Muhteşem Yüzyıl is şemYüzyıa Turkish historical television series created by Meral Okay. The series is based on the life of Suleiman the Magnificent (the longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire) and his wife, Hürrem Sultan, a former slave who became sultana. It chronicles the power struggles among members of the imperial house.
The series premiered on January 5, 2011, on Show TV. Its first season and 16 episodes of the second season were aired on the channel, and the rest of the series was broadcast on Star TV. Each episode is 90 to 150 minutes long. Producer Timur Savcı said in July 2013 that the series would end in March 2014, but it concluded with 139 episodes on June 11, 2014.
Series overview
Ratings
Episodes
Season 1 (2011) Süleyman is informed while hunting that his father, Sultan Selim, has died. He rides to Constantinople with his best friend, Pargalı İbrahim, to take the throne. Alexandra, a Ruthenian girl, is sold to the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, she is accepted into the Sultan's harem. Nigar Kalfa, a harem leader, tells Alexandra the benefits of being a favorite of the sultan and bearing a son if she follows the rules. Alexandra attracts the sultan's attention, spends a night with him, and eventually falls in love with him. After converting to Islam, Süleyman changes her name to Hürrem. She gives birth to her first son, Mehmed, and rises to the head of the court. Mahidevran, mother of Süleyman's eldest son Mustafa, worries when she notices that Süleyman is not spending time with her anymore. A year later, Hürrem gives birth to her daughter, Mihrimah. Süleyman leaves for a campaign in Belgrade and kills the husband of Victoria, who later enters the harem to kill the sultan. Süleyman arranges the marriage of his sister, Hatice Sultan, to a vizier's son, not realizing Hatice and İbrahim are in love. İbrahim resigns as grand vizier to not cause Hatice any pain, but Süleyman orders him back and approves his marriage to Hatice. Leo, Hürrem's fiancé before she arrived in Istanbul, arrives in an attempt to find her. Hürrem learns about his presence after giving birth to her third child Selim. She tries to hide the truth, but İbrahim uses it as against her. Victoria, now renamed Sadika, becomes a trusted servant and eventually tries to assassinate Süleyman while he visits İbrahim and Hatice. Because of the rivalry and developing hostility between İbrahim and Hürrem, he tries to blackmail and poison her. Leo saves her by eating the poisoned Turkish delight and dies.