Şehzade Murad had been sent to serve as Governor of Manisa on the Aegean coast and was there when Sultan Selim II died in 1574.
This would have been the perfect opportunity for someone to seize power with the Sultan dead and his son away from the capital.
Nurbanu realized this as much, if not more, than anyone and took quick action.
Security and privacy in the harem were the most strict anywhere and no one knew when Selim II had actually died.
Nurbanu told no one and hid the dead body of her husband in an icebox and sent to Manisa for her son to come to Constantinople immediately.
All the while no one was the wiser that Sultan Selim II had departed this life.
It was not made known publicly until twelve days later when Murad arrived and Nurbanu delivered up the body of her late husband.
Her son became Sultan Murad III and Nurbanu became Valide Sultan, the highest position a woman could hold in the Ottoman Empire.
Unlike her predecessor Hürrem Sultan, Nurbanu outlived her husband and enjoyed absolute power between 1574 and 1583, although she was apparently not resident in the Palace after Selim II's death.

Under the influence of Nurbanu on the harem, her son Murad's great respect for her also played a role.
 In this way, the Sultanate became a high status and became an important and powerful position of the dynasty.
 Nurbanu's pocket money, which reaches high amounts among both dynastic members and high level officials, is considered as an indicator of this power.
 As valide sultan she was allocated 2000 coins daily.

Nurbanu had the ultimate power, and she became a formidable figure with far-reaching influence.
Canfeda Hatun, Raziye Hatun, and Hubbi Hatun ladies-in-waiting to Murad and Nurbanu also appear to have been very powerful and influential during his reign.

Nurbanu Sultan became famous in her old age with her relations with her son's wife Safiye Sultan.
 As Safiye Sultan said, "I saw Nurbanu for the first time in her mid-forties, but despite her advanced age, she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Şehzade Murad had been sent to serve as Governor of Manisa on the Aegean coast and was there when Sultan Selim II died in 1574. This would have been the perfect opportunity for someone to seize power with the Sultan dead and his son away from the capital. Nurbanu realized this as much, if not more, than anyone and took quick action. Security and privacy in the harem were the most strict anywhere and no one knew when Selim II had actually died. Nurbanu told no one and hid the dead body of her husband in an icebox and sent to Manisa for her son to come to Constantinople immediately. All the while no one was the wiser that Sultan Selim II had departed this life. It was not made known publicly until twelve days later when Murad arrived and Nurbanu delivered up the body of her late husband. Her son became Sultan Murad III and Nurbanu became Valide Sultan, the highest position a woman could hold in the Ottoman Empire. Unlike her predecessor Hürrem Sultan, Nurbanu outlived her husband and enjoyed absolute power between 1574 and 1583, although she was apparently not resident in the Palace after Selim II's death.
Under the influence of Nurbanu on the harem, her son Murad's great respect for her also played a role.  In this way, the Sultanate became a high status and became an important and powerful position of the dynasty.  Nurbanu's pocket money, which reaches high amounts among both dynastic members and high level officials, is considered as an indicator of this power.  As valide sultan she was allocated 2000 coins daily.
Nurbanu had the ultimate power, and she became a formidable figure with far-reaching influence. Canfeda Hatun, Raziye Hatun, and Hubbi Hatun ladies-in-waiting to Murad and Nurbanu also appear to have been very powerful and influential during his reign.
Nurbanu Sultan became famous in her old age with her relations with her son's wife Safiye Sultan.  As Safiye Sultan said, "I saw Nurbanu for the first time in her mid-forties, but despite her advanced age, she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Nurbanu Sultan