Roksolana
by Olga from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine
1506 - 1558
Since the times immemorial Ukrainian women were famous for their beauty and intellect. At those times opposition between Slavic territories and the Ottoman Empire reached the climax. People of the conquered lands would be killed and sold. Especially, beautiful Ukrainian women would be sold to the harems of rich people. And after they found themselves in a golden cage it was not life anymore - it was just existence.
Thus,
once upon a time in a Ukrainian town Rogatin lived Anastasiia Lisovskaya. In
the 16th century she was captured by the Tatar horde and sold on the slave
bazaar in Istanbul. On entering the harem of sultan Suleyman the Conquer she
managed to become his favorite wife and sultana Khaseki. In history she is
famous as Roksolana because at those times all Russians and Ukrainians were
called "roksolani" in Latin.
She
was the sole woman in the sultan's harem that had an official title for
Suleyman sharing his power with her. She had everything and had nothing. She
was far away from her homeland and was doomed never to return in her past
where all her memories and native faces were still alive. Being deprived of the
right to think freely and forced to live in a world where a woman's life cost
less than a life of a homeless cat, Roksolana did win and compelled proud men
to admire her. To admire the one who shared the throne together with the sultan
- for the first time in the history of the Ottoman Empire existence. This
unique Ukrainian woman mastered several languages, she dedicated her own poems
to sultan and even wrote books. At that time it was a strange phenomenon that
instead of respect it awakened fear. They rumored that this astonishing Ukrainian
woman had mesmerized sultan - she was treated like a witch. And really, the
sultan was fascinated - shortly afterwards he realized that nobody but Roksolana
was able to give the best advice in state affairs. As for Sultan Suleyman, he
was a reserved person that honored war and books. He was rude and coarse, yet
when he met his Khaseki, he understood - she became his love for the whole
life. This incredible Ukrainian placed a spell not only the sultan's body, but also his
soul and his mind. She always was trying to find a glimmer of hope, a ray of
the Sun in a strange sober world of four walls she was fated to live in
forever.
Generally speaking, Roksolana appeared to be a perfect example of endurance,
will-power and moral strength that symbolizes a strong Ukrainian woman that
never gives up and always follows her moral ideals.
Page created on 7/16/2013 10:47:23 AM
Last edited 7/16/2013 10:47:23 AM
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