Mahidevran Sultan

Mahidevran ماه دوران
The tomb of Mahidevran is located inside the türbe of Şehzade Mustafa in Muradiye Complex, Bursa
Born	c. 1500
Died	3 February 1581 (aged 80–81) Bursa, Ottoman Empire
Burial	Muradiye Complex, Bursa
Spouse	Suleiman the Magnificent
Issue	Şehzade Mustafa Şehzade Abdullah (possibly)
Religion	Islam

Mahidevran (Ottoman Turkish: ماه دوران ‎, c. 1500 – 3 February 1581; also known as Gülbahar) was a chief consort of Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire before Hürrem Sultan, and the mother of Şehzade Mustafa.

Mahidevran's name (Turkish pronunciation: [ˌmaːhidevˈɾan], Ottoman Turkish: ماه دوران‎) means "one who is always beautiful", "one whose beauty never fades" or "beauty of the times". Another meaning of her name is "Moon of Fortune." Some sources name her Gülbahar (Turkish pronunciation: [ɟylbaˈhaɾ]), with gül meaning 'rose' and bahar meaning 'spring' in Turkish and Persian.

She is often referred to as "Mahidevran Sultan" in popular history books, TV series and touristic literature, and also by some historians. However she is mostly referred to as "Mahidevran Kadin" by popular authors and historians. Some historians have referred to her as "Mahidevran Hatun". According to Leslie P. Peirce, prior to the creation of the title Haseki Sultan for Hürrem Sultan, all the Ottoman consorts carried an alternative royal title, "Hatun". Also according to Peirce, during the 16th century (Suleiman's reign), the title Hatun for a Valide (mother of the Sultan) and the Sultan's favorite or chief consorts changed to Sultan (referred to as Sultana in western literature to distinguish between male and female). Hence it is possible that Mahidevran also carried the title Sultan.