In the Spring of 1761 a pregnant woman of the harem gave Mustafa III the hope for a much waited male heir. Big public rejoicing was expected for the occasion, but he had to wait since a little girl came to the world instead and everybody...
moreIn the Spring of 1761 a pregnant woman of the harem gave Mustafa III the hope for a much waited male heir. Big public rejoicing was expected for the occasion, but he had to wait since a little girl came to the world instead and everybody thought the event was to be saluted by a much lower profile public celebrations. Things turned out very different, as huge celebrations took place for ten days. The paper analyses the extent of the celebrations, and especially their meaning for the dynasty, the Ottoman elites, commoners and foreign representatives. It also demonstrates how the use of artificial light in this occasion created a ceremonial space shared by the whole city of Istanbul to celebrate the achievements of the ruling household and create a moment of unity and legitimation between the sultan and his subjects.
