Characters appearing in Yume no Shizuku, Kin no Torikago.
Captured from her village by slave traders, Alexandra was bought by Matheus/Ibrahim and taken to Istanbul. She was educated by tutors in many fields, including geography and literacy, tailoring her into a fine lady. She fell in love with Ibrahim, but he already promised her to Suleiman.
Under the new name of Hurrem, she was taken to the sultan's harem and became one of his many concubines. Her vast knowledge and thirst for learning fascinated Suleiman, to the point that they discussed his upcoming military sieges together and she quickly rose to becoming his favorite concubine.
Hurrem still holds onto her feelings for Ibrahim, despite knowing that they cannot be together. Upon giving birth to her first child, she is given the status of Ikinci Kadin, second wife. With her favor rising in Suleiman's eyes further, she became the first Haseki, making her the highest-ranked concubine and sole favorite of the sultan.
- #1 Dime: The small, golden birdcage that Ibrahim gave her as a present.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Receives one from Princess Hatice, though it's unclear if she knew that Hurrem had slept with someone other than Suleiman. Hurrem answers in the affirmative, though a small doubt in her remains.That child [inside your belly], is it really my brother's?
- Beware the Nice Ones: As she rises to the status of Haseki, Hurrem shows a darker side of hers. She knows that remaining in Suleiman's favor is the only way to have a good life in the harem, and she becomes fierce in protecting her status.
- Cruel Mercy: Banishes a concubine prospect out of the harem and Istanbul, which many concubines cite to be a terrifying fate. Life in the harem is rather lavish, and someone that isn't used to the poverty outside will have difficulty adapting.
- Hot Consort: Rises up in consort status over some years. She started off as a mere concubine, but soon was the Ikbal (favorite concubine) of the sultan. After bearing her first child, she was referred to as Ikinci Kadin (second wife) of Suleiman, which gave her influence in the harem on-par with Gulbahar, but still below the level of a legal wife. Shortly after, she became the first one to be called Haseki (sole favorite/chief consort) and gained huge influence and authority in the harem.
- I Will Wait for You: Ibrahim asked her to wait for him to gain enough social status, so that he could ask Suleiman to give Hurrem to him. She agreed to wait, but after his engagement to Hatice was cemented, both knew that waiting would change nothing.
- Meaningful Name: Hurrem means 'the cheerful one' in Persian.
- Oblivious to Love: Played with, as she knows love just fine. But when Suleiman shows some passing interest in another concubine, Hurrem starts feeling irrtated. She becomes pleased when Suleiman tells her to come with him to his chambers, noting that she can't understand why she feels this way, though.
- Plucky Girl: Tries to make the best out of her situation, which nets her a new name.
- Red-Headed Heroine: Her hair is mentioned to be a dark red color, though a lot of color illustrations depict her with blonde hair.
Matheus was taken to Istanbul and renamed Ibrahim, where he ended up as a courtier for Suleiman. As soon as he laid eyes on Suleiman, he swore to himself that he would remain by his side until his dying day.
Ibrahim bought Hurrem and gave her to Suleiman as a gift, despite having fallen for her. He planned to accomplish great deeds, so he would rise up in society and gain favor with Suleiman, and could ask for Hurrem to be given to him.
Managing to hand over Rhodes to Suleiman, Ibrahim was given the position of Grand Vizier. When things began to look up, Suleiman engaged Ibrahim to Princess Hatice. Ibrahim realized that he couldn't elope with Hurrem and decided to perform his duties as Suleiman's Grand Vizier and right-hand man, regardless of his personal feelings.
- Altar Diplomacy: Agreed to marry Princess Hatice for social standing, so he could continue to work alongside Suleiman as his advisor.
- Big Damn Heroes: When Hurrem was tied up in a rug and thrown into the river, Ibrahim jumped in to rescue her.
- Childhood Friends: Has known Suleiman for many years, serving him as a courtier and Grand Vizier.
- Conflicting Loyalty: Becomes torn between his loyalty towards Suleiman, whom he swore to serve until his dying day, and to Hurrem, whom he loved and wanted to live a simple life with. When he becomes engaged to Princess Hatice, Ibrahim chooses to follow Suleiman.
- Distinction Without a Difference: Alvice asks Ibrahim why he doesn't just elope with Hurrem and not try to get Suleiman to grant him Hurrem as a favor, since he'd be living with her in a small village somewhere else, anyway. Ibrahim thinks about this possibility, but then insists that the two things are nothing alike.
- Happiness in Slavery: Was enslaved, but found his lot in life to be very pleasant and worthwhile because of Suleiman.
- Historical Hero Upgrade: The actual Ibrahim Pasha was one of the prominent adversaries towards Hurrem, favoring Prince Mustafa as the next sultan. In the manga, Ibrahim doesn't necessarily favor Prince Mustafa, but can't get himself to support Mehmed as the next sultan because he's not sure if Mehmed is actually Suleiman's son.
- The Infiltration: Sneaked into Rhodes and posed as one of the workers that helped maintain the wall to find a way to have Suleiman conquer it.
- My Greatest Failure
- When he learns that Hurrem is pregnant, he becomes conflicted over the night the two spent together because he can't be sure that her first son is his or Suleiman's.
- When he chooses to go through with the marriage to Princess Hatice and follow his goal of staying at Suleiman's side, Ibrahim feels like he failed to keep his promise to Hurrem, that he would free her from the harem by asking Suleiman to give her to him.
- Number Two: Suleiman considers him his right-hand man, whose opinion and thoughts he paid attention to, even when he was merely a courtier. After making Ibrahim his Grand Vizier, this gets increased as Ibrahim takes the place of the emperor when Suleiman doesn't feel like participating in any political meetings.
- Sexless Marriage: Princess Hatice mentions that he hasn't once brought her to his bedroom.
Suleiman became emperor of the Ottoman Empire some time ago, working on expanding its realm and reach. He has a very laidback attitude about many things, and has almost an immature streak to his personality, wanting to go outside and travel the world after being cooped up in the palace dealing with political manners for too long.
He has a large harem living in the old palace, and had one son called Mustafa with Mahidevran Gulbahar for several years. When Hurrem becomes his concubine, he becomes fascinated with her quickly and she becomes his favorite to spend the night with. She eventually gets pregnant and gives birth to his second son, with further pregnancies following.
- Ambiguously Bi: The "ambiguous" part can basically be skipped; he has regular sex with the women of his harem, most prominently Hurrem, and he is clearly attracted to them and enjoys it. However there are explicit scenes in the manga of him initiating kisses with Ibrahim, blatant implications that they sleep together sometimes, and Suleiman's declarations that while he finds his harem enjoyable, Ibrahim "is the only one he can truly trust".
- Confirmed Bachelor: Of the Uninterested In Love variety, Suleiman doesn't care much for getting himself a legal wife. He's rather content with how things are going. Historically, Suleiman was the first sultan to get married since Orhan Ghazi in the 14th century, and broke the two-century-long tradition of sultans not marrying their concubines.
- Dead Guy Junior: Tends to pick the name 'Mehmed', after his ancestor Mehmed the Conqueror
, whom he greatly respects. He also names his second son with Hurrem 'Selim', after his own father. - The Emperor: Of the Ottoman Empire during the beginning of the 16th century.
- Geeky Turn-On: Part of his fascination towards Hurrem stems from the fact that she is a well-educated woman, with a shared interest in learning about the world. Suleiman even comes to the harem once to specifically talk geography with Hurrem.
- Ladykiller in Love: Downplayed, as he wasn't really a skirtchaser to begin with, but did have different concubines serving him at night. But as he grew more fascinated by Hurrem, he began to request only her.
- Reclining Reigner: Often shown in this pose, be it when talking to his advisors or enjoying a leisurely feast with his harem.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Downplayed, since he doesn't actually fight in battles himself. He does travel to the places he means to conquer, though, and remains close to the battlefield.
- Talking in Bed: Repeatedly shown talking with Hurrem about things like politics and history, though usually before they have sex.
- Young and in Charge: Became sultan in his early-to-mid twenties, with most of his advisors being double his age.
Gulbahar became part of Suleiman's harem at a young age and eventually become pregnant, giving birth to his first son Mustafa. As the mother of the only prince in the harem, she was given the title of Bas Kadin (first wife), and her influence and power are the highest among all concubines. She is only surpassed by Suleiman's mother.
Intent on her son being the only child of Suleiman's and having him succeed as sultan, she rules the harem with an iron fist and puts fear into those that try to usurp her position. Gulbahar quickly saw Hurrem as a rival, whose popularity started to compete with her own, and even lost her position as the only mother when Hurrem became pregnant by Suleiman.
- God Save Us from the Queen!: While not actually the ruling queen of the empire, as the Bas Kadin of Suleiman, she does have considerable power in the harem. Since she is intent on being the only one to bear Suleiman children, she strikes fear into the other concubines through manipulation or downright murder.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Becomes irritated at how many gifts are sent to Hurrem after she gives birth to Prince Mehmed, mentioning that she didn't get that many when Mustafa, the first child of Suleiman, was born.
- How the Mighty Have Fallen: Used to be the most influential woman in the harem, barring Suleiman's mother Hafsa, and all but ruled the place with her status and capabilities. Then Hurrem arrived and became well-liked by the other concubines, rose to becoming the Ikbal of Suleiman, and had such protection through Ibrahim's servants that she was able to give birth to Suleiman's second son. Gulbahar lost her position as 'only mother' in the harem, and the power balance ended up shifting in Hurrem's favor.
- Offing the Offspring: Hopes to avert this with her own son, as she knows that the rules of succession mean that Mustafa will die, if he isn't chosen as the next sultan.
- Removing the Rival: Has any concubine that gets pregnant by Suleiman killed. In her own words, the concubines may have Suleiman's love as much as they want, but not his children.
Hafsa is the mother of Suleiman and the current Valide Sultan, giving her the highest power in the harem because her son is unmarried.
- Adults Are Useless: Due to her status as the highest power in the harem, she's supposed to be the one to enforce rules in the place and watch out for all the ladies, but she refuses to do anything like that. She prefers to not be bothered about it and lets them deal with their problems on their own.
- The High Queen: Her previous position when her husband was still the reigning emperor, though she still retains a degree of influence and power during her son's reign. Historically, she was the first Valide Sultan because of a change in title, and brought about a shift in status and influence for the sultan's mother.
