was under the rule of Sultan Suleiman. The Ottoman Empire was slowly starting to weaken due to the attacks from the Safavid Persians and the failure to conquer Vienna. The Empire had already started disintegrating and the military had started to become corrupt.
How could Roxelana improve/save the Ottoman Empire? What is your plan?
Roxelana could have saved the Ottoman Empire by not revealing Mustafa's plans to overthrow Suleiman. That would have made it possible for Mustafa to become the next Sultan, and the Ottoman Empire would have been stronger since Mustafa was trained to be an emperor from a very young age. It would have helped to stop the decline of the Ottoman Empire.
Why is Roxelana significant to the Ottoman Empire? What was her "claim to fame"?
Roxelana was the favorite consort and later the legal wife of Sultan Suleiman. She achieved power and influenced politics of the Ottoman Empire through her husband and played an active role in state affairs of the Empire. Roxelana's claim to fame was when she uncoiled Ibrahim's plot to take over the position of Suleiman and revealed Mustafa's plan of killing his father, Suleiman.
What was the significance of Roxelana's life/actions on the Ottoman Empire? (Why was it important?)
Roxelana's actions were significant not only for the women in Harem but all of Ottoman Empire. She made the plans of Ibrahim and Musa about overtaking Suleiman's public, resulting the strangling of Ibrahim and execution of Mustafa who was to become the successor of Suleiman.