Nurbanu Sultan

Timeline

1. c. 1525–1566Istanbul · Sea of Marmara coastRaised in Topkapi Palace, she became the favorite consort of Selim, son of Suleiman I, bearing Murad III in 1546 and gradually accumulating political capital at court.
2. 1566–1570Istanbul · Sea of Marmara coastAfter Selim II's accession, she leveraged her status as mother of the heir apparent to interact with grand vizier Sokollu and other senior officials, playing a key role between 1561 and 1570 in appointments, diplomatic contacts, and balancing harem factions, laying the groundwork for her later power.
3. 1574–1583Istanbul · Sea of Marmara coastAfter Murad III's accession she intervened deeply in state affairs as imperial mother, controlling harem affairs and maintaining close contacts with Venetian and other foreign envoys; she died of illness in 1583 and was buried in the mausoleum of the Suleymaniye Mosque.