1. S U L E I M A N T H E M A G N I F I C E N T
produced by ieg
SPECIAL EDITION - HAREM AL SULTAN
T H E E X H I B I T I O N
2. 3
MAGNIFICENT CENTURY: THE EXHIBITION
SPECIAL EDITION: HAREM AL SULTAN
After a detailed preparation for more than a year, The Magnificent Century
first began airing on TV in 2011. As a historical fiction inspired from the
golden age of the Ottoman Empire, the show narrated the history with the
romance between the Magnificent Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan.
Airing in more than 54 countries from Italy to China, the show turned
into a television legend. Reaching 300 million viewers around the world,
Magnificent Century is not just a television show any more.
Produced by IEG, “Magnificent Century: The Exhibition”, became a unique
addition to this success after its premier in Istanbul in November 2014. It
is a chance to feel the soul of the Magnificent Century and experience it
in an unforgettable way. Now, we are very excited to share this splendid
ambiance of the Magnificent Century with dear citizens in the State of
Qatar with Special Edition: Harem Al Sultan.
It’s is a remarkable coincidence that this year has been the Qatar Turkey
2015 Year of Culture dedicated to connecting people in the State of Qatar
and the Republic of Turkey. As a contribution to this cultural exchange, it
is our pleasure to present a Special Edition: Harem Al Sultan at QM Gallery
Katara sponsored by Dogus Group while QMA is the official partner in
Qatar.
We are very delighted to be hosted in Qatar, and we hope you will feel the
same.
TİMUR SAVCI
TIMS Productions
YALÇIN BALCI
Istanbul Entertainment Group
3. JANISSARY GREETING
A meeting with Janissaries who protected Harem
and Ottoman Empire and fought for Sultan
Suleiman and Ottoman Empire. Very impressive
with their solemn stance in red, sharp swords,
and brave hearts.
4. FANTASTIC HAREM
Precious carpets, pure silk fabrics, sounds
of oud and tambourine and the whispers of
beautiful odalisques... Who is going to be the
favourite of Sultan? Hearts beat not for love,
but for power and fortune here.
5. THE SPECIAL ROOM:
PRIVY ROOM
Sultan Suleiman, who was born as the son of Yavuz
Sultan Selim in 1494 and succeeded the throne
after the death of his father in 1520, brought peace
and abundance to his land; and, he was fair as he
promised. The 10th
Ottoman Sultan who made the
world shiver lived in this room.
7. Mahidevran Sultan
While Mahidevran was as beautiful as her
name, meaning “one who is always beautiful”,
Sultan Suleiman named her Gülbahar with “gül”
meaning “rose” and “bahar” meaning “spring”
in Turkish and Persian. She was the first to
give a son to Sultan Suleiman however her
rivalry with Hürrem Sultan didn’t go very well
for her. The rivalry between these two women
eventually created a rivalry between their sons.
Even tough, her son Şehzade Mustafa was an
immensely popular prince who was known
by his extraordinary talent and respectful
character, Mahidevran couldn’t protect her son
from his own fate.
Malkoçoğlu Balı Bey
A third generation soldier from courageous
Malkoçoğlu family, Bali Bey was a brave,
honest and hardworking too. As the
commander of “akinci” and “gazis”, he was a
royal soldier to Sultan Suleiman. He attained
a great fame for the important part he played
at the Battle of Mohacs in 1526 which in
known as a great victory of Ottomans in
Europe.
Pargalı İbrahim Paşa
The humble one in the great friendship almost
as great as an Empire, İbrahim was a trusted
friend of Suleiman since age 7. While Suleiman
was destined to be an Emperor, İbrahim was
also an extremely intelligent figure who would
became the Grand Vizier with the support of
Suleiman. He was one of the few who could
be close to Sultan and eventually he married
with his sister, beautiful Hatice Sultan. He
attained a level of authority and influence
rivaled by only a handful of other grand viziers
of the Empire.
Kanunî Sultan Süleyman
Accepted as one of the most significant rulers
in the world by both Muslims and Europeans,
Sultan Suleiman was a brilliant military strategist
and a cultivator of the arts. He is known for his
embodiment of all the necessary characteristics
of an Islamic ruler, the most important of which
is justice. (‘adele) That’s also why the Ottomans
called him Kanuni, or “The Lawgiver”. While his
military empire expanded greatly both to the
east and west, his reign in Ottoman and Islamic
history is regarded as the period of greatest
justice and harmony. His love for Huyam Sultan
was one of its kind. Admiring her famous
intelligence and smiling face, he would the first
Ottoman Sultan to officially marry a girl from his
own harem.
Hürrem Sultan Roxelana:
Such an exceptional woman in history,
Hürrem was a self-made woman who
excelled in her role as the supportive and
assertive wife of the most powerful man
of the age. Her story is no more a story of
an Ukranian slave girl sold for the Ottoman
Harem but a legend of beauty and power.
Hürrem means “the smiling and endearing
one” and her intelligence, composure, and
personality quickly captivated Süleyman.
She soon became his confidante and one and
only love. His devotion for Hürrem continued
after her death, as observed in the poems
he wrote bemoaning her absence and his
loneliness. She was to bear 5 of Suleiman
fourteen children, and eventually one of her
sons, Selim, inherited the empire.
