Muhteşem Yüzyıl

Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Turkish pronunciation: [muhteˈʃem ˈjyzjɯl], lit.'Magnificent Century') is a Turkish historical fiction television series. Written by Meral Okay and Yılmaz Şahin, it is based on the life of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and his wife Hürrem Sultan, a slave girl who became the first Ottoman Haseki Sultan.[2] It also shines the light on the era known as the Sultanate of Women. It was originally broadcast on Show TV and then transferred to Star TV.

Muhteşem Yüzyıl
Also known asThe Magnificent Century
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Composers
Country of originTurkey
Original languageTurkish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes139 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerTimur Savci
Running time90-150 min.
Production companyTims Productions
Release
Original network
Original releaseJanuary 5, 2011 (2011-01-05) 
June 11, 2014 (2014-06-11)
Related
Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem

Plot

The series follows the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the most famous Ottoman Empire ruler in history. As his power and influence spreads and grows, it will impact him and those within the imperial household: his friend and advisor, Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha, his mother, Hafsa Sultan, the first Valide sultan, his sister, Hatice Sultan, Mahidevran Sultan, the mother of Suleiman's eldest son, and Hürrem Sultan, the Haseki sultan of Suleiman.

Spinoff

The story begins 37 years after the death of Suleiman the Magnificent. It recounts the life of Mahpeyker Kösem Sultan, a female ruler of the Ottoman Empire through her sons and grandson. Safiye Sultan, the favorite concubine of Şehzade Murad, reappears in the spinoff, now the grandmother of Ahmed I and the Valide Sultan.

Series overview

Season Timeslot Season premiere Season finale No. of episodes Section range Season's years TV Channel
1 Wednesday 20:00 January 5, 2011 (2011-01-05) June 22, 2011 (2011-06-22) 24 1–24 2011 Show TV
2 Wednesday 20:00 September 14, 2011 (2011-09-14) June 6, 2012 (2012-06-06) 39 25–63 2011–2012 Show TV
Star TV
3 Wednesday 20:00 September 12, 2012 (2012-09-12) June 19, 2013 (2013-06-19) 40 64–103 2012–2013 Star TV
4 Wednesday 20:00 September 18, 2013 (2013-09-18) June 11, 2014 (2014-06-11) 36 104–139 2013–2014 Star TV

Characters

The Imperial Family

Actor nameRole nameExplanationSeasonsCharacter status
Halit ErgençSuleiman IThe 10th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, son of Selim I1–4Major
Meryem Uzerli Hürrem Sultan Haseki Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and legal wife of Sultan Suleiman, mother of the Sultan's five younger children 1–3 Major
Vahide Perçin 4
Nebahat ÇehreHafsa SultanValide Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and mother of Sultan Suleiman, head of the Ottoman Imperial Harem 1–2Major
Okan Yalabık Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Suleiman's best friend, Hatice Sultan's husband 1–3 Major
4 Voice only
Nur FettahoğluMahidevran SultanSultan Suleiman's consort and the mother of Şehzade Mustafa1–4Major
Selma ErgeçHatice SultanSultan Suleiman's sister, daughter of Sultan Selim I, wife of Ibrahim Pasha and mother of his children.1–3Major
Yusuf Berkan Demirbağ Şehzade Mustafa Sultan Suleiman's eldest and Mahidevran Sultan's only child, first heir to the throne 1 Supporting
Tunç Oral 1–2
Mehmet Günsür 2–4 Major
Berrak TüzünataçMihrünnisa SultanŞehzade Mustafa's legal wife and mother of his son Şehzade Mehmed, daughter of Hizir Hayreddin Pasha4Major
Arda Anarat Şehzade Mehmed Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan's oldest child 2–3 Supporting
Gürbey İleri 3 Major
Ayda Acar Mihrimah Sultan Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan's only daughter and second child, wife of Rüstem Pasha 1–2 Supporting
Melis Mutluç 2–3
Pelin Karahan 3–4 Major
Ozan GüvenRüstem PashaMihrimah Sultan's husband and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire3–4Major
Yiğit Üst Şehzade Selim Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan's third child and the 11th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, father of Şehzade Murad 3 Supporting
Engin Öztürk 4 Major
Merve BoluğurNurbanu SultanLegal wife of Şehzade Selim, mother of Şehzade Murad4Major
Erhan Can Kartal Şehzade Bayezid Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan's fourth child 3 Supporting
Aras Bulut İynemli 4 Major
Mina Tuana Güneş Huricihan Sultan Hatice Sultan and Ibrahim Pasha's daughter, Bayezid's cousin and legal wife 3 Supporting
Burcu Özberk 4 Major
Aybars Kartal Özson Şehzade Cihangir Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan's fifth and last child 3 Supporting
Tolga Sarıtaş 4 Major
Deniz ÇakırŞah SultanSultan Suleiman's sister, Lütfi Pasha's wife, Esmahan Sultan's mother3Major
Mehmet Özgür Lütfi Pasha Husband of Şah Sultan, later Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire after the death of Ayas Pasha, Esmahan Sultan's father 3 Major
Meltem CumbulFatma SultanSultan Suleiman's sister, Kara Ahmed Pasha's wife4Major
Selen ÖztürkGülfem HatunSultan Suleiman's first consort and mother of his first child, Hatice Sultan's confidant, chief treasurer of the Harem1–4Supporting
Pınar Çağlar GençtürkBeyhan SultanSultan Suleiman's sister, Ferhad Pasha's wife1–3Supporting
Gökhan Çelebi Ferhad Pasha Beyhan Sultan's husband, executed due to treason 1 Supporting
Kıvanç Kılınç
Luran AhmetiDivane Hüsrev PashaSecond-in-command Vizier, Hatice Sultan's third husband3Supporting
Gonca SarıyildizFatma HatunMaid to Valide Sultan, then Mahidevran Sultan, later Şehzade Mustafa's concubine, mother of his son Şehzade Suleiman2–3Supporting
Ecem ÇalıkEsmehan SultanŞah Sultan and Lütfi Pasha's daughter3Supporting
Efe Mehmet GüneşSultanzade OsmanHatice Sultan and İbrahim Pasha's son3Supporting
Serenay AktaşAyşe HatunŞehzade Mustafa's concubine and mother of his daughter Nergisşah Sultan3Supporting
Yetkin DikincilerKara Ahmed PashaFatma Sultan's husband and later Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire4Supporting
Yasemin AllenDefne SultanŞehzade Bayezid's consort and mother of his youngest son4Supporting
Alize GördümNergisşah SultanŞehzade Mustafa's daughter4Supporting
Serhan OnatŞehzade MuradŞehzade Selim and Nurbanu Sultan's son4Supporting
Koray Efe YazganŞehzade OrhanŞehzade Bayezid's eldest son4Supporting
Özge GürelRana SultanŞehzade Bayezid's concubine and mother of the majority of his children4Supporting
Almeda AbaziNazenin Hatun (Valeria)Sultan Suleiman's concubine, Raziye Sultan's mother, Nurbanu Sultan's former servant4Supporting
Gözde TürkerSafiye HatunŞehzade Murad's concubine, later mother of Mehmed III4Guest appearance

Statesmen and palace officials

Actor nameRole nameExplanationSeasonsCharacter status
Burak ÖzçivitMalkoçoğlu Bali BeyAn Ottoman military commander and a keeper of Sultan's privy chamber, in love with Aybige Hatun, Mihrimah's love interest2–3Major
Tuncel KurtizEbussuud EfendiKadı (judge) of Istanbul, later Şhaykh al-Islām (supreme religious leader of the Ottoman Empire)3–4Major
Tolga TekinBarbaros Hayreddin PashaGrand Admiral of the Ottoman Empire and the Kapudan Pasha (commander-in-chief of the Ottoman Navy), Mustafa's supporter, Mihrünnisa's father3–4Major
Yıldırım Fikret UrağSokollu Mehmed PashaGrand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire after Semiz Ali Pasha4Supporting
Hasan Küçükçetinİskender ÇelebiOttoman finance minister renowned for his wealth, an enemy of İbrahim Pasha2–3Supporting
Fehmi KaraarslanAyas PashaThe vizier for the council, later the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire after the execution of Ibrahim Pasha1–3Supporting
İbrahim Raci ÖksüzHadım Suleiman PashaGrand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire after the banishment of Lütfi Pasha3Supporting
Fatih DokgözSemiz Ali PashaŞehzade Bayezid's supporter, commander of the Janissary Corps, later a third-in-command vizier and finally the Grand Vizier following Rüstem Pasha's death4Supporting
Arif Erkin GüzelbeyoğluPiri Mehmed PashaGrand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire before Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha1–2Supporting
Murat ŞahanMustafa PashaChief Commander of the Navy before Barbaros, later the vizier of the council1–3Supporting
Serdar OrçinSinan PashaAn admiral of the Ottoman Empire as a Commander in Chief of the Navy, Rüstem Pasha's brother4Supporting
Murat TüzünHain Ahmed PashaAn Ottoman governor and statesman, rival to Ibrahim Pasha, executed due to treason1Supporting
Gürkan UygunMimar SinanChief architect of Sultan Suleiman3–4Supporting
Adnan KoçBehram PashaA vizier at the court, Ibrahim's enemy2Supporting
Tansel Öngel Alvise Gritti A Venetian politician influential in the Hungarian Kingdom and regent of Hungary from 1530 to 1534 1–2 Supporting
Erman Saban 2–3
Ozan DağgezMehmet ÇelebiŞehzade Mustafa's tutor, Piri Mehmed Pasha's son, Hatice Sultan's fiancé1Supporting
Altan GördümBekir AğaAn Ottoman official who was executed under Mustafa's order in Manisa on charges of bribery and incitement3Guest appearance

Palace servants and concubines

Actor nameRole nameExplanationSeasonsCharacter status
Selim BayraktarSümbül AğaChief eunuch of the harem and Hürrem Sultan's closest confidant, later Mihrimah Sultan's adviser1–4Major
Filiz AhmetNigar HatunServant and apprentice in the harem later chief treasurer, first wife of Rustem Pasha, İbrahim's lover and confidant and mother of his daughter Esmanur1–3Major
Sema KeçikDaye HatunValide Sultan's maid and chief treasurer of the harem, Sultan Suleiman's nanny1–2Supporting
Sabina ToziyaAfife HatunChief treasurer and leading servant of the harem, Yahya Efendi's mother and Sultan Suleiman's wet nurse3–4Supporting
Engin GünaydınGül AğaEunuch that clarifies the harem prohibitions in the first episode, later Hürrem Sultan's confidant1–2Supporting
Nihan BüyükağaçGülşah HatunMahidevran Sultan's maid, later Hürrem Sultan's maid1–3Supporting
Saadet AksoyVictoria (Sadıka Hatun)A Hungarian countess. An enemy of Sultan Suleiman1–2Supporting
Burcü GünerFahriye Kalfa (Diana)Mahidevran Sultan's maid, later Hürrem Sultan's maid3–4Supporting
Gamze DarFidan HatunHürrem Sultan's servant, later Mahidevran Sultan's maid2–4Supporting
Melike İpek YalovaIsabella FortunaPrincess of Castille, in love with Suleiman2Supporting
Cansu DereFiruze Hatun (Hümeyra)Persian spy and Safavid princess who poses as an Assyrian slave, in love with Suleiman3Supporting
Saygın SoysalMercan AğaŞah Sultan's confidant3Supporting
Kübra KipCanfeda HatunNurbanu Sultan's servant and confidant4Supporting
Cavit Çetin GünerGazanfer AğaChief eunuch of the Manisa harem, in service of Nurbanu Sultan4Supporting
Yüksel ÜnalŞeker AğaMain chef of the palace kitchen1–3Supporting
Hayal KöseoğluNilüfer HatunHürrem Sultan's servant2Supporting
Burcu TunaGülnihal Hatun (Maria)Hürrem Sultan's childhood friend and servant1Supporting
Gökhan TercanlıPerçem AğaA guardian of the palace in service of Hürrem Sultan2–3Supporting
Melisa SözenEfsun Hatun (Nora)Hürrem Sultan's servant, in love with Şehzade Mustafa2Supporting
Sebahat KumaşEsma HatunHürrem Sultan's servant1–3Supporting
Kaya AkkayaLokman AğaA servant in Constantinople and later Kütahya harem, later a keeper of Sultan's privy chamber, in service of Hürrem Sultan4Supporting
Ünal YeterKiraz AğaAfife Hatun's servant3Supporting
Suat KaraustaZal MahmutLoyal servant of Rüstem Pasha4Supporting
Safak BaskayaFerhat AğaA keeper of Sultan's privy chamber4Supporting
Merve OflazAyşe HatunSultan Suleiman's concubine, rival to Hürrem Sultan1Supporting
Elif Atakan Rümeysa Hatun Şehzade Mustafa's concubine 3 Supporting
Büşra Ayaydın 4
Cemre EbuzziyaHelena HatunŞehzade Mustafa's concubine3Supporting
Reyhan TaşörenDilşah HatunŞehzade Selim's concubine, rival to Nurbanu Sultan4Supporting
İrem HelvacıoğluNurbahar Hatun (Clara)Şehzade Mehmed's concubine3Supporting
Patrycja WidłakCihan HatunŞehzade Mehmed's concubine3Guest appearance

Otherwise associated to the palace

Actor nameRole nameExplanationSeasonsCharacter status
Serkan AltunorakTaşlıcalı Yahya BeyOne of the famous poets of the era, Friend and supporter of Şehzade Mustafa3–4Major
Sarp AkkayaTurahanoğlu Turgul Bey "Atmaca"Friend and supporter of Şehzade Mustafa and then Şehzade Bayezid4Major
Ezgi EyüboğluAybige HatunValide Sultan's niece and a Tatar Princess (daughter of the Crimean Khan), Balı Bey's love interest2Supporting
Fatih AlMatrakçı Nasuh EfendiMathematician, historian, geographer, miniaturist, and inventor, Ibrahim's confidant1–4Major
Gökhan AlkanTahmasp IThe 2nd Shah of the Safavid dynasty3Supporting
Sermet Yeşil 4
Hamdi AlkanYahya EfendiAn Ottoman Islamic scholar, Sufi and poet, Afife Hatun's son, Sultan Suleiman's foster-brother3–4Supporting
Hilmi Cem İntepeYavuzA supporter of Şehzade Mustafa, serves Piri Reis together with Atmaca4Supporting
Alp ÖykenPope Clement VIIPope of the Roman Catholic Church during that time1–2Supporting
Seçkin ÖzdemirLeoA Ukrainian painter, Aleksandra's former fiancé1Supporting
Burak SağyaşarHekim PedroA physician who cures Mihrimah's illness and later falls in love with her4Supporting
Müjde UzmanArmin HatunJoşua Effendi's daughter, a Jewish girl who falls in love with Bali Bey2Supporting
Güner ÖzkulRakel HatunA wealthy Jewish woman who lends the palace money in time of need2–3Supporting
Çağkan ÇulhaİlyasA soldier in service of Şehzade Mehmed who poisons him and causes his death3Supporting
Dolunay SoysertGracia Mendes NasiA wealthy Jewish woman who became a prominent figure in the politics of the Ottoman Empire4Supporting
Bergüzar KorelMonica GrittiAlvise Gritti's sister1Guest appearance
Binnur KayaMuskacı HatunA witch who writes amulets1Guest appearance
HümeyraRemmal ElmasA famous astrologer who can tell the future by looking into the sands2Guest appearance
Mesut ÖzkeçeciSahib I GirayValide Sultan's brother and Aybige Hatun's father. He is the Crimean Khan and Suleyman's uncle2Guest appearance
Demir DemirkanDeli SabitHead of the military unit called Deliler in the Battle of Mohács2Guest appearance
Büşra PekinŞirin HatunA woman who brings fabrics to the harem2Guest appearance

Broadcast

Country Local title Network Premiere date Timeslot
 Turkey Muhteşem Yüzyıl Show TV (Season 1–2)
Star TV (Season 2–4)
January 1, 2011 20:00
 Northern Cyprus Muhteşem Yüzyıl Show TV (Season 1–2)
Star TV (Season 2–4)
January 1, 2011 20:00
 Arab League حريم السلطان
Hareem Elsultan
OSN Ya Hala (Pay-per-view) December 13, 2011
Dubai One
 Afghanistan حرم سلطان
Hurrem Sultan
1TV August 2012
 Albania Sulejmani i Madhërishëm TV Klan 22 January 2020 18:20
 Algeria حريم السلطان (Ḥarīm as-Sulṭān) Echourouk TV
Muhteşem Yüzyıl DTV 2015
 Argentina El sultán Telefe April 24, 2017
 Azerbaijan Möhtəşəm Yüz İl Lider TV December 2011 20:10
 Bangladesh সুলতান সুলেমান
Sultan Suleiman
Deepto TV December 16, 2015 19:30
 Bolivia Suleimán El Sultán Bolivisión March 13, 2017 22:00
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sulejman Veličanstveni Televizija OBN August 22, 2012 20:00
 Bulgaria Великолепният век
Velikolepniyat vek
TV7
Diema Family
September 7, 2012
August 29, 2015
20:30
16:00
 Chile El Sultán Canal 13 December 14, 2014 23:00
 Colombia El Sultán Canal 1 September 10, 2018 22:00
 Croatia Sulejman veličanstveni RTL Televizija August 22, 2012 19:00
 Cyprus Extra September, 2012 21:30
 Czech Republic Velkolepé století TV Barrandov December 17, 2011 20:00
 Egypt Al Hayat TV November, 2011
MBC Masr 2014
 Estonia Sajandi armastus Kanal 2 September 1, 2013 20:35
 Greece Σουλεϊμάν ο Μεγαλοπρεπής
Souleiman o Megaloprepis
ANT1 August 28, 2012 (Season 1, 2 3a)
October 21, 2013 (Season 3b)
June 10, 2014 (Season 4)
21:30 (Season 1,2,3)
22:15 (Season 4)
 Georgia დიდებული საუკუნე Maestro TV September, 2013 21:45
 Hungary Szulejmán RTL Klub January 4, 2013 21:30
 Indonesia Abad Kejayaan/King Suleiman antv[3] December 22, 2014 22:00
 Iran حريم سلطان
Hareem-e soltan
GEM TV September, 2012 22:00
 Israel הסולטאן
HaSultan
Israel Plus December 2013 19:00
 Italy Il secolo Magnifico Babel TV June, 2013
 Japan オスマン帝国外伝~愛と欲望のハレム〜 Channel Ginga August 7, 2017 0:00, 16:30
 Kazakhstan Сүлеймен сұлтан Хабар Astana TV March 15, 2012 / May 6, 2020 21:00
 Kosovo Sulltani: Shekulli Madhështor RTV21 January, 2012 20:00
 Kyrgyzstan Даңазалуу доор KTRK March 15, 2012
 Lithuania Didingasis amžius LNK September 7, 2013 15:00
 Latvia Lieliskais gadsimts LNT September 17, 2016 21:05
 Macedonia Величествениот султан Kanal 5 December 12, 2011 21:00
 Malaysia Magnificent Century Astro Bella HD

Astro Mustika HD (Season 1–2)

Astro Ria

PRIMEtime (Season 3–4)

December 4, 2017 23:00 (Season 1–2)

19:00 (Season 3)

14:00 (Season 4)

 Mexico El Sultán Imagen Television April 3, 2017 21:00
 Morocco Medi 1 TV December 2011
 Mongolia Аугаа зуун Edutainment TV April 2019 22:00
 Montenegro Sulejman Veličanstveni Prva TV
RTCG
March, 2012
October 11, 2013
20:00
20:05
 Nicaragua El Sultán Canal 10 May 1, 2017 20:00
21:00
 Pakistan میرا سُلطان
Mera Sultan
Geo Kahani May 10, 2013 21:00
حورم اور سُلطان
Hürrem Aur Sultan
ATV 2017[4] 20:00
 Panama El Sultán TVN November 9, 2015 20:00
 Perú El Sultán ATV February 15, 2016 21:00
 Poland Wspaniałe stulecie TVP1 October 6, 2014 15:45
 Romania Suleyman Magnificul: Sub domnia iubirii Kanal D Romania September 12, 2012 20:00
 Russia Великолепный век Domashny January 9, 2012 21:00
 Serbia Сулејман Величанствени
Sulejman Veličanstveni
Prva
B92
Nova.rs
Pink
February 9, 2012
September 1, 2013
December 17, 2013
September 19, 2014
20:20
19:05
20:00
20:00
 Slovakia Sultán TV Doma December 15, 2011 20:30
 Slovenia Sulejman Veličastni Planet TV March 5, 2013 12:50
 South Korea 위대한 세기 Welike July 8, 2019 23:20
 Spain El Sultán nova.atresmedia.com June 13, 2022 21:30
 Tanzania Sultan azam two April 16, 2018 22:00
 Thailand สุไลมาน สุลต่านผู้เกรียงไกร Channel 3 SD August 6, 2018 20.30
 Tunisia حريم السلطان
Hareem Elsultan
Nessma TV April, 2013 20:45
 Uzbekistan Muhtasham yuz yil Milliy TV December 10, 2018 21:00
 Ukraine Величне століття. Роксолана 1+1 October 3, 2012 17:15
 USA Suleimán - El Gran sultán MundoMax July 1, 2014 20:00
 Vietnam Thời đại hoàng kim - The Golden Age HTV7 February 4, 2015 11:00

Reception

Controversy

The show generated controversy and complaints from some viewers, for what they referred to as a "disrespectful", "indecent" and "hedonistic" portrayal of the historical sultan.[2][5] Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council, known as RTÜK, claimed they had received over 70,000 complaints about the show and warned Show TV to publicly apologise for wrongly exposing "the privacy of a historical person".[2] The Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the show as "an effort to show our history in a negative light to the younger generations."[2] An MP for the governing Justice and Development Party, Oktay Saral, went further, threatening to outlaw the "misrepresentation of historical figures" in shows such as Muhteşem Yüzyıl.[6] Small groups of Islamists and Nationalists protested the studio but the show remains successful with consistently high ratings.[2]

Elif Batuman wrote in The New Yorker:

"On the surface, 'Magnificent Century' looks like a quintessential product of the Erdoğan years. Thanks to Erdoğan's economic policies, Turkey has a thriving television industry, capable of staging elaborate period dramas, and a prosperous family-oriented middle class of observant Muslims eager to watch their own values reflected in a historical imperial setting. And, much as Erdoğan's foreign policy has promoted relations with former Ottoman lands, the show has conquered large audiences in Balkan, Caucasian, and Arab countries not known for their fond memory of Ottoman rule. Broadcast to more than two hundred million viewers in fifty-two countries, "Magnificent Century" has accomplished one of Erdoğan's main goals: Making a powerful, non-secularist, globally involved version of Turkey both plausible and appealing.... And yet Erdoğan is not a fan. In late 2012, at the opening of a provincial airport he took a moment to condemn the show's depiction of Suleiman, as well as its directors and broadcasters, hinting at severe judicial repercussions."[7]

According to the report of Radio Free Asia, some Uyghur people were arrested for watching the series in 2020, as the Chinese government considered that it might encourage the thought of the Xinjiang Independence.[8]

Anachronisms

Notable writers and critics pointed out multiple chronological mistakes in various scenes related to the timeline in which the plot takes place (1520-1566). Some of these anachronisms (or chronological inconsistencies) are as follows:

  • Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha is shown, in many scenes, as he is working on a table. The practice of using tables in Ottoman palaces, however, was not adopted until the era of Abdulmejid I (1823-1861).[9]
  • Louis II, The King of Hungary, is portrayed in the series as an old man who provokes the Ottoman Empire by executing the Ottoman envoy. The problem with this portrayal is that Louis II never executed anyone, and he was only 20 years old when he died during the Battle of Mohács.[10]
  • In one of the episodes of the show, Sultan Suleiman recites the following Turkish phrase: "Nush ile yola gelmeyeni etmeli tekdir, tekdir ile uslanmayanın hakkı kötektir." This phrase comes from the Terkîb-i Bend of Ziya Pasha, which was only written in 1870, almost 400 years after Suleiman's reign.[11]
  • One of the workers in the kitchen is shown as she is dicing tomatoes. However, tomatoes started becoming a part of the Ottoman cuisine only after 1835, as it took time for them to spread around the world after their discovery in South and Central America following Cristopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.[9]
  • In the scene where Suleiman the Magnificent visits his son Şehzade Mustafa in the Manisa Palace, it can be seen that the floor is covered with parquet.[12] However, parquet (parquet de menuiserie) was first used in 1684 on the floors of Palace of Versailles.[13]

International popularity

Muhteşem Yüzyıl is reported to have an international audience of 200 million viewers [14] in over 50 countries.

The show is part of an ongoing revival of Turkish culture in the Balkans through imported TV shows from Turkey, such as Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki ("As time goes by", number one TV show in North Macedonia), or Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne? ("What is Fatmagül's fault"), which was top ranked TV show in Kosovo 2012. Serbian sociologist Ratko Bozovic explains the popularity by pointing at the traditional, patriarchal values of the Turkish shows, and the many cultural and linguistic similarities between Turkey and the Balkan countries: "The mentality depicted in those shows has to do with a traditional understanding of morality that people in Serbia remember at some level." According to Bozovic, all Balkan countries have seen dramatic changes in terms of family life, and the Turkish shows help them recall value systems that now seem lost.[15]

In Bangladesh, the show was known as সুলতান সুলেমান (Sultan Suleiman) and it was broadcast on Deepto TV, dubbed in Bangla. Within the first two months of its release in Bangladesh back in 2015, Sultan Suleiman received the highest TV program ratings in Bangladesh.[16] The channel gained the most TRP ratings. Some people demanded a ban on this serial as viewers lacked interests in watching local dramas, however, keeping all these controversies aside the show still went on.[17] After finishing the series, Deepto TV re-broadcast this massively popular show from June 2, 2019.[18]

In Morocco, the series is called Harim al-Sultan ("The Sultan's Harem"). Many people find it visually and aesthetically enjoyable to watch, but viewers have contrasting opinions of the show's depictions of gender and Ottoman rulers. Many Moroccans stopped watching the show because they did not like the morals it presented.[19]

In Greece, the series has become quite popular for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and ages. Many Greek viewers enjoyed the visuals and oriental decorations present in the show, as well as the cultural proximity and historical ties between the two countries.[19] It has become so popular that Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki and the Golden Dawn party condemned the show and urged Greeks not to watch it.[20][21] "No one should watch Muhteşem Yüzyıl, The Magnificent Century," Anthimos said. He added, "By watching the Turkish series we are telling them we have surrendered."[20][22]

In the Republic of North Macedonia, Turkish series have become so popular, that the Macedonian parliament has moved to ban Turkish soaps to reduce the Turkish impact on Macedonian society. Turkish series will gradually be removed and replaced by national programs, according to a 2012 bill authored by Elisabeti Nikolovska who has links to the Macedonian Royal Family.[21][23]

In Chile where the series is called El Sultán (The Sultan) it is aired since December 14 in Canal 13 on prime time with great success. The Spanish voice of Suleiman is the same as the one of Onur in the Turkish soap opera Las mil y una noches. The series is part of a wave of Turkish soap operas that have become popular in Chilean TV.[24] The series debuted right after the penultimate chapter of Los 80, a popular historical family drama produced by Canal 13.

In Pakistan, the show was named میرا سلطان: داستان جلال و جمال (Mera Sultan: Dastan-e-Jalal-o-Jamal; lit. My Emperor: Story of Bravery and Love) and it aired on channel Geo Kahani. Geo Kahani claims that it was the channel's most popular show[25] and received the highest TRPs.[26][27][28][29] However, the channel faced several controversies[30] and serial got banned few times, but still completed the broadcast due to public pressure.[31] The Pakistani drama industry was adversely affected by the popularity of Turkish dramas,[32] and lead actor Halit Ergenç to win first ever International Icon Award in Pakistan's biggest awards show Lux Style Awards in 2017.[33][34]

See also

References

  1. "Turkish scriptwriter, actress Meral Okay passes away". Zaman. 2012-04-09. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  2. Fowler, Suzanne (2011-03-20). "Magnificent Century divides Turkish TV viewers over the life of Süleyman". The Observer. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  3. Media, Septina Arifiani-Solopos Digital. "KING SULEIMAN ANTV : Sukses Hadirkan Bollywood, ANTV Jajal King Suleiman dari Turki". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. Hürrem Aur Sultan Archived 2018-01-13 at the Wayback Machine on ATV. December 22, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  5. "Muhtesem Yuzyil "Magnificent Century" takes Turkey by storm". Istanbul View. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  6. Moore, Robbie. "Soap Opera Diplomacy: Turkish TV in Greece". The International. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  7. Batuman, Elif (9 February 2014). "Ottomania: A Hit TV Show Reimagines Turkey's Imperial Past". The New Yorker. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  8. "Xinjiang Authorities Detain Vocalist, Dozens of Others For Watching Turkish TV Series". RFA. 11 November 2020.
  9. "Bir dizi, bir saray ve boşa geçirilen zaman". Gazete Vatan (in Turkish). 2013-01-27. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  10. Macar Kralı Layoş, Osmanlı Elçisinin Kellesini Vuruyor! | Muhteşem Yüzyıl, retrieved 2023-10-09
  11. "Bu hata dikkatten kaçmadı!". Milliyet (in Turkish). 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  12. "HÜRREM SULTAN". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  13. Kimball, Fiske; Philadelphia Museum of Art (1943). Creation of the Rococo. Library Philadelphia Museum of Art. [Philadelphia] : Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  14. Rohde, David. "In Turkey, Erdogan disrespects dissent". Reuters. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  15. "Turks bewitch the Balkans with their addictive soaps". Balkan Insights. May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  16. "Turkish TV series enjoys huge popularity in Bangladesh | Weekly Blitz". Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  17. "Demand to ban Sultan Suleiman 'a conspiracy'". Dhaka Tribune. 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  18. "'Fatmagul' and 'Sultan Suleiman' to start from June 2". Dhaka Tribune. 2019-06-01. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  19. Özalpman, Deniz; Sarikakis, Katharine (2018-07-11). "The politics of pleasure in global drama: A case study of the TV series, The Magnificent Century (Muhteşem Yüzyıl)". Global Media and Communication. 14 (3): 249–264. doi:10.1177/1742766518780168. ISSN 1742-7665. S2CID 149470051.
  20. Greeks tune in to Turkish soap opera, despite critics views, Southeast European Times (SETimes.com), Andy Dabilis and Erisa Dautaj, 10/10/2012
  21. Soap Opera Diplomacy: Turkish TV in Greece Archived 2013-02-15 at the Wayback Machine, The International, 12.02.2013
  22. Greek metropolitan bishop warns against Turkish series, Hürriyet Daily News, 18.09.2012
  23. Macedonia bans Turkish soap operas, Hürriyet Daily News, 14.11.2012
  24. La nueva oleada turca: Cinco teleseries se sumarán a la pantalla local, La Tercera.
  25. "New Drama Mera Sultan Getting More Popularity In Pakistan". Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  26. "Mera Sultan; A Perfect Historic Drama". Archived from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
  27. Hafsa_Khawaja (16 March 2013). "Pakistan Hit by Fever of Turkey's Popular Cultural Export". Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  28. Khan, Sadia (10 January 2014). "It's fun to be young: Top Six Turkish Dramas (dubbed in Urdu)". Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  29. "Leap in history: There is more to Ottomans than 'Mera Sultan' - The Express Tribune". 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  30. "Khara Sach 19 May 2014 Blasphemy By Misinterpreting The Holy Quran in Mera Sultan title". YouTube. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18.
  31. "From Mera Sultan to Nisa Sultan". Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  32. "Some in Pakistan threatened by Turkish TV invasion". AP. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  33. "Here's what's going down at the Lux Style Awards 2017 right now [LIVE]". DAWN Images. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  34. "Halit Ergenç Pakistan'ı fethetti". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
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