Gevher Nesibe Sultan

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 13^th 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 280 m2 that consists of two parts. Both buildings follow the typical Seljuk plan with open courtyards. One of the courtyards is bigger than the other one. While the hospital is located on the western side; the medical school is located on the eastern side.

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 14^th 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).