Mahidevran

Born around 1499, Mahidevran Hatun entered the harem of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and became the mother of Şehzade Mustafa, the sultan's son. She was also known as Gülbahar Hatun, meaning "spring rose." Her life spanned the height of Ottoman imperial power, tied to the fate of a prince whose claim to the throne would shape the dynasty's internal struggles. She died on 3 February 1581, having lived through eight decades of palace politics and the rise and fall of her son's fortunes.