It turns out that the poems of Suleiman reveal secrets about Mahidevran and Hurrem.

Many fans of the historical series "Magnificent Century" often wonder: what feelings did Suleiman the Magnificent truly have for Mahidevran and Hurrem? The answer to this question can be partially found in his poems, preserved in a manuscript housed in the University of Warsaw Library.

This manuscript is a hefty notebook bound in calfskin, adorned with an image of a carnation. Sultan Suleiman, who wrote under the pseudonym Muhibbi, dedicated poems not only to his beloved Hurrem but also to the mother of his firstborn, Mustafa — Mahidevran. In these poetic messages, dated to the mid-16th century, the depth of feelings of the powerful ruler is revealed. Here are his lines:

“Play, oh Mahidevran, as if on a heavenly harp!
Oh, Gülbahar, she who resembles the celestial dome…
Oh, she whose divine beauty makes my heart beat…”

To Hurrem, he dedicated even more poignant lines. According to them, it is clear how much the sultan bowed his head before his one and only wife:

“I am not myself, I blindly submit to you,
You are my sultana, my mistress.
Your single lock makes my heart sing,
My laments have long reached the heavens,
Beloved, Muhibbi is ill…”

It is important to note that the majority of the poems are dedicated to Hurrem, as well as Ibrahim. As for Mahidevran, he praises her appearance in his lines, while to Hurrem, he expresses true feelings. The sultan was not shy about showing the place that the sultana held in his life.