Ayşe Sultan (wife of Murad IV)

Ayşe’s real name and origin are unknown, she most likely appeared at the harem by the end of 1628 and soon became the sultan’s only favorite. Privy Purse registers the presence of Ayşe as Murad's only Haseki until the very end of Murad's seventeen-year reign, when a second Haseki appears. It is possible that Ayşe was Murad's only Haseki until the advent of the second. In 1633 Murad raised Ayşe's stipend to 2,000 aspers, where it remained throughout his reign. The increase was most likely linked to a general increase in stipends throughout the palace during Murad's reign, described by Koçi Bey, and was accompanied by a marked growth in the size of the harem. These changes were probably an aspect of Murad's dramatic assertion of personal control of government after nine years of his mother's regency.[1]

She started her career at a stipend of 2,000 aspers a day while Murad's second Haseki received 2,571 aspers a day. Seven months later, however, the stipend of Murad's second Haseki was reduced to 2,000 aspers.

After Murad IV’s death, Ayşe, like his other concubines, was sent out of the Topkapı Palace. The last mentioning of her receiving the stipend was in 1679/1680 and it is very probable that she died around that time.

In the TV series Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem, Ayşe is portrayed by Turkish actress Leyla Feray.