Al-hurra
Al-Hurra (Arabic: حُرَّة, lit. 'free woman')[1][2] was an Arabic title historically often given to, or used to refer to, women who exercised power or had a position of power or high status.
In a harem, the title al-hurra was often used to refer to a legal wife of aristocratic birth, to distinguish her status from that of the concubine bought at the slave market, who was referred to as jarya,[3] and used to describe a Muslim aristocratic woman who was "free" in the sense that she was not a slave;[3] it is related to the style Sayyida (Mistress or lady), the feminine word of sayyid (Master or Lord).[3] However, while the title Al-hurra was given to women as an alternative to the titles malika (Queen), Sultana (female sultan) and Sitt, (Lady), there was no exact male equivalent to the title of al-hurra.[3]
The title Al-hurra was often granted to women who wielded political power, but did not necessarily mean they were sovereigns: Alam al-Malika and Sayyida al Hurra, for example, bore this title. Both had political offices; not as sovereigns, but as political adviser and governor respectively.[3]
Noted title holders
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e Mernissi, Fatima; Mary Jo Lakeland (2003). The forgotten queens of Islam. Oxford University Press. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Mernissi, Fatima; Mary Jo Lakeland (2003). The forgotten queens of Islam. Oxford University Press. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..