Ceylanyar Hanım

Ceylanyar Hanım was born in 1830 in Sochi, Abkhazia. Born as Nefiye Berzeg, she was a member of Ubykh noble family, Berzeg. Her father was Mustafa Bey Berzeg and her mother was Princess Daruhan Hanım Dudaruk.[1] She had two sisters, Almashan Hanım and Pürtunak Hanım.[2]

Nefiye had been brought to Istanbul at the age of ten, where her father entrusted her to the imperial harem. She was then sent to Adile Sultan's palace.[3]

Nefiye married Abdulmejid in 1851. Abdulmejid named her Ceylanyar,[1] and gave her the title of "Fifth Fortunate".[4] After her marriage, her sisters became ladies-in-waiting to her.[2]

On 31 March 1852, she gave birth to her only child, a son, Şehzade Mehmed Rüşdü in the Old Çırağan Palace. The prince died at the age of nine months.[4] The same year, she was hoisted to the title of "Fourth Fortunate".

In early 1853, she was hoisted to the title of "Third Fortunate",[5] and in 1854, she was hoisted to the title of "Second Fortunate".[6]

Ceylanyar Hanım died in the Feriye Palace, on 27 December 1855, and was buried in the mausoleum of Gülüstü Hanım, Fatih Mosque, Istanbul.[3][7]

Ceylanyar Hanım and Abdulmejid had one son:

• Şehzade Mehmed Rüşdü (Istanbul, Old Çırağan Palace, 31 March 1852 – 5 August 1852, buried in Sultan Abdul Hamid I Mausoleum);

• Ottoman Imperial Harem
• List of consorts of the Ottoman sultans

• Uluçay, M. Çağatay (2011). Padişahların kadınları ve kızları. Ötüken. ISBN 978-9-754-37840-5.
• Açba, Harun (2007). Kadın efendiler: 1839-1924. Profil. ISBN 978-9-759-96109-1.
• Sakaoğlu, Necdet (2008). Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları: Vâlide Sultanlar, Hâtunlar, Hasekiler, Kandınefendiler, Sultanefendiler. Oğlak Yayıncılık. ISBN 978-6-051-71079-2.