Mediha Sultan

Mediha Sultan (; "the praised one"; 30 July 1856 – 9 November 1928) was an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan Abdulmejid I and Gülistü Kadin. She was the full sister of Sultan Mehmed VI and the half-sister of the Sultans Murad V, Abdul Hamid II and Mehmed V. Early life Mediha Sultan was born on 30 July 1856 at the Dolmabahçe Palace. Her father was Sultan Abdulmejid I, son of Sultan Mahmud II and Bezmiâlem Sultan. Her mother was Gülistü Kadın, daughter of Prince Tahir Bey Chachba. She had two elder twin sisters Zekiye Sultan and Fehime Sultan, death as baby, and a younger brother, Mehmed VI. In 1861 She lost both her parents, her father from tuberculosis and her mother from cholera. She was then entrusted to the care of one other of her father's consort, Verdicenan Kadın. The relationship between the two was like mother and daughter. As Verdicenan lost her daughter Münire Sultan in 1862, she kept Mediha under close surveillance, and always helped her whenever she had problems. Her brother was entrusted to the care of Şayeste Hanim. First marriage Media fell in love with Ahmed Necib Pasha, son of Sheikh Necibzade Sami Bey, whom she had happened to see. Her uncle, Sultan Abdulaziz, approved of this marriage, and the preparations for the wedding preparations began during his reign. Abdul Hamid who had frowned on Necib's family because they had connections with Ali Suavi, sent Necib to Paris. It was only when Verdicenan Kadın appealed to Perestu Kadın that Necib was recalled. He was made a pasha and the marriage was arranged. Her dowry was prepared in 1876, along with her half-sisters Behice Sultan, Seniha Sultan and Naile Sultan. The marriage contract was concluded on 22 January 1879 and the wedding took place on 8 June at the Yıldız Palace. The couple was allocated Tarlabaşı Palace as their residence. The two together had a son, Sultanzade Sami Bey born in 1880, who later became personal aide-de-camp to Abdul Hamid and served in the Ertuğrul Regiment. As a member of the entourage of Şehzade Mehmed Abdülkadir, he participated in ceremonial occasions and at the Royal Mosque Processions each Friday, following on horseback behind Abdul Hamid. Mediha was widowed at Necib Pasha's death in April 1885.