Fatma Sultan (daughter of Selim II)


Fatma Sultan was an Ottoman princess, daughter of Sultan Selim II of the Ottoman Empire. She was the granddaughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan, sister of Sultan Murad III and aunt of Sultan Mehmed III.

Life

Fatma was born circa 1559 during Selim's princedom, at Konya or Karaman where he served as sanjakbey, or provincial governor, at the time. She was her father's youngest daughter. Her mother's identity is uncertain; it is suggested that she was the fourth daughter of Nurbanu Sultan, however the claim remains disputed.
In 1574, she married Kanijeli Siyavuş Pasha Governor of Rumelia, Grand Vizier 1582–1584, 1586–1589, 1592–1593. Her dowry amounted to approximately 4988 florins. The marriage was happy, as indicated by the fact that she pleaded with her brother Murad to spare the Pasha's life when at some point the latter fell out of favour. She bore her husband three sons and a daughter.

Death

Fatma Sultan died in October 1580, at Istanbul, in childbirth as a result of her daughter being born prematurely. The latter reportedly died too. She was entombed in her father Sultan Selim II's mausoleum in Hagia Sophia Mosque. She had a provision made, supported by vakfs, that is charitable foundations, so that the Quran would be read every morning, for the sake of her soul.

Charities

Fatma had an elementary school, or mektep, as well as a religious college, or medrese, constructed at Edirnekapı.