#sadika hatun

[awkward-sultana]

Magnificent Century + Costumes in 1.22: The Fury

[perioddramasource]

Favourite costumes in Magnificent Century (season 1)

[penelopesbridgerton]

SAADET AKSOY MUHTEŞEM YÜZYIL | 20. BÖLÜM

[mc-critical]

Satrakci's Ibratice & Hürremleo parallels

Sadika and Matrakci become a more fascinating story with each rewatch and one of the main reasons why is the parallels it has with two other resident tragic couples.

[My initial plan for the post was for it to only be about Satrakci's parallels with Ibratice, as I wanted to rework what I said in this IG edit I made for Sol's birthday back in July (I've been unwell ever since I was graced with the Ibratice parallels then), but upon rewatch I noticed the Hürremleo parallels as well, so why not include both, right?]

In terms of Hürremleo, the parallels are looser at first; they can be seen more through some similarities in role either Sadika or Matrakci have to Leo or Hürrem, as well as the ties they have with them in the respective plots, but then the parallels become more and more direct due to the shared, ongoing tragedy of both stories.

Both Leo and Sadika are from another country and come in Istanbul for an ""ulterior"" motive connected to their love: Leo searches for his Alexandra, while Sadika seeks vengeance for her Ariel. They gain others' favor along the way and it's this exact favor that complicates matters for them even further: Sadika is sent to Hatice and Ibrahim's castle, while Leo is sent to a painters' workshop, both encountering difficulty to finish their respective duties or missions, what's ordered to them by the rulers in general (killing Süleiman ordered by Louis, finishing Süleiman's portrait ordered by SS himself). The agency of both of them is constantly violated when they only want to be done soon as possible (Leo's aforementioned "order" itself is merely a part of this, and even though Sadika wants to seek her vengeance, the pressure is definitely wearing on her too). Both of them get someone (Nigar, Matrakci) to send their letters to the people related to their 'purposes', their closest people there, really. Both of them are labeled as traitors and are "dealt with" in the same episode after their 'traitorous' acts have been revealed in some way.

There's a whole post to be made about Sadika's parallels with Hürrem, but overall it's their whole trajectory in the harem that is paralleled: they win over some main authorities (the dynasty and SS respectively) but not others, however those who are won over are really won over, their fondness and trust is really earned (until it's broken at some point, whether permanently or for a while, namely due to something to do with murder on different scales: Ayşe Hatun's murder - that both Hürrem and Sadika are tied to - or the murder attempt on SS); they cling to their original faith at first (parallel scenes with their crosses) and become muslim for more pragmatic reasons (I believe Hürrem started developing some feelings for SS right when she fainted in his arms, with her praising him in front of Gülnihal after that scene, and having flashbacks later and so on, but it was all a gradual process); their motivations have to do (at least at first in Hürrem's case) with revenge due to their past experiences, their loved ones' losses; they are seperately tutored by Sümbül Ağa (and both call his name wrong at times!); the concubines dislike and mistrust them due to their respective rises in the ranks and both have beefs with Ayşe Hatun in particular. Both Sadika and Hürrem also have Leo and Matrakci respectively as likely to compromise what they have accomplished, so they don't want them around themselves much (at least not until Sadika finds use for Matrakci and yet she doesn't want him to go much beyond that use, understandably), no matter how much they may appreciate them or what they do for them.

Both Matrakci and Leo are harem outsiders that perceive that whole world as foreign or just beyond them no matter how close to it they appear to be at this point, so the only thing they can do is go with the flow and navigate it together (Matrakci obviously knows way more than Leo but still). They are ordinary people that somehow always end up at the heart of the action (i.e. the jannisary rebellion) due to their ties with the main characters (Hürrem and Ibrahim respectively). Both of them are characterized by their strong loves. Both of them are insistent on taking every chance they get to meet their loves no matter how impossible it may seem. Both of them lean on hope to get closure with their loves no matter how delayed (Matrakci) or inconceivable (Leo) it is. Both of them are devastated at the end as they face the consequences of being involved in a supposed betrayal. Both of them want their own lives to be taken instead of having to deal with the aftermath of the painful event (that would include having to see their loves suffer or them having to make their loves suffer).

Both Matrakci and Hürrem are people who are still on their path to adapt, but get more and more ingrained in the palace life eventually to the point they get inseparable from it much later on (and that is also helped by their contrasting relationships with Ibrahim). Both of them function as Leo's guides to the inner workings of the castle at certain points. Both of them are motivated by their resurged or newfound care for him here and try to help him in many ways. Both of them try to arrange for their loves to leave (whether subtly or directly, whether for real or as a ruse for another order to be followed). Both of them have to deal with the deaths of their loved ones, brought forth by their hands, due to a cruel order of the same person. Both of them can't seem to forget the experience, no matter how much one might push them to. Both of them keep it close to their hearts.

The more we go, the more tied together these different people get. From Sadika who comes to the harem with a mission that becomes likely to get compromised and that comes to involve Hürrem (when does Hürrem first dream of Leo himself, with him telling her he'll save her? Oh, right - when she was exiled in Edirne for Sadika's murder of Ayşe!); to Sadika aiming more adamantly for SS's chambers, becoming a direct threat for Hürrem, thus she sends her away; to Leo arriving in Istanbul and then showing up all the more in the place Sadika is sent away in; to Hürrem seeing Leo again for the first time in that same place; to Hürrem meeting Leo there again, with Sadika getting involved too for a bit, suspecting something and searching at Leo's things (and it's namely there almost all her meetups with Matrakci are as well); to both the orchestration of Leo's death and the final sealing of Sadika's fate being all tied again to Ibrahim's castle (the main room and the dungeon, respectively), to Ibrahim himself.

Ibrahim seems to "bless" both respective couples or at least the people that are part of them that are more tied to him (Matrakci, Leo); one instance genuine, the other quite performative (wanting to marry Matrakci to Sadika throughout many episodes; telling Leo to confess everything in order for Ibrahim to ""protect"" Hürrem in E24), but ultimately, he screws over both of them at the same time, in the same episode (Hürremleo at day, Satrakci at night), without hesitation. They are forever torn apart and only the surviving have to deal with the fallout (no wonder Matrakci's anguish right after Sadika's death is immediately followed by Hürrem's cries in the hammam!).

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In terms of Ibratice, along with the more basic similarities in role these four people share with one another and the ways they're tied in their respective plots, we have more outlined but deceptive parallels that solidify and become more legitimate due to the joint inevitable future tragedies that await both stories.

Both Ibrahim and Sadika are loved before they feel anything for the people who love them in return. They make their first move only when they sense they can latch onto these people due to different reasons, but they still grow eventual fondness for them regardless. They are the more restrained, cautious side in most of the interactions. They are the ones mostly sending the letters.

Both Ibrahim and Matrakci are the more active forces in their dynamics with their significant others: they seek the opportunities to arrange the meetings, they mostly send the gifts. They are more persistent to fight for their loves however possible. They respect each other's feelings (at least to a point in Ibrahim's case) because they get each other and they get it. They're close witnessers of the others' happiness.

Both Hatice and Sadika have faced the death of their former husband and have trauma related to that, regardless of their different views on said men and their different reactions. Both of them are pressured by those above them in some ways (Hatice to marry Mehmet Celebi; Sadika to avenge Ariel as quickly as possible, at all costs). Both of them are wary not to be seen, of the reactions of others while meeting Ibrahim and Matrakci respectively. Both of them strive for put some distance between Ibrahim and Matrakci respectively, no matter the reason.

Hatice's dynamic with Sadika in particular, along with Ibrahim's with Matrakci, is only bound to put Sadika and Matrakci's parallel story at a center stage. Both Hatice and Ibrahim relate to the hurdle Sadika and Matrakci are apparently experiencing, as this is a hurdle they both have recently experienced and they (Hatice especially) want Sadika and Matrakci to flourish, so they obviously plan to marry them.

However, just like Hatice is a distant witnesser to what's happening around Sadika and the similarities between the four are again very baseline, that relating of Ibratice's to Satrakci is merely relating by assumption. Ibrahim and Hatice think that a love story is happening in front of them, but despite of the similar secret meetings both duos have in the palace gardens, Sadika and Matrakci aren't quite a love story. It's more about Sadika seeking ways to smooth her situation over and fulfill her mission. While Matrakci really loved her, the way Sadika's feelings develop turns out to be way more complicated and it all starts from an initial sense of discomfort, even fear (given her previous experience with Bonçuk Ağa, why wouldn't she be wary of another man who wants her and pursues her?; I think the main reason why she grew fond of Matrakci regardless was him actually showing Sadika basic respect in spite of his passionate feelings he also struggled to contain at times, along with him helping her that unconditionally. And given how many traumas related to that she's experienced - not just by Bonçuk but also by Süleiman - of course that would mean the world to her. Him actually being decent to her and facilitating her mission? Of course that would come to comfort her at least a bit.), then moving to gratitude and only then, finally, to appreciation and fondness (even before his offer for escape in E25, as she called him a good person several times before, in E24 as well) and even then, the objective is prioritized most. The letters weren't letters for her uncle but for the Hungarian king. They all were involved in a spy mission and no one realized it until it was already too late.

But the more we head to the reveal of who Sadika truly is and the characters' realizations and reactions, the closer Satrakci end up to Ibratice. Along with Sadika becoming fonder of Matrakci, more parallels between her and Ibrahim crop up as both of them emerge as traitors to the Sultan not just through their parallel plot-lines in the same episode with Leo/Hürrem and Süleiman respectively (with Ibrahim as the more indirect traitor in both the Leo situation and his involuntary involvement in Sadika's own 'traitorous' actions; though both him and Sadika are placed as killers in their parallel plot-lines: one of Leo - a successful attempt, the other of Süleiman - an unsuccessful one), but also through one finalizing action that will directly threaten the sultan (more metaphorically in Ibrahim's case and more literally in Sadika's) that will bring them on their way to execution.

Sadika is immediately disarmed and imprisoned, awaiting for her fate while the full extent of her several crimes is yet being uncovered. lbrahim's single crime is still pondered on by Süleiman, so he isn't directly confronted, it all rather seeming like his relationship with SS is on a high instead, having no idea what would later come forth. Both Ibrahim and Sadika are supposedly given a way out by (Ibrahim's other lover :DDDD) Süleiman and Matrakci respectively - Ibrahim apparently solidifiying even more his perhaps no longer shaky place next to his majesty and Sadika getting hopeful for a few moments that, maybe, an escape is truly possible (this can also be a parallel with Hatice to an extent - with her having worries earlier but ultimately brushing them off until the unavoidable truth is delivered to her, just like Sadika). Both are executed anyway.

This is where the parallels between Matrakci and Hatice come in: Both Matrakci and Hatice will have to grapple with these respective deaths. The loves of both emerge as traitors executed by the order of another person - of the one person, the next person Matrakci and Hatice value the most. Even though Ibrahim's death comes as a surprise to Hatice, while Matrakci is all too aware of it, having to follow the order himself, their pain is the same. And both of them are urged to get over it "with time", but they struggle to (and Hatice doesn't manage to at all; just like Sadika, she'll want to AVENGE her (other) husband who SS killed).

All these different people are tied together all the more directly and from the very beginning: Ibrahim brings Sadika in the castle per Matrakci's request due to Matrakci's pity and compassion for her; the first move Sadika does to gain favor is done during Hatice's engagement to Mehmet Celebi; Sadika becomes Hatice's main lady not only due to Hürrem's suggestion, but also because she too has come to like her; Sadika and Matrakci's whole story takes place in Ibrahim's castle once again; Ibratice's wedding opens the path for a possible Satrakci wedding, as I already mentioned; both Sadika and Matrakci (along with Leo) are next to Hatice during the jannisary rebellion and witness the loss of her child; Ibrahim and Matrakci order a brooch and a necklace for Hatice and Sadika respectively at the same time after Hatice loses the child; the closer Satrakci get to Ibratice's orbit in general, the more chipper Ibratice get over said possible wedding, trying to realize it... until Satrakci's doom suddenly comes forth, once again by the same person they've been "blessed" by before {and on an interesting more symbolic note that links that doom even more with Ibrahim: we have water motives around both Satrakci and Ibratice. Matrakci's last moments with Sadika, with what will only become a relic of the past, were on a boat (coming full-circle, as Sadika herself also arrived in Istanbul by a boat, ready to embrace her future). Ibrahim traveled on a ship to Parga, a remnant of his past as well, after everyone learned about his relationship with Hatice and it was unclear what would happen. Both relationships were threatened and in a completely final way, in terms of Satrakci. The freedom symbolism of the ship is pretty much taken away for the boat namely by the guy for who it meant freedom to quite an extent and it's turned into a close, inevitable, encompassing doom instead of a further, temporary one (although one could argue that some of the original freedom symbolism remains against all odds, as Matrakci allowed Sadika to put the sack on her head herself - but the outcome isn't changed regardless and this is sadly the most he could do in this situation...). Ibrahim himself is quite associated with boats too outside of that and this association is even called back in his last episode. Ibrahim is executed at night, just like Sadika is. Okay, I may be reaching here a bit, BUT...}.

Regardless of his earlier "blessing" of Sadika and Matrakci, everything is discarded after the betrayal and Ibrahim will make him execute her anyway, constantly insisting for him to move on. What's more intriguing, he tells this to Hatice as well, presenting the very assertion of "moving on with time" that she'll challenge in the future namely over her grief for him [the "scales of relation" tip again - it's now Ibrahim who distances himself from Matrakci's circumstances (even though he will end up unable to due to what'll come for him in the future), while Hatice relates to Matrakci's pain (and she'll continue relating to it in the future). It's kind of fascinating that Ibrahim and Hatice are actually at odds for this and that it is one of the first things they're actually at odds for outside of their different relationships with Hürrem, even before Hatice's first pull of rank on him; it may not be just a matter of viewpoints (and coping mechanisms: Ibrahim strives to completely move on from his painful experiences, to not even recall them and expects others to do so as well, while Hatice arrives at a point when she no longer can after the person she leans on the most is also taken away from her, after her brother too is taken away from her; how can she cling to peace any further, will it be possible? She desperately wishes to make it possible, however...) - Ibrahim at this point definitely wouldn't want her to grieve for him forever, he would like to spare her that pain, still though...]. So Matrakci and Sadika skip straight to Ibrahim and Hatice's tragic ending in spite of both Ibrahim and Hatice's hopes for them to get that initial happy ending of their wedding instead. This is how Satrakci emerge right up as tragic mirrors to Ibratice that'll only be an omen for the future, no matter how many ups there otherwise are and will be, no matter how much everything seems to be smoothed over.

[palaceoftears]

Something about these two scenes being in the same episode makes me feral

[magnificentlyreused]

This grey headpiece was first worn by Hafsa Sultan in the third episode of the first season of Magnificent Century. It would appear twice more in the same season, namely on Mahidevran Sultan in the tenth episode and Sadıka Hatun in the fifteenth episode. The headpiece was worn twice in the second season, first by an unnamed harem member in the ninth episode and then by Fatma Hatun in the twenty-sixth episode. It also appeared on Gülfem Hatun in the sixth episode of the third season. Next the headpiece can be seen in the second episode of the fourth season on an either Hazal or Nese Hatun.

Finally, the headpiece is worn by two different unnamed harem members in the sixth episode of the first season of the spin-off Magnificent Century: Kösem.

[garnetbutterflysblog]

Interesting how Sumbul has more empathy for Sadika than Nigar does. I guess it shows just how the harem is steeped in internalized misogyny. I mean, it is inevitable considering the system of the harem itself. All the girls end up enslaved in terribly traumatic ways, before they step foot into the harem. Then they’re basically grouped on attractiveness with the classically beautiful girls becoming concubines and the others entering into harem management/service. If you become a concubine, your entire worth is tied into your ability to bear children for a man you can’t consent to having sex with.

On the other hand, it does show that ,despite his opportunistic and self-serving ways, Sumbul can be empathetic. That’s not even including the fact he is in charge of these girls. I don’t know many who couldn’t begin to care for someone they had to take care of, especially since Sumbul likely shares similar trauma to the girls he takes care of.

Yes, he does make himself out to be a bigger hero than he was but I truly believe his anger towards Boncuk Agha is genuine and his concern for Sadika is as well. I mean, he wants Boncuk to be punished for this.

I never thought I’d be happy with anything Ibrahim does but executing a rapist and shielding Sadika from being victim-blamed was a real good thing, considering how misogynistic the time period is.

[sehzadeselimsblog]

El camino dorado de Topkapi.

[julyzaa]

Sadika's storyline always makes me so sad. she totally deserved to kill Suleyman for what he did to her.

[elizabeth-halime]

Some concubines of Sultan Suleiman I

Gülfem Hatun

Mahidevran Hatun

Ayse Hatun

Haseki Hürrem Sultan

Sadika Hatun

Gulnihal Hatun

Firuze Hatun

Nazenin Hatun

Princess Isabel

[cuteniaarts]

First art post of 2023, starting off with an old art redraw

Back in Autumn 2021 (has it really been that long...) I started watching Magnificent Century with my mom, and after finishing the first season I really wanted to draw one of my favourite characters, Viktoria/Sadika. Whether or not I succeeded is... questionable. The art is still up, but I’m not the biggest fan of it. IMO, she looks more like Hatice than Viktoria, but eh, that’s why we’re here

Behold, my updated art of Viktoria’s last scene in the show, utilising my anatomy-based art classes, staying more true to the original screenshot, and completely disregarding my art teacher telling me to stop painting on one layer:

Reference:

[awkward-sultana]

Magnificent Century + Costumes in 1.20: The Irreparable Loss

[garnetbutterflysblog]

I hadn't really thought about it like that since the show doesn't seem to emphasize that Louis II had the backing of the Habsburg Dynasty aside from the throwaway line about Charles V congratulating him on killing the Ottoman ambassador (which, irl, Charles V would most likely not do). I know historically, Louis was married to Charles' sister so they were closely allied.

It's only that Viktoria isn't the best spy. She sort of seems to fly by the seat of her pants. She doesn't know how the Ottoman system works which would be pretty integral knowledge for a spy/assassin. I understand that the Europeans don't know terribly much about the Imperial harem but they know enough for Viktoria to do a better job than she is. She wouldn't have a way to kill Suleyman if it wasn't for a lucky moment where she ended up with a kitchen knife. And I think, after the fire incident, she's no necessarily seeing the women of the harem (from the concubines to the Valide Sultan) as mere extensions of Suleiman. Or at least, the ruthlessness that was there originally, when she was willing to put children in harm's way, seems to have faded. It seems, in her eyes, Suleiman is the only one who remains "the enemy". I have to admit, I'm only on episode 14 so that could change. She doesn't have a way to send messages which won't get her caught. Having the janissary contact isn't helping her much in that regard (Nigar and Sumbul catch them once, Ayse does the second time). Even when it comes to the fire, I am wondering whether the injuries are intentional or if it got out of hand. The only really correct thing she has done so far is gain the trust of the dynasty members and staff.

I guess, to me at least, the storyline doesn't line up as it is executed more like one woman seeking vengeance for her murdered husband, than some plot by a Habsburg-backed Hungarian king sending a woman wanting vengeance for her husband to infiltrate the harem and kill Suleiman. But I suppose, now you've mentioned it, that could be to simply illustrate Viktoria being stuck between two empires and lacking any power.

Do you think it would have been better if Viktoria had come for vengeance on her own, without being Louis’ agent?

I’ve pondering this for a while now and saw you wanted fandom asks.

Thanks for asking. Honestly I don't know about. The fact that she was caught between two empires and had very little agency was the whole point of her storyline. And I think that precisely for that reason arguably her arc is the most critical of empire that the show ever gets. She absolutely deserved better as a character, but the point that the show made was a very important one in my opinion. After all in spite of the fact that she is still trying to kill the main character, she's still supposed to be a character that the audience sympathises with.

[palaceoftears]

Magnificent Century Rewatch: One Picspam per Episode

Episode 24: The Expose

-I could hear her voice from the darkness, she was asking for help. I could hear her voice but I couldn't see her, I couldn't see anything. I kept saying "Come here, Hurrem" but she just said "Help me".

-No one can help her now.

[mc-critical]

In E16 both Mahidevran and Hürrem restrain their respective jealousies towards Sadika in opposite ways.

Hürrem, having already realized by this episode that she should act differently than she did before, that scandals won't do her any good (she keeps her goals near and dear to her heart but she also matures along the way; her jealousy still flames in her and she'll let it flame, because she can't ever lose the person who's become her family and security within the harem, but she quenches it when she learns how the people she's jealous of are put against her by her enemies and directs all her efforts more towards the collective threat of these enemies instead, fueling her to outplay them, to cling to what she has and safeguard it from them and for herself more and more), patiently searches for ways to get rid of Sadika and finds one in sending her to Hatice's castle, literally distancing her from herself and the harem. Mahidevran, having been made to fully face that never ending cycle in the harem she has to accept in this exact episode, isn't searching for ways to get rid of her, but keeps her at her service and shows her favor instead by giving her a pendant in her chambers, bringing her closer to herself (a running theme with Mahidevran is her being more eager to be on good terms or at least, to feign good terms, with rivals if they respect her and all associated with her in some way. We see this with Ayşe Hatun to some extent, with Gülfem to an even bigger extent and even with Sadika here, as Mahidevran let out a real smile and let Sadika go only when she complimented Mustafa; it's no wonder in retrospect that Mahidevran demanded respect and submission from Hürrem when she visited her in the dungeon in E02, even claiming that she'll get out if she gives her that. This throughline continues after Mahi and Hafsa's E16 conversation as she not just maintains good relations with every other rival concubine who also respects her, but also starts supporting them, and directs all her efforts towards the individual threat of Hürrem).

Both of them, in fact, try to endear themselves to their rivals in some way for a single scene in E16, lulling them into a false sense of security; but while Mahidevran keeps it all within formality, the pendant being a mere extension of the favor Sadika had before (for saving the princes) of the sultana she's standing in front of and getting orders from right now, Hürrem goes all personal, getting herself closer to Sadika's position by facing her as a fellow comrade in the harem, wanting to learn everything about her and her situation to ponder on it and use it if needed.

[garnetbutterflysblog]

I have to admit I’m very impressed by Hürrem in this episode. When she found out about Gülnihal’s halvet, she imitated the actions done to her and did something terrible to her friend. Then she discovered the consequences of that. She isn’t Mahidevran and doesn’t have that established reputable reputation as well as the protection Mahi does. So Hürrem faced more consequences despite the similarities of their actions. I am not hating on Mahidevran by saying this*. Hürrem has learned she doesn’t have the power to take that kind of action and she seems to have regained a moral compass but the latter could just be my hope. So instead of hurting Sadika, she finds a way to remove her new rival from the situation- sending her away to serve Hatice. It’s smart and bloodless. It also reminds me of historical Hürrem in a way. I don’t know if there were any favorites or rivals she had married off, but in her book The Imperial Harem, Leslie Pierce writes that once Suleiman and Hürrem became monogamous and certainly after they were married, the girls brought to the harem were usually married off to statesmen. Basically sent away from the harem to serve the Ottoman Empire in a different way just as Hürrem is doing to Sadika in the show.

* Fostering such good relationships with Hafsa and Ibrahim (the two people whom-up to this point-have the most influence on Suleiman) was a good strategy and it helped her. She attempted to kill a dynasty member (Mehmet) and could’ve killed the sultan himself. Yet, her relationship with Hafsa and Ibrahim shielded her from punishment and almost all consequences. The only consequences she truly faces are gaining a rightfully paranoid Hürrem as an enemy and entirely losing Suleiman’s love for her. To be fair, she doesn’t quite understand the latter is a consequence or it’s finality as Suleiman is being coerced into having Thursday nights with her and has used her to punish Hürrem (when he left for the Rhodes campaign).