Gulnus Sultan, ca 1800, Topkapi Palace MuseumBorn Eugenia Boria to a Greek family in the island of C
Gulnus Sultan, ca 1800, Topkapi Palace MuseumBorn Eugenia Boria to a Greek family in the island of Crete, Emetullah Rabia Gulnus Sultan became the favorite consort to Ottoman Sultan Murat IV and mother to two Sultans Mustafa II and Ahmet III. This imaginary portrait captures the beauty of a woman who had such a special place in the Sultan’s heart that she was taken along on campaigns and even gave birth to Ahmet III during an expedition at Dobruca. Art Historian Dr. Gul Irepgolu who has focused on the colorful reign of Ahmet III known as the “Tulip Era” says she would like to think that Sultan Ahmet’s appriciation for the finer things in life such as art, literature and nature might be due to him being a child conceived in Love. This is a unique concept when referring to the relationship between the omnipowerful Sultan who was referred to as the “Shadow of God on Earth” and one of his ‘women’. But I really like the idea since the Tulip Era is one of the most beautiful times when the arts, architecture, and literature flourished under the patronage of Ahmet III and his sophisticated Grand Vizier, Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha. Yirmi Sekiz Mehmet Celebi was sent to Louis XV’s court from which he came back with drawings, and notes that he presented to the Sultan about life in France and especially the French court. And to think Gulnus Sultan was Ahmet III’s mother who had influence over him throughout his life. -- source link
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