Nurbanu became the most favored consort of Şehzade Selim (who became Ottoman Sultan as Selim II in 1566), and the mother of Şehzade Murad (the future Murad III, born 1546).

While her spouse Selim was still a şehzade, Nurbanu had been the head of his princely harem at Manisa.

Once he became sultan, Selim let his favorite wife, the haseki Nurbanu, remain at the Topkapı Palace throughout his reign, as his predecessor (Suleiman the Magnificent) had done.


Even after Selim began to take other concubines, Nurbanu persisted as a favorite for her beauty and intelligence.
As the mother of the heir-apparent, she acted as an advisor to her husband.
Although it was far from normal at the time, Selim II would often ask Nurbanu for her advice on various subjects because of his respect for her good judgment.
The Venetian ambassador Jacopo Soranzor reported: 
"The Haseki is said to be extremely well-loved and honored by His Majesty both for her great beauty and for being unusually intelligent."

 She became a formidable figure with far-reaching influence during this time.
According to some sources (mostly Venetian accounts), her influence was such that Nurbanu Sultan effectively ran the government alongside the Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha.
The Ottoman Empire was far from stable at the top, and clashes over the imperial throne were common.
It was also not unusual for the loser in such contests to have his entire family massacred along with him to prevent any future challenges.
Nurbanu Sultan was determined, however, that when the time came for her son to succeed his father, nothing would interfere with that.

When Selim II's reign ended in 1574, the haseki Nurbanu received 1,100  aspers a day, while Selim's other consorts, each the mother of a son, received only 40 aspers.
Nurbanu became the most favored consort of Şehzade Selim (who became Ottoman Sultan as Selim II in 1566), and the mother of Şehzade Murad (the future Murad III, born 1546).
While her spouse Selim was still a şehzade, Nurbanu had been the head of his princely harem at Manisa.
Once he became sultan, Selim let his favorite wife, the haseki Nurbanu, remain at the Topkapı Palace throughout his reign, as his predecessor (Suleiman the Magnificent) had done.

Even after Selim began to take other concubines, Nurbanu persisted as a favorite for her beauty and intelligence. As the mother of the heir-apparent, she acted as an advisor to her husband. Although it was far from normal at the time, Selim II would often ask Nurbanu for her advice on various subjects because of his respect for her good judgment. The Venetian ambassador Jacopo Soranzor reported: 
"The Haseki is said to be extremely well-loved and honored by His Majesty both for her great beauty and for being unusually intelligent."
 She became a formidable figure with far-reaching influence during this time. According to some sources (mostly Venetian accounts), her influence was such that Nurbanu Sultan effectively ran the government alongside the Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha. The Ottoman Empire was far from stable at the top, and clashes over the imperial throne were common. It was also not unusual for the loser in such contests to have his entire family massacred along with him to prevent any future challenges. Nurbanu Sultan was determined, however, that when the time came for her son to succeed his father, nothing would interfere with that.
When Selim II's reign ended in 1574, the haseki Nurbanu received 1,100  aspers a day, while Selim's other consorts, each the mother of a son, received only 40 aspers.
Nurbanu Sultan