Elaru Kadın

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Elaru Kadın
Imperial consort of the Ottoman Sultan
Tenure 30 May 1876 – 31 August 1876
Born Mevhibe Tarkanişvili
6 August 1835
Tbilisi, Georgia
Died 21 February 1936(1936-02-21) (aged 100)
Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey
Spouse Murad V
Father Ahmed Tarkanişvili
Religion Sunni Islam

Elaru Kadın (6 August 1835 21 February 1936; birth name Mevhibe Tarkanişvili) was the first wife and chief imperial consort of Sultan Murad V.

Murad V Ottoman Sultan

Murad V (21 September 1840 – 29 August 1904) was the 33rd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire who reigned from 30 May to 31 August 1876.

Biography

Elaru Kadın was born on 6 August 1835 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Born as Mevhibe Tarkanişvili, she was the daughter of a Georgian noble, Ahmed Bey Tarkanişvili. She was tall, buxom and had beautiful hazel eyes. Elaru had a brother, Halil Bey who was in service in the stable of the palace. Halil Bey's daughter Güliter Hanım was married to her step son, Şehzade Mehmed Selaheddin. At a very young age she was given in service to the palace. However soon, the Sultan Murad V took notice of Eleru and they married on 2 January 1857 in the Dolmabahçe Palace.

Tbilisi Capital city in Georgia

Tbilisi, in some countries also still known by its pre-1936 international designation Tiflis, is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Kura River with a population of approximately 1.5 million people. Founded in the 5th century AD by Vakhtang I of Iberia, since then Tbilisi served as the capital of various Georgian kingdoms and republics. Between 1801 and 1917, then part of the Russian Empire, Tbilisi was the seat of the Imperial Viceroy, governing both Southern and Northern Caucasus.

Georgia (country) Country in the Caucasus region

Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital and largest city is Tbilisi. Georgia covers a territory of 69,700 square kilometres (26,911 sq mi), and its 2017 population is about 3.718 million. Georgia is a unitary semi-presidential republic, with the government elected through a representative democracy.

Georgians Caucasian ethnic group that are indigenous to Georgia

The Georgians or Kartvelians are a nation and indigenous Caucasian ethnic group native to Georgia. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, Turkey, Greece, Iran, Ukraine, United States, and throughout the European Union.

When she became Baş Kadınefendi or Chief Imperial Lady Consort, everyone thought this most unusual, because Eleru had not given birth to any children whatsoever, and in the imperial practice and convention it was not the custom for a childless wife to hold the rank of Kadınefendi or Imperial Lady Consort. Murad demonstrated another unusual behavior in this matter a well. He simply insisted that this old love of his, with whom he had grown up since they were both young and who had entered the ranks of his wives when he was still a şehzade (Ottoman prince), should become his Baş Kadın or Chief Imperial Lady Consort.

Kadınefendi was the title given to the imperial consort of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire after the 17th century, and is translated as kraliçe in Turkish and "lady" in English. The title was also used as Baş Kadın before the creation of the title Haseki Sultan,. The Sultan could have up to four and sometimes five and eight women i.e. consort with the imperial rank of Kadınefendi and unlimited number of Ikbals i.e. consort with the rank of Hanımefendi. The title was a replacement of the early titles, Hatun and Sultan. When the Ottoman Empire was abolished on 1 November 1922 and Abdülmecid II proclaimed himself as caliph, his consorts kept the title kadınefendi.

Nonetheless, it was certainly true that Eleru possessed the talents and skills necessary to occupy the post of Senior Consort. First of all she was extremely beautiful. Beneath her incomparably graceful black eyebrows, her flashing kohl-tingled black eyes lent an irresistible enchantment to her clear white face warmed with a touch of gentle pink whenever she spoke. She was highly intelligent and perceptive. Anyone who met her or spoke with her could not help but fall under her bewitching spell. And she had long reconciled herself to her lot; throughout their imprisonment in the Çırağan Palace, she remained completely loyal to her husband. After Murad's death and proclamation of the Constitution, she purchased a home in Şişli and retreated there to live a life of seclusion. She died on 21 February 1936.

Çırağan Palace palace

Çırağan Palace, a former Ottoman palace, is now a five-star hotel in the Kempinski Hotels chain. It is located on the European shore of the Bosporus, between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy in Istanbul, Turkey.

Şişli District in Istanbul Province, Turkey

Şişli is one of 39 districts of Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş to the east, Sarıyer to the north, Eyüp and Kağıthane to the west, and Beyoğlu to the south. In 2009, Şişli had a population of 316,058.

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