Hoshiyar Qadin

Of Circassian origin, Hoshiyar Qadin was the sister of Pertevniyal Sultan, the mother of Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz.[2] She married Ibrahim Pasha, and gave birth to Ismail Pasha on 31 December 1830. After the death of Sa'id Pasha, Isma'il was proclaimed Khedive on 19 January 1863, though the Ottoman Empire and the other Great Powers recognized him only as Wāli, and Hoshiyar became the Walida Pasha.[3]

Hoshiyar Qadin was a public figure whose doings were continually reported by the press, which referred to her simply as Queen Mother. During the 'Urabi revolt her patriotic feelings made her accept 'Urabi as the defender of the country against a British invasion. Putting aside all personal interests and the fact that he was also a menace to the dynasty, she provided him with money and horses and worked with other ladies of the family at preparing bandages and medicine for the wounded.[4]

She was a formidable person of great intelligence and character who wielded considerable influence over her son. When the Sultan Abdülaziz visited Egypt, he made a point of particularly honouring Hoshiar by bestowing on her the Grand Cordon of the Osmaniyeh. This beautiful and very feminine woman brought up her son with unrelenting discipline and would never allow her motherly feelings to get the better of her sense of duty, to such an extant that when the future Khedive was visiting Europe as a child, he was heard to say about Dowager Empress of Austria, who had been particularly kind, "that no one in his own family had ever shown him as much affection." But the Khedive adored his mother and remained to the end a most devoted son.[4]

Hoshiyar lived in her palace of Qasar al-Ali, now part of the residential district of Garden City. There she held a quite incredible state, never condescending to leave her home for anyone else's, no matter how high ranking that person may have been. And indeed, as Ibrahim Pasha's widow and Khedive's mother her position was unique.[4]

Hoshiyar was influential in lobbying the Sultan to change the Egyptian system of succession so that it be limited to her son's line. Her court al-Walida Pasha (the Khedive's mother), was said to be larger and more prominent than that of any of his wives. Abdallah al-Nadeem, whom the Khedive tried to briefly co-opt, described the head eunuch of al-Walida Pasha as having more influence than the prime minister. Finally, most reports suggested that she was the only family member who was with him when he received the Ottoman decree that deposed him.

In 1869, she met with the Princess of Wales Alexandra of Denmark, when the latter visited Cairo with her husband Prince of Wales Edward (future Edward VII). The princess had visited Hoshiyar, and dined with his wives in the harem.[5]

Hoshiyar Qadin died at the Greater Qasar al-Ali Palace, Cairo, on 21 June 1886, and was buried there at the Khedival Mausoleum, Al-Rifa'i Mosque, which was built on her orders.[3]

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• Muhammad Ali Dynasty family tree