The daughter of the
Seljuk ruler Kılıçarslan II (? - 1204). Gevher Nesibe Sultan fell in love with
the Army Commander, but his elder brother Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I opposed this
marriage. The Army Commander won the battle he was sent to but, he was wounded
in the battle field and died after a while. She became sick with grief and caught
tuberculosis. When Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I heard about her condition; he visited
her sister on her deathbed with a big regret. He apologized her and asked for her
last wish. Gevher Nesibe Sultan devised him that:
“I fell into a helpless trouble. It is impossible for me to survive.
No doctor could cure me. I consider myself as a hereafter traveler now. If you
wish, you can build a hospital by using my property. This hospital will heal
the sufferers and search on incurable diseases. Thus, it would heal the wounds
similar to that of my beloved and diseases like mine. This hospital shall raise well-known doctors
and surgeons. The patients shall be cured costless. This will be a foundation
in the name of me.”
Gıyaseddin
Keyhüsrev I was affected about this will. He regret that he was the cause of
his sister’s disease, because, Gevher Nesibe Sultan was the heirloom of his
father, Kılıçarslan II. She was the dear one of the palace. The brother decided
to indulge his orphan sister’s wish. He wanted to appease her and have her
blessing. She didn't care for the pearls nor lace. Ignoring her skin turning
pale; she desired to fight in battlefields. One should have told her: “you
can’t carry the sword with this with these thin wrists you have, you are short
on breath even when you step three stairs, how will you ride a horse?” But, her
brother couldn’t say that and tried to make her sister happy.
Gevher was the
daughter of a sultan; a variety of delicious foods and fresh fruits were ready
for her. But, when she thought of the hungry soldiers in the deserts; she lost her
appetite. Her room was bright and warm; but when she thought of the soldiers shivering
in the frost steppe, she went crazy. There were a lot of wounded soldiers and
the corridors of the palace turned into a infirmary. Unfortunately, many
veterans died without seeing the face of a doctor and they were buried with
their clothes on. Gevher Nesibe suffered till the morning. She blamed herself,
saying: “Why we do not have our master surgeons? Why we do not have talented
doctors who would cure everything?”
Gıyaseddin
Keyhüsrev fulfilled her last wish and started the construction of the famous
Şifaiye Gıyasiye Madrasah in commemoration of her in Kayseri on 1204. After the
construction was completed in two years, the hospital opened in 1206. Gevher
Nesibe Hatun was buried on the tomb located in the madrasah. Her testament to
construct a historically and scientifically precious building showed her farsightedness.
The madrasah, which
was built in 13th century was a mansion welcomed the caravans, as
well as being a science center. The madrasah was always known by different
names like; Gevher Nesibe Şifahiyesi, Kayseri Hospital, Şifahatun Theological
School, Kayseri Maristanı, Darüşşifa Madrasah, Çifteler Madrasah, Gıyasiye,
Kayseri School of Medicine. İzzettin Keykavus, the elder brother of Gevher
Nesibe, built a school of medicine in the eastern side of the building between
the years of 1210-1214. Some resources indicate that this double structure was
used as intended until 1890.
As is evident from
its name, the building covers an area of
Ekmeleddin, the minister
of health of the Seljuk ruler Alaattin Keykubat, taught in Gevher Nesibe Hospital
and the Madrasah. Famous Turkish doctors like Gazanferî, Ali Şinasi, Ebu Salim,
İbni Kübra, Yakubî, Şücaeddin Ali Bin Ebu Tahir, Seyit Samet were also raised
in this school. Today, Gevher Nesibe Hospital is allocated to the Institute of
History of Medicine of Erciyes University and has been put into service on 14th
March 1982 as the Museum of the History of Medicine.
REFERENCE: Büyük Larousse 1986), Yeni Rehber Ansiklopedisi (Türkiye Gazetesi, 1993), TDV İslam Ansiklopedisi (2002), Ana
Britannica (2005), İhsan Işık / Ünlü Kadınlar
(Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 6, 2013) - Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous
People (2013).