Consumption as a Demarcation of Social and Economic Status: The Case of Beyhan Sultan

Abstract

Abstract Beyhan Sultan (1765–1824) was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan Mustafa III (r. 1757–1774) and his consort Adilşah Kadın. She was part of a group of high-born Ottoman women who led entirely separate lives with their own households during the last quarter of the eighteenth and the first quarter of the nineteenth century. However, very few studies have examined the lives and experiences of Ottoman princesses. In this article, I discuss issues such as consumption patterns, the freedom and privileges enjoyed by the princess and the composition and social networks of her household. I argue that Ottoman princesses, such as Beyhan Sultan, were able to extend their agency and visibility through the management of their households and consumption.