34. The Ottomans’ “Humane” Alternative to Massacring Their Brothers
Over time, a reaction set in against the Ottoman sultans’ tradition of fratricide. So a new tradition was developed to take its place: instead of new Sultans outright murdering their siblings upon ascending the throne, they simply locked them up.
Thus was born the system of the Ottoman Kafes, or “Cage”, whereby Sultans set up a secluded part of their royal Harem as a detention center for their brothers. There, potential rivals were kept under house arrest, under surveillance by palace guards and isolated from the outside world to prevent intrigues and plots. It was a harsh existence that drove some of the locked-up princess to madness. However, compared to death, it was still a relatively more humane alternative.