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Cevherriz Hanım Efendi

1862 – 1940

Ottoman noble; consort of sultan Murad V

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About Cevherriz Hanım Efendi

Lived 1862 – 1940 (aged 77–78). Cevherriz Hanım Efendi was a Turkish.

Gevherriz Hanım (; 1863 – 1940; meaning 'gem parure' ), also called Cevherriz Hanım, was a consort of Sultan Murad V of the Ottoman Empire.

Life Gevherriz Hanım was born circa 1863 in Sochi, which was part of Circassia, the capital of the autonomous Ubykh Principality. She was Circassian and the daughter of Halil Bey. When the Circassians had to flee Russian Empire, she was admitted to the Ottoman court, where she grew up and became a Kalfa (girl servant) before she was noticed by Murad. She married Murad in 1876, during his accession to the throne. She remained childless. After Murad ascended the throne on 30 May 1876 after the deposition of his uncle Sultan Abdulaziz, she was given the title of "Second Ikbal". After reigning for three months, he was deposed on 30 August 1876, due to mental instability and was imprisoned in the Çırağan Palace. Gevherriz also followed Murad into confinement.

She spoke excellent French. She also taught French to young şehzades, Sultans (Ottoman imperial princes and princesses), and Murad's children.

In her memoir, fellow consort Filizten Hanım reported that Gevherriz worked with Nakşifend Kalfa, the hazinedar Dilberengiz, the eunuch Hüseyin Ağa, and Hüsnü Bey (who had been Second Secretary of Murad) to allow for a British doctor to meet with Murad to ascertain Murad's mental fitness. When the doctor arrived, Gevherriz served as translator. It is not clear how true this story is, and it is possible the doctor was sent by freemasons rather than by the British.

She was widowed at Murad's death in 1904, after which her ordeal in the Çırağan Palace came to an end. In widowhood, her stipend consisted of 1500 kuruş. However, later, during the reign of Sultan Mehmed V, it was reduced to only 500 kuruş. Afterwards, her step-daughter, Hatice Sultan, wrote to Mehmet Cavit Bey, member of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), asking him to raise her stipend at least to 800 kuruş. Immediately after Murad V's death, she was sent to Bursa for a few years with Murad's other consorts Remzşinas Hanım, Nevdürr Hanım, and Filizten Hanım, but later she came back to Istanbul and married a certain Hüsnü Bey in 1915, but the second marriage was very sad.

At the exile of the imperial family in March 1924, Gevherriz as being the adjunct member of the family decided to stay in Istanbul, where she died in around 1940.

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Important facts

Born
1862, North Caucasus
Birth century
Died
1940, Istanbul
Also known as
Cevherriz Hanım, Gevheriz Hanım, Cevheriz Hanım, Gevherriz Kalfa, Gevheriz Kalfa, Cevherriz Kalfa
moreCevheriz Kalfa

Family & relationships

Spouse
Murad V

People in Cevherriz Hanım Efendi's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Cevherriz Hanım Efendi's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Cevherriz Hanım Efendi?

Ottoman noble; consort of sultan Murad V (1862–1940)

When was Cevherriz Hanım Efendi born?

Cevherriz Hanım Efendi was born in 1862 in North Caucasus.

When did Cevherriz Hanım Efendi die?

Cevherriz Hanım Efendi died in 1940 in Istanbul.

What nationality was Cevherriz Hanım Efendi?

Cevherriz Hanım Efendi was Turkish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Cevherriz Hanım Efendi

· Wikidata: Q18206820

· DBpedia: Gevherriz Hanım

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Cevherriz Hanım Efendi. https://biography.guide/cevherriz-hanim-efendi/

MLA: "Cevherriz Hanım Efendi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/cevherriz-hanim-efendi/.

Chicago: "Cevherriz Hanım Efendi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/cevherriz-hanim-efendi/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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