Esma Sultan

Esma Sultan (; "sublim"; 21 March 1873 – 7 May 1899) was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan Abdulaziz and Gevheri Kadın. Early life Esma Sultan was born on 21 March 1873 in the Dolmabahçe Palace. Her father was Abdulaziz, son of Mahmud II and Pertevniyal Sultan. Her mother was Gevheri Kadın. She was the eldest child of her mother. She was the elder full sister of Şehzade Mehmed Seyfeddin. Her father, Abdulaziz was deposed by his ministers on 30 May 1876, his nephew Murad V became the Sultan. He was transferred to Feriye Palace the next day. Abdulaziz's entourage didn't wanted to leave the Dolmabahçe Palace, so they were grabbed by the hand and were sent out to the Feriye Palace. In the process, they were searched from head to toe and everything of value was taken from them. On 4 June 1876, Abdulaziz died under mysterious circumstances. Esma, who was three years old at that time, grew up under the supervision of her elder half-brother, the crown prince Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin. She had slanting eyebrows, big black eyes, a long face, white skin, and short hair, and was tall. She began her education at the Ihlamur Pavilion, in 1879, along with her brothers, Şehzade Mehmed Seyfeddin and Şehzade Mehmed Şevket, and Sultan Abdul Hamid II's children, Şehzade Mehmed Selim and Zekiye Sultan.