Ahmed I was sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617. Ahmed's reign is noteworthy for marking the first breach in the Ottoman tradition of royal fratricide; henceforth, Ottoman rulers would no longer systematically execute their brothers upon accession to the throne. He is also well known for his construction of the Blue Mosque, one of the most famous mosques in Turkey.
Murad III was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until his death in 1595. His rule saw battles with the Habsburgs and exhausting wars with the Safavids. The long-independent Morocco was at a time made a vassal of the empire but they would regain independence in 1582. His reign also saw the empire's expanding influence on the eastern coast of Africa. However, the empire would be beset by increasing corruption and inflation from the New World which led to unrest among the Janissary and commoners. Relations with Elizabethan England were cemented during his reign as both had a common enemy in the Spanish. He was a great patron in the arts where he commissioned the Siyer-i-Nebi and other illustrated manuscripts.
Mehmed III was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1595 until his death in 1603. Mehmed was known for ordering the execution of his brothers and leading the army in the Long Turkish war, during which the Ottoman army was victorious at the decisive Battle of Keresztes. This victory was however undermined by some military losses such as in Gyor and Nikopol. He also ordered the successful quelling of the Jelali rebellions. The sultan also communicated with the court of Elizabeth I on the grounds of stronger commercial relations and in the hopes of England to ally with the Ottomans against the Spanish.
Selim II, also known as Selim the Blond or Selim the Drunk, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1566 until his death in 1574. He was a son of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem Sultan. Selim had been an unlikely candidate for the throne until his brother Mehmed died of smallpox, his half-brother Mustafa was strangled to death by the order of his father, his brother Cihangir succumbed to chronic health issues, and his brother Bayezid was killed on the order of his father after a rebellion against Selim. Selim died on 15 December 1574 and was buried in Hagia Sophia.
Ibrahim was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1640 until 1648. He was born in Constantinople, the son of Sultan Ahmed I by Kösem Sultan, an ethnic Greek originally named Anastasia.
Nurbanu Sultan was Haseki Sultan of the Ottoman Empire as the principal consort of Sultan Selim II, his legal wife, as well as Valide Sultan as the mother of Sultan Murad III. She was one of the most prominent figures during the time of the Sultanate of Women. Conflicting theories describe her as of Venetian, Jewish or Greek origin. Her birth name may have been Cecilia Venier-Baffo, Rachel or Kalē Kartanou.
Hüma Hatun was a consort of Ottoman Sultan Murad II and mother of Mehmed II.
Safiye Sultan was the Haseki Sultan of Murad III and Valide Sultan of the Ottoman Empire as the mother of Mehmed III and the grandmother of Sultans: Ahmed I and Mustafa I. Safiye was also one of the eminent figures during the era known as the Sultanate of Women. She lived in the Ottoman Empire as a courtier during the reigns of seven sultans: Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II, Murad III, Mehmed III, Ahmed I, Mustafa I, and Osman II.
Esperanza Malchi also spelled Malk or Malkhi was a Jewish Ottoman businesswoman. She was the influential favorite and Kira of Valide Sultan Safiye.
Esther Handali was a Jewish Ottoman businesswoman. She was the influential favorite and Kira of Nurbanu Sultan, Safiye Sultan, and possibly of Hürrem Sultan.
Haseki Sultan was the title used for the chief consort of an Ottoman Sultan. In later years, the meaning of the title changed to "imperial consort". Hürrem Sultan, principal consort and legal wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, was the first holder of this title. The title lost its exclusivity under Ibrahim I, who bestowed it upon eight women simultaneously. The title haseki sultan was used until the 17th century. After that, kadınefendi became the highest ranking title for imperial consorts, although this title was not as prestigious as haseki sultan.
Halime Sultan was a consort of Sultan Mehmed III, and the mother of Sultan Mustafa I. The first woman to be Valide Sultan twice and the only to be Valide twice of a same son. She had at least four children with Mehmed: two sons Şehzade Mahmud and Mustafa I, and two daughters Hatice Sultan and Şah Sultan. She was de facto co-ruler as Valide Sultan from 22 November 1617 to 26 February 1618 and from 19 May 1622 to 10 September 1623, because her son was mentally instable. Halime was also one of the prominent figures during the era known as the Sultanate of Women.
Gevherhan Sultan was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan Selim II and his favorite Nurbanu Sultan. She was the granddaughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan, sister of Sultan Murad III and aunt of Sultan Mehmed III.
Ayşe Sultan was an Ottoman princess, daughter of Sultan Murad III and Safiye Sultan, as well as sister of Sultan Mehmed III of the Ottoman Empire.
Fatma Sultan was an Ottoman princess, daughter of Sultan Selim II of the Ottoman Empire and his favorite Nurbanu Sultan. She was the granddaughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hurrem Sultan, sister of Sultan Murad III and aunt of Sultan Mehmed III.
Şehzade Mahmud was an Ottoman prince, the son of Sultan Mehmed III and Halime Sultan. He was the grandson of Sultan Murad III and Safiye Sultan, the half-brother of the future sultan Ahmed I and the brother of Mustafa I.
Hümaşah Sultan was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Şehzade Mehmed (1521–1543) and the granddaughter of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire, and his favourite consort and legal wife Hurrem Sultan.
Saliha Canfeda Hatun was a lady-in-waiting to Nurbanu Sultan and Sultan Murad III of the Ottoman Empire.
Ayşe Raziye Hatun was a lady-in-waiting to Sultan Murad III of the Ottoman Empire.
Fatma Sultan was an Ottoman princess, daughter of Sultan Murad III and Safiye Sultan, and sister of Sultan Mehmed III of the Ottoman Empire.