Şehzade () is the Ottoman form of the Persian title Shahzadeh, and refers to the male descendants of an Ottoman sovereign in the male line. This title is equivalent to "prince of the blood imperial" in English.
Origin
Şehzade derives from the Persian word shahzadeh or shahzada. In the realm of a shah (or shahanshah), a prince or princess of the blood was logically called shahzada, the term being derived from "shah" using the Persian patronymic suffix -zādeh or -zada, meaning "son of", "daughter of", "descendant of", or "born of". However, the precise full styles can differ in the court traditions of each monarchy.
Usage in Ottoman royalty
In Ottoman royalty, the title şehzade designates male descendants of sovereigns in the male line. In formal address, this title is used with title sultan before a given name, reflecting the Ottoman conception of sovereign power as a family prerogative. Only a şehzade had the right to succeed to the throne. Before the reign of Mehmed II (1444-1446 and 1451-1481), sons of sultans used the title Çelebi after their name.
The formal way of addressing a şehzade is Devletlû Najabatlu Şehzade Sultan (given name) Hazretleri Efendi, i.e., Sultan Imperial Prince (given name) or simply Imperial Prince (given name). The style of consorts of şehzades is hanımefendi. Sons of şehzades also carried the same title as their fathers, and daughters of şehzades hold the title sultan after their name. The Osmanoğlu family continues to use these titles.
Ottoman Crown Prince
A designated crown prince used the title of Vali Ahad or Veli Ahd (), meaning "the successor by virtue of a covenant", and the full style of Devletlû Najabatlu Valiahd-i Saltanat Şehzade-i Javanbahd (given name) Efendi Hazretleri. The title for consorts of crown princes was "Vali Ahad Zevcesi", with the full style of Veliahd Zevcesi (given name) (rank) Hanımefendi Hazretleri.
Education
The education of princes has been of great importance throughout the Ottoman period since its foundation. The main reason was that the prince who ascends the throne and becomes the sultan will take over the administration of the country. However, these training courses have undergone various changes over time. The periods in which the education of the princes underwent changes can be divided into four parts. These;
Change due to Kafe System,
Change due the lattice system to the mid-19th century,
Change due the mid-19th century to the proclamation of the Second Constitutional Monarchy,
Change after the proclamation of the Second Constitutional Monarchy.
Until the Second Constitutional Monarchy declared in the early 19th century, princes began their early education in palaces. Dâye and Lalas who were responsible for the education of the princes. Although the princes who started the school took a wide variety of courses, they were mainly trained in reading, writing, the Koran and basic religious education. These education, which lasted until the age of 11 or 15, also included practical lessons such as fighting and horse riding.
After the theoretical and basic education received until the age of 11 or 15, şehzades were sent to the sanjaks (provinces) for practical training until their turn to rule came. The period of sending to sanjaks for this practical training ended with Ahmed I, being Mehmed III the last Ottoman Sultan to be sent to a province as governor. After this period the system known as the Kafe system came into effect. Under this system, princes who completed their education up to the age of ten began to live in the sections reserved for them in apartments called Şimşirlik in palaces. However, under 15s are found in Topkapı Palace. They lived under the care of little girls called "Dâye". After the age of 15, they were placed in their own departments. Now they could never have left their post here in the palace. Their education continued without interruption and in a very rigorous manner, accompanied by teachers. The princes were forced to live in the palace sections for many years as a sort of prison life. Because they had almost no contact with anyone except servants (concubines) and their mothers. This caused some symptoms of madness such as Mustafa I and Ibrahim.