Buran Bint Hasan b. Sehl, one of the women of the Abbasid palace

Studying the biographies of the women of the Abbasid court constitutes an important field of research for understanding the political, social and cultural structure of the period. The starting point of this sstudy is to examine, from a holistic perspective, the life story of Būrān bint Hasan b. Sehl who appears in historical sources but has not previously been the subject of an independent scholarly study. In this context, the study seeks to address such questions as: To what extent did the women of the Abbasid court possess political and cultural influence within society? What insights does Būrān's biography offer regarding the historical position of Abbasid women? How does her Persian origin and free status relate to the Abbasid policy toward mawali? The research primarily covers the period from Būrān's birth in 192 AH (807 CE) until her death in 271 AH (884 CE). The study is based on a historical-biographical method and events are analyzed within both a chronological and thematic framework. In this regard, the first chapter discusses the prominent figures in Būrān's family lineage, beginning with her ancestors and reconstructs her family tree. The study also explores the reasons behind her being called by the name or epithet Būrān in addition to her given name Khadīja. Since there islittle reliable information about her life before marriage, the story of the Zambīl, said to have led to her marriage with Caliph al-Ma'mūn, is examined. This story, frequently mentioned in literary and histirical sources, has been criticized by some historians as being far from factual. The second chapter focues on her marriage to al-Ma'mūn and her later life. Būrān was betrothed to al-Ma'mūn in Marw in 202 AH (817 CE) when she was only ten years old and she was married to him in a magnificent wedding ceremony lasting seventeen days an Famm al-Silḥ, south pf Baghdād in 210 AH (825-26 CE). Historical records concerning this wedding, which was attended by high-raking state officals, military officers and members of the elite, provide valuable details about the political, social, military and economic life of the time. Furthermore Būrān's Persian origin indirectly sheds light on the mawali policy during the Abbasid era. Her marriage lasted eight years, ending with al-Ma'mūn's death in 218 AH (833 CE). Afterward, Būrān lived in the Hasanī Palace she inherited from her father. Having lived fifty-one years after her husband's death. Records about this later period of her life are scarce. The study also examines in detail her contribution to culinary culture through the dish known as Būrānī, which is attributed to her the first time. It has been determined taht this dish later found its way into Turkish cuisine and appeared on the tables of Seljuk and Ottoman sultans. The interest of her father and uncle is astrology seems to have influenced Būrān as well, as suggested by a report about her astrological calculations regarding Caliph al-Muʿtaṣim. Būrān was buried in the family cemetery and the construction of a mausoleum for her ensured that her memory was preserved for a long time. Both Būrān and her wedding continued to be subjects of poetry centuries later and her name remained well known. In conclusion, this study fills a gap concerning the social representation of women during the Abbasid period. Through the figure of Būrān, it traces the historical presence of a free, educated and culturally influential type of woman. By contributing to the historical visibility of court women in the Abbasid era, the study opens the way for a new interpretive approach to Islamic historiography based on women's biographies. Keywords: Islamic History, Abbasids, Būrān, al-Ma'mūn, Court, Wedding, Food