Kadın (title)
Kadın was the title given to the imperial consort of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the 16th century, and the beginning of the 17th century. The Sultan could have up to four and some times five and eight women i.e. consort with the imperial rank of Kadın and unlimited number of Ikbals. The title was a replacement of the early titles, Hatun and Sultan. When the Ottoman Empire was abolished on 1 November 1922 and Abdulmejid II proclaimed himself as caliph, his consorts kept the title kadınefendi. Kadinefendi was roughly equivalent to the title princess. This title was given to the main wives of the Sultan. The Ottoman dynasty had three titles for imperial ladies. Valide Sultan, the queen, Kadinefendi, the princess and Hanimefendi the favorite.Ranks and styles
The women were ranked and styled as:
- Başkadın, Başkadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu Başkadınefendi Hazretleri — chief lady;
- İkinci Kadın, İkinci Kadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu İkinci Kadınefendi Hazretleri — second lady;
- Üçüncü Kadın, Üçüncü Kadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu Üçüncü Kadınefendi Hazretleri — third lady;
- Dördüncü Kadın, Dördüncü Kadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu Dördüncü Kadınefendi Hazretleri — fourth lady;
- Beşinci Kadın, Beşinci Kadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu Beşinci Kadınefendi Hazretleri — fifth lady;
- Altıncı Kadın, Altıncı Kadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu Altıncı Kadınefendi Hazretleri — sixth lady;
- Yedinci Kadın, Yedinci Kadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu Yedinci Kadınefendi Hazretleri — seventh lady;
- Sekizinci Kadın, Sekizinci Kadınefendi or Devletlu İsmetlu Sekizinci Kadınefendi Hazretleri — eighth lady.
List of chief ladies of the Ottoman sultans.
