The Black Eunuchs of the Ottoman Empire: Networks of Power in the Court of the Sultan (Library of Ottoman Studies)

At the height of the Ottoman Empire, black eunuchs rare, castrated slaves imported from became a key part of court politics. Unlike white eunuchs, who were only permitted outside the palace, black eunuchs had access to the harem, the Sultan's inner court. The Chief Black Eunuch, appointed personally by the Sultan, had both the ear of the leader of a vast Islamic Empire and held power over a network of spies and informers, including eunuchs and slaves throughout Constantinople and beyond. The story of these remarkable individuals, who rose from difficult beginnings to become amongst the most powerful people in the Ottoman Empire, is rarely told. George Junne places their stories in the context of the wider history of African slavery, and places them at the centre of Ottoman history. The Black Eunuchs of the Ottoman Empire marks a new direction in the study of courtly politics and power in Constantinople. At The Height Of The Ottoman Empire, Black Eunuchs - Rare, Castrated Slaves Imported From Africa - Became A Key Part Of Court Politics. Unlike White Eunuchs, Who Were Only Permitted Outside The Palace, Black Eunuchs Had Access To The Harem - The Sultan's Inner Court. The Chief Black Eunuch, Appointed Personally By The Sultan, Had Both The Ear Of The Leader Of A Vast Islamic Empire, And Power Over A Network Of Spies And Informers, Including Eunuchs And Slaves Throughout Constantinople And Beyond. The Story Of These Remarkable Indivuduals, Who Rose From Difficult Beginnings To Become Amongst The Most Powerful People In The Ottoman Empire, Is Rarely Told. The Author Places Their Stories In The Context Of The Wider History Of African Slavery, And Sets Them At The Centre Of Ottoman History. This Work Marks A New Direction In The Study Of Courtly Politics And Power In Constantinople--back Cover. Chapter 1. Enslaved Africans As Eunuchs In Africa And Europe -- Chapter 2. Eunuchs And The Byzantine World -- Chapter 3. Eunuchs And The Muslim Slave Trade -- Chapter 4. Slavery And The Ottomans -- Chapter 5. Black Eunuchs Of The Ottoman Empire -- Chapter 6. The Power Of The Chief Black Eunuchs -- Chapter 7. Religious Responsibilities Of The Kizlar Agă -- Chapter 8. Personal Descriptions Of The Chief Black Eunuchs -- Chapter 9. Personal Lives Of The Chief Black Eunuchs. George Junne. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. At the height of the Ottoman Empire, Black eunuchs - rare, castrated slaves imported from Africa - became a key part of court politics. Unlike White eunuchs, who were only permitted outside the palace, Black eunuchs had access to the Harem - the Sultan's inner court. The chief Black Eunuch, appointed personally by the Sultan, had both the ear of the leader of a vast Islamic Empire, and power over a network of spies and informers, including eunuchs and slaves throughout Constantinople and beyond. The story of these remarkable individuals, who rose from difficult beginnings to become amongst the most powerful people in the Ottoman Empire, is rarely told. The author places their stories in the context of the wider history of African slavery, and sets them at the centre of Ottoman history. This work marks a new direction in the study of courtly politics and power in Constantinople--Back cover "The Chief Black Eunuch, appointed personally by the Sultan, had both the ear of the leader of a vast Islamic Empire and held power over a network of spies and informers, including eunuchs and slaves throughout Constantinople and beyond. The story of these remarkable individuals, who rose from difficult beginnings to become amongst the most powerful people in the Ottoman Empire, is rarely told. George Junne places their stories in the context of the wider history of African slavery, and places them at the centre of Ottoman history. The Black Eunuchs of the Ottoman Empire marks a new direction in the study of courtly politics and power in Constantinople."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Front cover 1 Author biography 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 9 Introduction 12 1. Enslaved Africans as Eunuchs in Africa and Europe 17 2. Eunuchs and the Byzantine World 30 3. Eunuchs and the Muslim Slave Trade 38 4. Slavery and the Ottomans 54 5. Black Eunuchs of the Ottoman Empire 122 6. The Power of the Chief Black Eunuchs 161 7. Religious Responsibilities of the Kizlar Ağa 229 8. Personal Descriptions of the Chief Black Eunuchs 242 9. Personal Lives of the Chief Black Eunuchs 262 Appendices 284 Notes 292 Bibliography 322 Index 340 Back cover 348