Mother of a caliph (B. 878 – D. 933). It has been
approved by all sources that her real name was Garib and that she was Turkish.
It is also known that she was from a powerful family. Her brother el-Hâl
(maternal uncle) was an important commander. One of the important persons from
Şağab Hatun family was Harun b. Garib. Commander Garib’s son was a person who
carried out important duties… It is seen that in Abbasid Caliphate, which
lasted for long centuries, Turks played a significant role in administrative
and especially military fields. Starting from the very early periods and later
becoming the most efficient and fundamental power of the Caliphate army Turks
became dominant in military and political administration after a very short
time. In so much that, relieving a caliph of duty or assignment of a new caliph
was only possible with the desire and will of Turks.
But there is another side of the medallion. Apart
from famous Turkish commanders and statesmen who rose to military and
administrative positions in that period, there were also worthy Turkish women
that rose from the caliphate environment. Many of these Turkish mothers were
taken to caliphate palaces at very young ages and by becoming prominent from
among their fellows, they became the most respected ladies of these circles… On
the other hand, these Turkish mothers, who made it into caliphate circles, mostly
married Abbasid caliphates and each of them became a mother to heir apparent.
This alone was a source of happiness and it brought a unique feeling of
excellence to them. By this way they
became “Ümmü’l-Veled-Valide
Sultan”, (T. N. Valide Sultan that
gives birth to the child of her master) a high position everyone would aspire
after, and thus reached the biggest happiness a concubine (cariye) could ever
hope to achieve. Achieving the happiness of becoming “Valide Sultan” was a source of hope and a reason to live for
thousands of concubines in the caliphate palaces. Therefore we can say without
hesitation that most of the mothers of Abbasid caliphates were completely
Turkish.
Şağab Hatun, whose name was
Naim when she was a concubine, was bought by an Arabian family. There is no
information regarding when El-Mutazıd married this Turkish concubine.
El-Mutazıd gave this concubine, who gave him a son, the name “Şağab”. Şağab
Hatun reached the peak of her splendid period when her son became the caliph.
Sons of other concubines were dead and therefore el-Muktedir became the caliph
when he was thirteen years old. Thus, Şağab Hatun, who was the mother and
guardian of the Caliph, seized the government in a short time. She was very
authoritarian like the Hatuns (T. N. wife
of the ruler in Turkish, similar to queen) that were with Hakans (T. N. Rulers) in ancient Turks. Around her there was a
circle of women that was called “el-kahramane” and these women were very
effective in the government as well.
As most of the mothers of
Abbasid caliphates were Turkish, Şağab Hatun also distinguished herself in the
palaces of el-Mu’tazıd and she became “Ümmü’l-Veled-Valide
Sultan” as her dear son Cafer became the caliph under the name “el-Muktedir
Billah”. After this, Şağab Hatun showed her skill and intelligence in state
affairs and became the most respected and authoritarian valide sultan of those
circles in a short time. She carried on the state affairs on behalf of her son
el-Muktedir and she ruled the Abbasid Empire for twenty five years. This is a
great and significant achievement. Şağab Hatun valued women as much as men and
brought them to respected positions. Her sister Teyze Hatun became her right
hand in state affairs.
Şağab Hatun showed her
talent and brilliance and in a very short time in her “Ümmü’l- Veled- Valide Sultan” period she became the most
authoritarian, the most respected and Valide Sultan of the high state officials.
In so much that, when Şağab Hatun’s name was mentioned in the councils of viziers
and messieurs, these viziers and statesmen straightened up themselves, i.e.
they tidied themselves up. Everyone paid attention to avoid disrespecting her.
We have said that this
active role of her in the state government, her period of greatness and prosperity
lasted for twenty five years. As a matter of fact, having played an active role
in the state government for twenty five years was a privilege that was bestowed
upon only a few of the Abbasid caliphs, much less to a woman. Considering that
the term of caliphate of many caliphs including Hârun er- Reşîd, who was one of the colored Abbasid caliphs who spread
far and wide in his era, lasted for a lot less than twenty five years, it
appears once more that this was a very significant thing. As stated above,
Şağab Hatun took over the state affairs on behalf of her son el-Muktedir, who
was made caliph when he was very young, and almost for twenty five years she
ruled the vast Abbasit Empire, which was spread to a huge area from near
Kashgar to the coasts of Atlas Ocean, with an extraordinary skill. In fact,
playing an always active role in the government for a continuous twenty five
years and making everyone accept one’s authority is not an easy thing and for a
woman in those times, it was like achieving the impossible. As you see, Şağab
Hatun was always directly involved in the events during this long period that
is almost a quarter of a century; she was always in the saddle of the
government; in her works and practices she never refrained from anyone
including the viziers; she always moved independently and got her word accepted
to a great circle; she was a highly authoritarian Turkish Mother, a Mother
State.
Şağab Hatun was always
directly involved in significant events for a long time and she directed these
events. She ensured that her ship (the state) safely sailed towards the shore
just like an experienced shipmaster. Here we also have to mention an
interesting side of her that is the place of women in the government under her
brilliant character and sense of duty, such that, regarding the state affairs
Şağab Hatun gave as much importance to women as men and brought the women to
interesting positions during her period of government. It was an unprecedented
thing in those times that women were brought to the highest positions in state
affairs and that women were employed in the government. For example, going
beyond all of the practices of that period, without hesitation she appointed a
woman, whom she trusted very much, as the president of Dîvânü’l-Mezâlim (Court of Appeals), which was a significant position. Her courage in these
matters was probably one of the most striking characteristics and practices of
her. She formed an independent staff from women with strong personalities
around herself in her long years of sultanate and made decisions on many
important issues by discussing with them.
Şağab
Hatun, who gave importance to charities as well, had a big hospital built in
Baghdad. The most famous physician of this institution, called “Ümmü’l- Muktedir-Valide Sultan Hospital” ,
was Harranlı Sinan b. Sabit who was one of the greatest physicians of his time
and provided service to the poor as well. Şağab Hatun also undertook the
renovation costs of “Masjid al-Haram”, “Al-Aqsa Mosque” and “Al-Masjid
an-Nabawi”. Not only that, this Turkish
mother, who had a heart as vast as oceans for charities and benevolence, went
even further and set an example of social solidarity and aid, which was not
done or which could not have been done by any other caliph mothers in the
Abbasid Caliphate. She dedicated her vast farms and huge assets to the charity
works of the ummah (T. N. Islam nation) and had mosques and waterways built. It
is rumored that she prayed (performed the salaat) in the mosque she had built
in Baghdad. Also, she saved Baghdad from marauders…
During an uprising, el-Muktedir and his close
circle were taken under custody and brought back to his position afterwards.
However, after el-Muktedir, who was killed in another coup, el-Kahir Billâh became the
caliph… However, when Şağab Hatun got ill she was tortured and killed by the caliph
el-Kahir, whom she had fed and raised. After that, her foundations were
confiscated and the assets of her family and relatives were liquidated.
According to Arabian writers, the sultanate of women, which she established in
her son’s era, their involvement in state affairs and their authoritarian attitudes,
had not done Şağab Hatun good.
REFERENCE:
Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Kitapçı; Mukaddes Çevreler ve Eski Hilâfet Ülkelerinde Türk
Kadınları (1991), İhsan Işık / Ünlü Kadınlar (Türkiye
Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 6, 2013) - Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous People
(2013).
