Original subtitles

The events and characters in this show have been fictionalised based on history.

I, the Armourer Chamberlain Suleyman Agha...

...have brought news to my prince from Grand Vizier Mehmet Pasha.

His Majesty, Sultan Selim Khan...

...on the night of the 22nd of September, after the isha prayer...

...walked the path of righteousness in his tent in the Corlu encampment...

...and has ascended to heaven.

It is imperative that...

...His Majesty, Prince Suleyman...

Your Majesty, Sultan Suleyman Khan...

...the dynasty and the entire Ottoman Empire awaits you.

MAGNIFICENT CENTURY

The Black Sea September 1520

Food! Get in line!

Alexandra...

...get up and eat.

Alexandra, get up.

You haven't eaten for days. You'll get sick.

Come on.

Maria, Alexandra, come on.

Don't drink the dirty Ottoman soup.

I'd rather starve than drink it.

Come here! Get up!

Eat that soup!

Don't touch me! I'll kill you!

You'll do what?

I'll kill you, you filth!

You're dead!

You hit me! You're dead now.

You dog!

Alex!

Come here!

Tie her up. Don't even let her drink.

Effendi, we'll do what you want!

-Have mercy! -I want to die! Throw me into the sea.

It's forbidden for you to die. You are the sultan's slave.

You can't die until you reach the palace.

The sultan will kill you if he so desires.

Jesus Christ,

may the sultan die.

May his palace collapse.

May Istanbul be destroyed.

Mother.

Pray for us. May Allah keep us from disgrace.

May he destine us to show the power and justice of the Ottomans to the world.

May Allah bless you with a long life. Long may you reign.

I give you my blessing.

Inshallah Allah blesses you as well.

I prepared a kaftan.

Bring my lion's kaftan.

My Hatice.

My sister.

I am Suleyman...

...the son of Yavuz Sultan Selim Khan...

...born of Sultan Hafsa Ayse.

I am the one who brought joy to Trabzon Palace in the fall of 1499...

...and peace and prosperity to the place of his birth.

But also the one who yearns for his brothers...

...who lost Orhan, Musa and Korkut...

...to cruel pandemics in the battle against death.

Suleyman who grew up with the grief for his brothers.

I am Suleyman.

The one who learned from Rumi Hodjas at the age of 6...

...who loves the mountains, the peaks, the stars...

...who plays with numbers...

...who entered the Enderun at the age of 10...

...who puts knowledge on the lectern...

...who asks questions as he reads and isn't convinced of the answers...

...who makes apparent the mysteries...

...who crafted jewellery to learn patience...

...who brought together the light of ore and rock...

...who was dazzled by the light he saw...

...who can tell...

...the precious from the worthless at a single glance...

...who never forgets what he understands.

I'm Suleyman.

The one who became the crown prince and governor of Manisa at the age of 16...

...the one who strives to shoulder...

...his father Sultan Selim's honourable inheritance...

...who promised to seek justice at every step he takes...

...the tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Thankfully, Sultan Suleyman arrived without accident.

Otherwise what would have happened to us, Piri Pasha?

Allah forbid, it would be a disaster.

Not a disaster.

Doesn't Sultan Selim have another son?

You forgot about Uveys.

Uveys, who is forbidden to come to the capital...

...the one who is exiled to the eastern provinces.

This is not the time or the place for these words, Cafer Agha.

As Yunus says:

"Some words stop wars.

Some words lose you your head."

His Excellency, Sultan Suleyman Khan!

Muftu Edem Ali Effendi!

First Vizier Mehmet Pasha!

Second Vizier Ferhat Pasha!

Grand Admiral Cafer Agha!

The Rumelian Kazasker, Ali Effendi!

Vatican Palace

Your Excellency...

...we have received important news.

The emperor of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Selim, has died.

His son Sultan Suleyman has inherited the throne.

He is a young sultan.

His father won great wars.

He ruled with blood and power.

He was the potentate of the Islamic world.

The lion of Islam has died.

The lion is gone, and the sheep has taken his place.

I love you, I missed you so much.

I missed you too.

We will marry in this church.

Your father will perform the ceremony.

Our children will be baptised here.

Hush, my mother is looking.

The Tatars have come!

-Leo! -Alex!

-Leo! -Alex!

Father!

Father!

Mother!

Leo!

Murderers!

Who is the murderer?

We are the murderers? Apologise this instant.

No, not you, not the Ottomans. Tatars did it.

Apologise, Alexandra!

Stop being so stubborn, you nuisance!

Alexandra, apologise or it'll be a disaster for us.

It will be a disaster?! What more can happen to me?!

My mother, my father, my sibling...

...my Leo, all of my loved ones were murdered.

They sold me to the Crimean Palace as a slave.

As if it wasn't enough, they sold me to the Ottoman Palace.

What more can happen?!

Let them kill me, I'll be free.

I have nobody left.

It has too much pekmez and too little syrup, no!

We can't serve it to His Majesty.

Get rid of these!

Bring the quince and fig desserts now!

Allah grant me patience!

Seker Agha, where are your dessert trays?

Why didn't you get help from the grand kitchen?

You went on about being the real kitchen of the sultan.

You wanted to serve his meal by yourself.

Do you see what happened? You couldn't manage it!

So help me Allah...

...I will put you in vinegar, not pekmez.

-Be quick! -We are ready, Sumbul Agha.

-We are ready, Sumbul Pasha. -Move!

Stop dawdling, or I'll have you hanged!

Quickly, take these, come on!

It's enough, untie her hands.

Tell her to clean up.

We can't deliver them like this.

What is this place?

Have we arrived in the Ottoman hell?

You see, Ibrahim...

...we are closer to our dreams.

We are here after all the wars, the deaths and the raids.

We came to this night.

The future will be bigger, more magnificent, Your Majesty.

You will be a greater emperor than Alexander.

You are the Alexander of our time.

Only you and I believed in this dream.

What does fate have in store for us?

Come on, look!

The new girls have arrived.

They look so ragged.

Get in line. Stand upright.

Stay in line. Hold your heads upright.

These would make servants at best.

To the back.

Tell them to shut up.

Girls!

Don't make me come up there. Go to your rooms.

Who am I talking to?

To your rooms! Or I'll cut your tongues out!

See, it doesn't look like a terrifying hellhole.

We haven't seen anything yet.

Send the ones we've chosen to the hamam.

Have the lady physician examine them.

Take the rest downstairs. You'll take a look tomorrow.

Let go of me!

Let go of me, I say!

Damn your palace and damn your sultan to hell!

What's happening?

What's this commotion? Who is this crass girl?

New girls sent to our sultan as a gift from Crimea, my lady.

Bring me that insolent girl.

You are gazing at the stars again, Pargali.

Tell me, what are they saying?

Grand Vizier Piri Mehmet Pasha wishes to appear before you, my sultan.

He may come.

As required by tradition...

...I came to return the privy seal to you, Your Majesty.

I would like you to remain my grand vizier, Piri Pasha.

You are a pasha who served Sultan Selim Khan...

...with great success and loyalty.

The crown is indebted to you.

I wish you to keep your station.

Your wish is my command.

Please accept my gratitude.

Another matter, Piri Pasha.

You know my grand falconer Pargali Ibrahim.

He is to be my concierge from now on.

Let it be known.

Kalfa Nigar!

Ayse...

...come with me. Make sure nothing is amiss at the main chamber.

How lucky you are. You get to see the sultan's chambers.

I wish I could be there too.

The rest of you to your rooms!

Come on, Ayse!

Let's go, kalfa Nigar.

Let's go!

Don't touch me!

Let go of me!

Shut up, stop yelling.

Keep calm.

They brought me to this Ottoman hell by force.

Please help me. Save me.

You look like a strong and rich woman.

Please tell them to release me...

...or else I'll take my own life.

You are Sultan Suleyman's property.

He decides whether you live or die.

And I.

Take her.

I'm nobody's property!

I'd rather die!

Let go!

Let go of me!

I apologise, my lady.

I'll teach her a lesson.

If she resists, if she refuses to bow...

...make sure to punish her.

Kalfa Nigar.

You stay.

What's your name?

Ayse, Your Majesty.

Let go of me, woman! We are not animals!

-Let go of me! -Come here!

-Sit down. -No!

-Sit down here now! -No, remove your hands!

-Let go of me! -Sit here now!

-What was this insolent girl's name? -Alexandra.

She is Ruthenian.

You may leave.

I'm afraid, Father.

I'm afraid of being drenched in blood, of being a tyrant.

What if the power of the throne, its rumble...

...deafens the voice of my conscience?

May you always watch over me.

My Allah, never let me be ashamed of looking at myself.

Ibrahim, son of Manolis, the fisherman of Pargali...

...and born to Sofia of Venice, who converted at the age of 10.

What was my name?

What did it mean in which language?

I don't remember.

Forgetting is freedom.

Or else...

...the language of your name, the earth...

...on which you learned to walk, never lets go of your heart.

Your Majesty.

I thought you were resting.

I couldn't sleep without breathing in the Bosporus air.

Are you distressed?

Tell me if you have a wish.

What wish would I have, Your Majesty?

Your Greatness has bestowed upon me a great honour today.

-To be worthy... -But I have a wish of you.

Your wish is my command.

The time has come for you to start a family.

It's high time.

I have a family.

Did you start one unbeknownst to me?

You called me your brother.

Or am I not anymore?

If I had the chance to choose a brother, I'd choose you.

Come on, girls, be quick!

Stop dilly-dallying!

Come on, come on, come on!

Have them undress out there.

Quickly!

Come on, go inside!

Stop dawdling.

Wear your nightgowns and go to bed.

You'll be given new clothes tomorrow.

Go on!

Alex or Alexandra, whatever your name is...

...don't make me break your bones!

Pick that nightgown up.

Listen, all of you.

Know that I won't show mercy to any of you.

This is the Topkapi Palace.

The home of the Ottoman Dynasty.

All of you are Sultan Suleyman's property.

The one who spoke Russian with you...

...is our valide sultan.

She is the mother of our padishah.

How does she know our language?

She is the daughter of Giray, khan of Crimea.

She didn't come here as a slave like you.

She came as a sultan.

Come on, girls, tidy up!

Go on.

We all came here as slaves.

If you come to your senses, maybe you won't stay a slave.

Receive your education, shut up and behave.

All of the girls here are prepared for the sultan.

If you are chosen and make the sultan happy...

...and if you give birth to a boy, you become the haseki sultan.

You rule the world.

Come on!

What did she tell you, Alex?

She didn't tell me anything.

Let's go to bed.

Mother?

Your wounds are healed.

I want to die too.

Please, Mother.

There is too much pain and evil here.

Don't leave me.

You can't come with us, Alexandra.

You have to stay and avenge us.

You have to live.

You have to get strong.

There are things you must do.

If you become stronger...

...we will have peace.

Where is Leo?

Why isn't he with you?

Leo isn't here.

Leopold didn't come with us. He's missing.

I lost all of you.

Don't leave me alone.

I can't make it.

You can.

My daughter will.

She can stop our blood from flowing.

Jesus Christ will protect you.

Alex! Alex, wake up!

Wake up, Alex. It's over.

Jesus Christ...

...you came to help.

You heard me.

I'm Ibrahim...

...who was taken from Parga and was turned at the age of 10.

What is it to be turned?

Where does one turn to?

Where is that place?

Is it possible to turn back...

...or does destiny only point forward?

Does the place you came from wait for you?

Would you be able to see it?

Would your heart be your compass?

Would it be possible...

...to go back home by following your trails backwards?

Or is one still seen only as a convert...

...in every place one has come from converted and changed...

...in every language and in every religion?

Is conversion not an ability...

...but a necessity, Ibrahim?

Let's visit Mother first and receive her blessings.

Everyone shut your mouths!

You are no longer children.

As of today, you will be trained.

You will attend school everyday...

...and train to become beautiful, learned and mannered concubines.

If you listen and learn everything...

...and do everything as told, this palace will become heaven for you.

If you don't, it will be your hell.

Let it be known.

Now, get in line.

Well done, bow your heads down.

Bow your head down.

Did you understand what was said?

Did you?

I did.

Mother...

...I couldn't start without your blessing.

My lion, my Suleyman.

My prayers are with you. May Allah protect you.

May he spare you for all Ottomans.

My mother, my precious.

When are Mahidevran and my grandson coming?

I'm having their chambers prepared.

They are on the way. They should be arriving soon.

Manisa Palace

My Mahidevran...

...let me finish this ring.

I won't.

Am I more beautiful than this emerald ring?

You are.

How long will we go, Mother? Let's stop and play.

We're almost there, my Mustafa. Our galley is waiting for us.

We will open the sails...

...and the wind will take us to our palace in Istanbul.

I miss Father, I miss Ibrahim.

-Is Ibrahim waiting for us there? -He is.

Your father, your grandmother Hafsa Sultan...

...your aunt Hatice Sultan, they all are waiting for us there.

Is it bigger than our palace?

It is bigger, my Mustafa. Much bigger.

Topkapi is the biggest palace in the world.

It is full of gold and diamonds.

That's the favourites' floor.

What is a favourite?

If His Majesty likes you, you stay there.

And you go to his bed through the golden way.

But only the smart, well-behaved ones can go through there.

His Excellency, Sultan Suleyman Khan. Make way!

Quickly, get in line!

Bow your heads and don't lift them up until he passes.

Sultan Suleyman!

"Suluyman."

Daye! Sumbul!

Take care of her.

Sunduz!

Your Majesty...

...aren't we going to the audience chamber?

What did I tell you?

Didn't I tell you to bow your head and not look up?

It wasn't enough that you looked, you also called his name!

And then you fainted!

You idiot.

How dare you call him by his name and a wrong one at that.

Did you decide to give him a new name, you uncouth, impudent girl?

I will punish you later.

He was so handsome, wasn't he?

That was a trick, wasn't it?

You're a lunatic, Alex.

How did you do it?

I'll show you how I did it tonight.

Come on.

His Majesty is coming with Pargali at his side.

How could he make this convert Ibrahim the concierge?

Why didn't you oppose it as the grand vizier?

It is not our place, but it would be yours to do so.

If you rise to my station one day, then you can do so, Ahmet Pasha.

Besides, you are a groom of the noble family.

You too, Ferhat Pasha. Both of you are.

That was not what we meant, Piri Pasha.

You misunderstand.

Come, Hasancan.

My father's eminent courtier, his confidant.

Let us speak alone first.

You rose faster than your falcon, Pargali Ibrahim.

From grand falconer to concierge.

You'll be carrying one of the four seals of the empire?

His Majesty wishes so, my pasha.

We are all his subjects, you know.

His wishes are the law...

...my vizier.

Converts...

...household troops will try to come to power.

Unless they are stopped.

Did he suffer much?

Yes.

But his mind never became clouded.

It was always clear.

He prepared himself...

...by asking me to pray with his last breath.

May he rest in peace.

Did he ask about me?

The last night...

...he kept calling out your name, Your Majesty.

He was having Cafer Agha prepare...

...200 galleons for the Rhodes campaign.

His Excellency, Sultan Selim Khan, said that we would have no rest...

...in the Mediterranean without securing Rhodes, and then...

Didn't he say anything about Grand Admiral Cafer Agha?

I heard about all of his infractions and unlawfulness from Manisa.

The injustice against Egyptian merchants, what he did to the villagers in Rumelia...

...not to mention Tabriz.

Tell me, Hasancan.

Is this Ottoman justice? To turn a blind eye?

Can a blind and deaf conscience rule justly?

It can't, Your Majesty.

Is that all, Hasancan?

Why is it taking so long? What is Hasancan blabbing about?

Your Majesty...

...you know best.

Of course I do, Hasancan.

I know what to do.

Twenty-eight, 29...

...30.

My agha, the Egyptians' payment was 20,000 silver coins short this month.

They said, "We have nothing more to sell.

Let Cafer Agha come and take our lives."

Go again today.

Tell them to pay the balance.

Or else, go there tonight...

...and burn the place to the ground. Destroy it.

Then go to the judge...

...and report them for setting the whole neighbourhood on fire.

Today, I will...

...teach you how to bow and rise. Now all of you stand up!

Get up, quickly! I don't want any laziness!

All right, now...

...we tightly clasp our palms together.

Good.

We bow down...

...with our backs straight...

...and without raising our heads. I'm looking, checking.

Straight as an arrow, good. A bit lower.

Straight, good. A bit straighter.

Checking again, now stand up!

I'll check you individually.

Now, girl, clasp your palms. Good.

Bow down. Bow, bow, bow.

Bow down, dear.

Bow down, girl. Did you swallow a stick? Lean more.

Stand up.

What did I last teach you today?

What did I last teach you today?

"Forbidden, forbidden."

You only learned the word "forbidden" today?

-Yes, forbidden. -That's quite good.

Then we will proceed with that.

Now, prohibitions. It's forbidden to make a racket.

It's forbidden to look and see.

It's forbidden to gossip.

Insubordination is forbidden.

Men are forbidden.

-Do I make myself clear? -Gul Agha.

Men are forbidden?

They aren't forbidden because they aren't men.

They are men.

They are harem attendants, so they are eunuchs.

Why are you laughing so much?

The moment I leave you alone, you start laughing.

Now, the tailors are waiting with their scissors at hand.

Come on, follow me. Be quick.

You speak first, treasurer.

What is the status of the Imperial Treasury?

Thanks to our late Sultan Selim Khan, the treasury is full, Your Majesty.

Currently, we have...

...6,380,530 golden ducats in our treasury.

The annual income of the Ottoman Empire is 11 million golden ducats.

The fact that our treasury is full will hasten our campaign preparations.

Pay 3000 of the 5000 silver coins...

...I gave to Janissaries as my enthronement tribute.

Add the remaining 2000 as a wage increase.

Now...

...do you know why I spread this map out here?

I wanted to lay the world under our feet and examine it.

We are not a Balkan empire anymore.

We will ride into continental Europe.

Belgrade, Buda, Vienna, Rome.

We will stab Europe, the heart of the infidels, with our sword.

We are not turning our back to the east, of course.

Our borders will go beyond the Caspian Sea.

Hopefully, with Allah's help and your absolute might, Your Majesty.

Shah Ismail is not my foe.

My foes are Charles V, Francis, Henry Tudor...

...and the infidels in the Vatican.

Our first goal is Rhodes.

The Mediterranean will become an Ottoman sea.

Nobody will be able to set sail or unfurl their flag without our knowledge.

We will be the wind, the storm and the thunder!

Look, her.

Her.

That beautiful girl became the sultan's woman...

...the other night.

-You mean, they had sex? -Yes.

Speak in Turkish. Russian is forbidden.

Come on, girls, dinner is over.

How was the sultan?

Tell me, did you conceive?

It was like a dream. Handsome, kind.

Hopefully I have conceived.

I pray for him to desire me again, but...

But?

He is said to have a very beautiful wife. Mahidevran Sultan...

...the mother of his son, Prince Mustafa.

Where is she? Here?

She is coming from Manisa soon.

Come on, Ayse!

"Suluyman."

Do you require anything, Your Majesty?

I'll work for a while, Ibrahim, you may go.

Tomorrow will be your first council meeting.

Everyone is curious about the decisions you're about to make.

Do you think the world is ready for my decisions?

Is the empire ready, Ibrahim?

Sultan Suleyman has his father's gaze.

Stern...

...like a fathomless chasm.

Mashallah.

In the name of the great God.

I open the council meeting in the name of Allah, most merciful and gracious.

This throne...

...this crown...

...is not more powerful than the laws of Allah.

Our holy book, the Quran...

...commands justice and benevolence.

The justice of the empire, the justice of Sultan Suleyman...

...will be done lawfully.

Six hundred Egyptian families...

...who were ripped away from their homes and whose pain is known by all...

...will be able to go back...

...to their homeland, Egypt...

...whenever they so desire.

They are our equal subjects.

I also remove the thrown-silk ban against Iranian merchants from Tabriz.

These people will be compensated for their losses.

Also, those who mistreated these people...

...whoever they may be, will be judged before the law...

...and will be punished.

The Quran...

...commands us to seek justice...

...and not act arbitrarily...

...even if it's a matter of two people.

For this reason...

...I command that Grand Admiral Cafer Agha...

...who mistreated these families...

...who coveted their possessions...

...and the lives of countrymen in Anatolia...

...who shed blood and stole from the innocent, to be put on trial...

...and for his punishment to be meted out immediately.

Your Majesty! These are untrue, all lies!

Have mercy, Your Majesty. It's all slander!

Sheer calumny!

All untrue! All lies!

It's all slander, Your Majesty! Have mercy!

Your Majesty!

Lies, slander! All lies!

Allah!

Your Majesty...

Help me, Pargali, please!

Stand by your actions like a man, Cafer Agha. Don't cry.

Hold your head high. Don't beg.

This is Sultan Suleyman's justice, nobody can change it.

It's all slander! It's all lies! Allah!

You are the best at training the girls in the harem, Daye.

What happened with that bad-tempered girl from Crimea?

Did you teach her a lesson?

She is restless...

...but she learns fast.

-She is quite sharp. -We don't need them clever.

We need them well-behaved, Daye.

Don't spoil her.

She is beautiful, Mother.

Beauty is fleeting, my Hatice.

I knew many beauties...

...who now live in the mud inside adobe houses.

-What is it, Sumbul Agha? -My valide sultan...

...His Majesty, Suleyman Khan...

...has asked for the head of Grand Admiral Cafer Agha.

My lion, my Suleyman, has seen fit to do so.

His judgement is always free of error.

Sumbul, have a great feast prepared for my lion tonight.

I want it to be perfect.

Have the most beautiful concubines prepared for him.

Have them play and sing.

Make sure Concierge Ibrahim is with you.

Choose them together.

Hear ye, hear ye! His Majesty has ordered...

...that our tribute be paid right away!

We are getting 3000 silver coins tomorrow!

And a 2000 wage increase!

Long live the padishah!

Long live the padishah!

Long live the padishah!

May he live long! This is a godsend!

Good morning, Seker Agha. Have a seat.

-Bring my sharbat and pastries. -Quick, boy!

And you two look for bulgur and rice. Come on!

Look, my agha, these came in this morning. I set them aside for you.

What a liar. These were here three days ago.

I recognised this from its neck.

You probably already carved their livers out.

Bring me those geese livers right now. Quickly!

Right away, my agha!

Sultan Suleyman came to decisions faster than his father.

Cafer Agha is going to lose his head.

I wonder what's next.

Did you know he'd make these decisions?

No.

He asked me about the last days of his father.

He is his son after all. He was curious.

He asked if his father suffered.

Anything else? Anything about us?

He didn't tell me anything else.

The sharbat pitcher...

...is held like this.

Bend your knees slowly.

Hold its handle gently.

Lean.

Hold it gently with both hands.

Bend your knees slowly. All right.

With both hands. Lean.

Raise your elbow.

-Girls! -Who is she?

Leave her. She is Alexandra, the Crimean lunatic.

She is Crimean?

Ruthenian. She was the daughter of an Orthodox priest.

Raise your elbows higher. Both of them.

-Orthodox? -Orthodox.

Tatar bandits abducted her from her village.

They sold her to the Crimean Palace, and then they sent her here.

If you could see the way she was when she first came...

So insolent, so impudent...

But I'm teaching her manners now.

Prepare that Crimean girl, Sumbul Agha.

-Alexandra? -Yes.

The one beside her as well.

-The short one? -Yes.

And that one facing away from us.

The one that's smiling?

Matrakci!

Come, drink a sharbat before you break your arms too.

-Come. -Come here.

Come on.

What happened?

Nothing. I fell.

And they're making fun of me.

I've become a joke.

How is the air up there, Matrakci?

Good. Here, look.

The navy is in the Bosporus.

Gun carriages are on the way from Halic to Sarayburnu.

They're waiting for Sultan Suleyman to start the new campaign.

The Janissary battalions are gathering in Etmeydani.

-Bring Matrakci a sharbat on me! -Thanks.

Very well done. You're working hard on these, but do they serve any purpose?

I'm writing the Book of Suleyman.

Day by day, I and this city will record these events.

Sultans will pass, I will pass, but these will stay.

Do you understand, Seker Agha?

Hear ye, hear ye!

Sultan Suleyman asked for the head of Grand Admiral Kanli Cafer Agha.

Cafer Agha will be executed.

That's not all. The captive Egyptian merchants are pardoned. They're free.

The thrown-silk ban is lifted.

Long live the padishah!

Long live the padishah!

Mother, this palace is so big.

Is this my palace?

Yes, son. It's your palace.

Our palace.

I'll get lost in here.

How will I find you?

I'll always be by your side.

Don't be afraid.

Let's go, your grandmother is waiting.

The valide sultan ordered festivities to be prepared for tonight's feast.

I went with Sumbul Agha...

...to pick from the Crimean concubines to entertain you.

Alexandra, the girl who fainted when she saw you, is among them.

You didn't talk with her, did you?

I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty.

Sumbul Agha told me how she was brought from Crimea.

She is from Crimea, you say?

Your Majesty, Prince Mustafa has arrived.

-He is in Valide Sultan's chamber. -Congratulations!

Pargali, my son awaits. We'll talk later.

My Mustafa. How I missed you, my dear.

The apple of my eye.

-My Mustafa, did you miss me too? -I did.

Where is Father? Take me to Father.

Your father must be busy, not now. You'll see him later.

Isn't that right, Hatice?

It is, Mustafa.

I order you, take me to him.

Isn't this my palace?

I'm the owner of this palace!

How can he talk like this?

Are you teaching this to a 5-year-old?

How dare you.

Forgive me, my valide.

Come here, Mustafa!

Come!

This palace has but one owner, Mustafa.

His Excellency, Sultan Suleyman Khan.

-Let me hear you repeat it. -His Excellency, Sultan Suleyman Khan.

I will not hear such words again.

Now go, play outside.

Take him outside.

He is only a child, my valide. He was just talking nonsense.

Forgive me.

Mothers must be clever, Mahidevran.

You can't discipline a prince like this.

Look at the favourites' clothes.

Look at the jewellery.

They sleep in beautiful rooms, on feather beds.

And us, Maria?

Look at us.

Maybe we will be like them some day.

The sultan's chief consort and his son have arrived.

Mahidevran Sultan.

She is beautiful.

I wouldn't care if they died.

Be quiet. Jesus Christ, Alex!

They're coming here. Did they hear us?

You...

...and you.

Maria, Alexandra, come on. We're going.

Prohibition, punishment, beating?

Come on, after you.

You will be busy tonight. You will entertain Sultan Suleyman.

Do you know how to dance or sing?

Dancing, stupid girls.

Watch and learn.

Dancing...

...just like this. Dancing smoothly.

Go on! Let's go!

Mustafa?

-Father! -My son!

My little one, my dear son.

I missed you so much, my Mustafa.

Welcome...

...we missed you.

We missed you too, my sultan.

Where is Ibrahim? Take me to him.

Later, son.

Go on to your chambers, settle in, rest. You have come a long way.

Gulsah, put Mustafa to sleep. It's time.

I won't sleep! My father is coming, Ibrahim is coming!

Stop shouting, Mustafa. I have a headache.

Gulsah, I'm talking to you.

Let's go, my pasha.

I order you to let go of me.

Of course, my pasha. Of course, my prince.

Welcome.

Mustafa has grown so much, mashallah.

Do you need anything?

No.

Put that back, it's priceless.

I don't want it to break.

We can send in concubines to help, if you wish.

I don't want them.

You are alone on your first night.

There will be great festivities for His Majesty tonight.

Music, dancing, everything.

Is that so?

Who is preparing them?

Valide Sultan. Didn't you know?

Girls! Come and take these!

Do you call this cleaning?

Come on, faster!

I'll be going, if you don't need anything.

Have a good night.

Your chamber looks nice. Do you like it?

Is there something wrong, Mahidevran?

Leave us, get out.

Okay, I'm listening.

His Majesty will be at the festivities tonight.

On our first night.

Was my son supposed to ask for your permission?

You are the mother of a prince.

You are His Majesty's most favoured.

There are hundreds of women who want to take your place.

Stop whining like a little girl.

Or this palace will devour you.

Now, come to your senses...

...and sit in your chambers as the chief consort.

Forgive me, my valide. I upset you.

I don't get upset over simple things like this, girl.

Sleep well now. Tomorrow is a new day.

Your handkerchief looks quite nice.

Take care of that handkerchief.

It's the key to your prosperity.

You will walk through the golden way thanks to that.

I don't understand. Tomorrow night?

Nigar kalfa.

The sultan is waiting for you.

You will lie with him tomorrow night.

Lay?

You will sleep with him.

Do you think I didn't see how you danced to seduce him?

Stop with the gullible slave-girl facade, Alexandra.

Alexandra...

...you enchanted the sultan. You are an enchantress.

You really are something.

Are you jealous, Maria?

"Someone whose massacres are officially recognised...

...and witnessed by the naval chamberlain...

...who seizes the properties of landowners by bloodshed and therefore...

...erodes the Ottoman Empire's credibility...

...cannot be considered an honourable member of the Ottoman army.

Cafer Agha is sentenced to death.

The sentence is to be carried out immediately."

So my lion was pleased with the festivities?

He gave the purple handkerchief to Alexandra.

You wouldn't believe how she danced.

I didn't expect that from her.

She turned out to be quite skilled.

Don't neglect Alexandra's training just because...

...she received the purple handkerchief.

Prepare her well for tonight.

I don't want any insolence from her.

-Are you Alexandra? -Yes, I'm going to the hamam.

Forget about that. You can go later. We have things to do.

Come with me.

Are you ready, captain?

We are ready.

The Executioner Kara Ali...

...is awaiting orders from His Majesty.

You're just what we need, Venetian ambassador.

But you're late, you missed the great tragedy.

Gather these up and put them in the chest.

Stop staring at me, work!

Me?

Don't you like the job? Shall we find you something else?

Do it neatly, Alexandra.

Let's go.

Who is this woman?

She is Sultan Suleyman's chief consort...

...Mahidevran Sultan.

Did you take his weapons?

The ambassador to the Republic of Venice, Tommaso Mocenigo.

We congratulate the tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire...

...Sultan Suleyman Khan, on his rise to the throne...

...on behalf of the doge of Venice...

...and hope for the strengthened continuation...

...of our good relations as it has been in the past.

Do you accept these good wishes, Your Majesty?

We accept all wishes that carry no hostility or dissension.

As long as the promises are kept...

...and our law is respected. Or else...

His Majesty accepts your good wishes and expresses his gratitude.

During this era of peace...

It's true that Sultan Suleyman...

...accepts your good wishes.

But there's an important detail.

He asks Venice to keep their promises.

He wants no dissension and expects respect for our laws.

I understand. How do you speak our language so well?

It is my mother tongue.

My mother was Venetian.

Pargali, ask him this:

When will Charles V and Francis go to war? Who will declare himself the kaiser?

With whom will Venice side?

The sultan never addresses an ambassador unmediated.

We pray to God for a war like this to never break out...

...so we don't have to side with or make alliances with anyone.

Charles V longs to be the Holy Roman Emperor.

He will start the war as soon as possible, maybe even tomorrow.

A new Crusade would be a dream. They learned their lesson.

What is he doing in the audience room? How can he interrupt? Impudent.

Where does he get the encouragement?

Where do you think? From his sultan.

The infidels will fight among themselves.

Your small states couldn't maintain unity in Italy.

They will devour you.

Venice, Naples, Florence...

Your papal power is in pieces.

You can't save your rule with trade.

You need a powerful army for strong trade.

My sultan, we know the might of your army.

The whole eastern trade is in the Ottoman Empire's hands.

The Silk Road and the spice trade routes go through your lands.

Tell him...

...the West's, the Mediterranean's trade routes will go through us too.

We will own the Mediterranean Sea.

Where have you been?

I was with the sultan's wife.

Are you crazy? Why were you with her? They'll kill you!

I went to her and said:

"You aren't his woman anymore.

Forget it. I won't be his woman for a night.

I will be his woman for 1001 nights.

I will make Suleyman my slave."

You are finished, Alex!

They will throw you to the sea, you will be eaten by fish!

Are you crazy? How could you?

She sent for me and I went to her.

Don't be afraid. It's a joke.

You are so cruel, Alex.

You really are...

Why have you still not gone to the hamam, Alexandra?

Go on! It's almost night and you're still not ready. Go!

Come on, girls, get up!

I need to see Joshua Effendi.

I need some information about the market.

I will write a report.

Let's see what the tradesmen say about the new sultan.

You should've seen the way that unbending...

...Kanli Cafer looked.

He could barely walk. He was finished.

What goes around comes around.

-There is divine justice. -This is not divine justice.

This is Sultan Suleyman's justice.

The minute he came into power, Cafer lost his head.

True.

The Venetian ambassador was there too. He must've been scared to death.

Signor Mocenigo!

Come, have a sharbat.

Thank you, Matrakci Nasuh Effendi.

I have an engagement with Joshua Effendi.

Of course. Of course.

Of course, go to him. Money begets money.

I'm a little fish when there's a Jewish financier.

It's an honour, Signor Tommaso. How can I help you?

How are you, Signor Joshua?

How is business? How is the market?

Mashallah. Mashallah, very good.

The new sultan arrived...

...and the market came to life.

Gold is flying all over the place.

Long live Sultan Suleyman!

She is going to be with Sultan Suleyman for not one night...

...but 1001 nights and turn him into her slave?

That's exactly what she said, my lady.

I heard her with my own ears.

Very well, Daye. You may leave.

Keep your eye on that disobedient girl.

I know what to do.

Send for Mahidevran.

Sultan Suleyman, into whose presence we were accepted today, welcomed me.

He is young and handsome.

He has determined, affecting eyes.

His calm, confident manner is the exact opposite...

...of his father's stern and short-tempered personality.

He has a distant and noble appearance.

Even though his ascension to the throne was recent...

...he now makes swift decisions and acts upon them.

He has already won over the people.

Another surprising matter is that he is following our world closely.

And he says this about the future of Charles V and France:

You will go to war amongst yourselves and I will own the Mediterranean.

Your Majesty, your sharbat.

Your fate may change tonight.

Be a noble lady, worthy of His Majesty.

Out.

Wait.

Your Majesty, your beloved subject is here.