Chief Eunuch of the Ottoman Harem

Eunuchs were a common feature of pre- and early modern societies that are now poorly understood. Here, Jane Hathaway offers an in-depth study of the chief of the African eunuchs who guarded the harem of the Ottoman Empire. A wide range of primary sources are used to analyze the Chief Eunuch''s origins in East Africa and his political, economic, and religious role from the inception of his office i...