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7. Role of the Concubine
Traditionally, the main purpose of a sultan’s wives and concubines was to produce a son in order to carry on his lineage. The emphasis was on the patriarchal nature of power that was hereditary only through sons. For this reason, every female slave entering the palace dreamt of being noticed by the Sultan, as the Sultan was the main authority and the deciding factor in the fate of the women in the Harem. Most of the concubines were slaves of Christian origin and were brought up according to the discipline of the palace and were promoted according to their capabilities.

Wives, unlike concubines, had deep-rooted interests in family affairs. This was often perceived as an opportunity for them to be disloyal to their husband. Consequently, concubines were often preferred over them in regards to having children.

From today's perspective, it is hard to imagine but a lot of women wanted to be in the harem because it meant economic safety and security. Even though most concubines within harems had no significant authority or power, the ones that did a good job of pleasing their Sultan advanced through the ranks to make the best possible lives for themselves, considering the circumstances.

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