44 minutes ago
Engin Gunaydin and Selim Bayraktar became an excellent duet in the series, however, according to history, they might not in any way portray the eunuchs of the Sultan in the harem
In the TV series “The Magnificent Century”, the audience was shown how the subjects of the Ottoman Empire lived in the 16th century, as well as how the days passed in the Sultan’s palace. The harem of the padishah remained the main scene of action in the project throughout all seasons. However, the creators of the “Magnificent Century” distorted some points.
From the very beginning to the end, a huge role in the plot of this story was played by servants – eunuchs and kalfis, who carried out the orders of the padishah and members of his family. Often they took part in the intrigues of the sultanas and pashas. Some did it out of fear for their lives, others out of a desire to get rich. The same Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska highly appreciated the devoted servants and never forgot to give them gold.
It is not surprising that the audience fell in love with Syumbyul and Gul-aga so much. These funny and absurd, but devoted eunuchs have become an integral part of the “Magnificent Age”. However, if the creators filmed the series in accordance with historical reality, then, most likely, black actors were selected for the roles of these characters. After all, in the Sultan’s harems for a long time it was precisely such eunuchs who were in charge of affairs.
The heads of the Ottoman Empire had a myriad of concubines. And, of course, almost all beauties. Meanwhile, many of them never once in their entire lives in the harem might never see the ruler. It is not surprising that girls languishing from loneliness sometimes paid attention to those men whom they met daily. In those days, there was an erroneous misconception that women do not experience any attraction to the opposite sex of the Negroid race. Interestingly, there are even several historical references to cases confirming the love affairs of black harem servants with slaves.
Therefore, it was strange to see in the “Magnificent Century” both the absence of eunuchs with black skin color, and the concubines Gyul-aga and Syumbyul walking around the harem and rooms. Karaagalar, as the dark-skinned men in the Sultan’s seraglio were called, were considered, among other things, more healthy and hardy. And if they even flashed in The Magnificent Century, then the series turned out to be a little more truthful.
Photo source: frame from the series “The Magnificent Century”