Esperanza Malchi

Esperanza Malchi was the third kiera, a title that refers a woman who led the concern for the matters outside the palace for the valide sultana, the queen mother and other influential women in the Ottoman royal harem. Like her predecessor Ester Handali, Esperanza served in a period known as The Women Sultanate, when the strong women in the harem were involved and actively participated in a variety of internal and external intrigues, and consequently became very powerful and influential factor at the Ottoman court.

Esperanza was appointed as kiera for Safiye (b. c 1550-1605), the consort of sultan Murad III (r. 1574-1595) and the mother of Mehmed III (r. 1595-1603). As valide's personal agent, she became her main supplier of jewels and other luxury items, and a confidant who led the most trustworthy contact with the outside world. With the powere she had, Esperanza influenced important nominations, mediated in diplomatic conflicts, supplied diplomatic intelligence, and communicated with foreign envoys on Safiye's behalf.

In a letter addressed to Queen Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603) of England in a name of her mistress, Esperanza described herself as „a Hebrew by law and nation“ and mentioned exchanges of items that was presented to her mistress by the English ambassador, and lists the gifts which would be delivered to Queen Elizabeth. In return, Esperanza requests that Queen Elizabeth send "distilled waters of every description for the face and odoriferous oils for the hands clothes of silk or wool, articles of fancy suited for so high a Queen as my Mistress." Above mentioned “articles for ladies” should be delivered discreetly and only through Esperanza’s confident hands.

As a reward for her long and loyal services, Esperanza along with her sons received various profitable concessions from sultana, among them the control of customs in Istanbul. In this way she ensured to her family a great wealth and social prestige. But, her great wealth, special privileges, influence on the valide sultana and interference in state matters soon turned against her. On April 1, 1600 she was publicly stabled to death by rebellious soldiers. Her eldest son was also killed the next day, her second son converted to Islam in order to save his life while the youngest managed to escape.
Esperanza’s enormous fortune and estates were confiscated by the state.