Event

Pages Through History: Empress of the East

Wednesday, August 27, 2025
7:00 pm - 8:45 pm
Cosmos Room

For several decades during the 16th century, one of the most important women in the world was a former captive known by several names.

She was Roxelana, Hurrem, and finally Haseki Sultan—Suleiman the Magnificent’s favorite wife. While remaining unseen behind the walls of Topkapi (Constantinople's “New Palace”), she made her influence felt throughout her husband’s domains and beyond. Empress of the East: How a Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire examines the sometimes vilified, sometimes lionized creator of the “Sultanate of Women.”

Find Empress of the East: How a Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire in the library catalog.

This is a hybrid event with the option to participate in person or on Zoom. Online participants will receive the Zoom link in their confirmation email.

If you have questions about this event after registration has closed, please email the events team or call the library at 847-673-7774.

Limited to 20 in-person participants.

Registration begins July 1.