1. Ikbal Hanim, was the Khediva consort of Egypt from 1895 to 1910 as the first wife of Abbas II, the last Khedive of Egypt and Sudan.
15 Facts About Ikbal Hanim
1. 2.
Ikbal Hanim became a slave to the Walida Pasha Emina Ilhamy, wife of Khedive Tewfik, in the harem of the Muhammad Ali dynasty via the Circassian slave trade after 1884, when the importation of white slaves became illegal in Egypt.
3.
Ikbal Hanim was then assigned to Abbas's personal service along with two other slave girls.
4.
Ikbal Hanim was described as tall and beautiful, had clear complexion and dark hair.
5.
Ikbal Hanim passed over his first cousin, Princess Aziza Hassan, and nearly succeeded in arranging a union for him with Naime Sultan, daughter of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
6.
Ikbal Hanim eventually bore all of Abbas's six children, Princess Atiyatullah, born on 9 June 1896, Princess Fathiya, born on 27 November 1897, Prince Muhammad Abdel Moneim, born on 20 February 1899, Princess Lutfiya Shawkat, born on 29 September 1900, and Prince Muhammad Abdul Kadir, born on 4 February 1902.
7.
Ikbal Hanim admired European fashion in dress and household practices and had European servants and governesses for her three daughters.
8.
Ikbal Hanim studied with her children and had an open, inquiring mind.
9.
However, aside from attending ladies-only state functions such as royal weddings or receptions and opera premiers, Ikbal Hanim had no official public role.
10.
Abbas came to believe that Ikbal Hanim was not a suitable compassionate mate.
11.
Ikbal Hanim then married her secretly, while still being married to Ikbal, and she used to accompany him on trips.
12.
The scandal was unavoidable and Ikbal Hanim then moved to Constantinople.
13.
Between 1923 and 1924, Ikbal Hanim brought legal case against her former husband.
14.
Ikbal Hanim was represented by Muhammad Kamel al-Bindari and he was represented by Ahmad Loutfy Bey.
15.
Ikbal Hanim owned a house in Heliopolis, which she had bought after selling her jewellery and her land in Kutahya.