This
undated letter was written by Hürrem Sultan to Sultan Süleyman
the Magnificent. Yellow paper is polished and flecked with gold on both sides. After
the letter was completed, fresh gold flecking has been applied. Hürrem uses the form of
address My Lord Sultan, and commences with the words, Having touched this
unworthy face of mine to the sacred dust under the foot of my beloved Lord Sultan, thanks
be to God on High, my dear soul, my fortune, my happiness, my sultan, that your sublime
letter arrived to lend radiance to the eye and delight to the heart. After
protestations of her love, she says that neither tongue nor pen can describe her
condition, and recites a twelve line poem.
She then expresses her happiness at a decree sent by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent
concerning the construction of a hamam, and her wish that the hamam should be finely built
in accordance with her wishes. She has spent fifty thousand akçe (a small coin
weighing 1.15 gr) on kitchen expenses, leaving nothing for her personal expenditure, and
hints that she is in need of money. She says that her sons as well, that a cautery has
been applied to Cihangir’s shoulder, bringing the infection to the surface, and that it
has been incised and cleaned. She reports that the health of Imam Hoca is declining, and
says that she has received good news from the Paşa (presumably a reference to Barbarossa
Hayrettin Paşa, then on campaign in Tunisia), and concludes with the hope of receiving
good news and that the sultan’s sword should prevail. In the margin she conveys
greetings to the Paşa (this must be İbrahim Paşa) and says that Süleyman’s nurse is
in good health. Evidently, this letter was sent to Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent during
his campaign to Iraq. The reference. The reference to a ferman concerning the
construction of a hamam in the palace is the clue to the letter’s date. This ferman is
in the palace archives, and was drawn up at the beginning of Ramazan 941 (mid March 1535),
so Hürrem Sultan’s letter must have been written within the next two months.
