This is a list of the biological mothers of Ottoman sultans. There were thirty-six sultans of the Ottoman Empire in twenty-one generations. (During early days the title Bey was used instead of Sultan) Throughout the six-century history the sultans were the members of the same house, namely the House of Ottoman (Turkish: Osmanlı Hanedanı). Mothers of the Ottoman Sultans This list is distinct from the list of Valide Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Valide Sultan was the title of the mother of the reigning sultan. The mothers who died before their sons' accession to throne, never assumed the title of Valide Sultan like Hürrem, Muazzez, Mihrişah, and Şermi. On the other hand, step mothers who were not the biological mothers but raised the princes whose mothers had died assumed the title of Valide Sultan like Perestu. So there were Valide Sultans who were not the mothers, and there were mothers who were not the Valide Sultans. The detailed list of the mothers See also List of Ottoman titles and appellations Valide sultan Haseki sultan References Sources Mothers of Ottoman sultans Mothers, Ottoman sultans Mothers, Ottoman sultans Ottoman