Hürrem Sultan's Waqf: How a Slave Built an Empire of Charity

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Hürrem Sultan's extraordinary waqf foundation—a charitable endowment that built mosques, soup kitchens, caravanserais, and public baths across the Ottoman Empire. They discuss how Hürrem, born Roxelana in Ruthenia, rose from slave to Haseki Sultan and used her wealth to cement political power through benevolence. The conversation contrasts her philanthropic strategy with that of her rival Mahidevran, and examines the Haseki Hürrem Sultan Külliyesi in Jerusalem, which served pilgrims of all faiths. They also touch on the legal mechanisms of waqf and how Ottoman women leveraged Islamic law to control property. This episode offers a fresh lens on the Sultanate of Women, focusing not on intrigue but on infrastructure, charity, and the lasting architectural legacy of one of history's most powerful consorts. #HürremSultan #Roxelana #waqf #OttomanEmpire #SultanateOfWomen #HasekiSultan #Külliye #Jerusalem #SuleimanTheMagnificent #TopkapiPalace #Islam #Charity #OttomanArchitecture #WomenInHistory #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #MiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo