Verdicenan Kadın

Verdicenan Kadın (Ottoman Turkish: ورد جنان قادين‎; c. 1830 – 9 December 1889) was the Empress consort of Sultan Abdülmecid I of the Ottoman Empire.

Empress Verdicenan Kadın was born in the Anchabadze family, in Sukhumi, Abkhazia. Her personal name was Saliha. Her father was Prince Kaytuk Giorgi Bey Achba (1793–1848) and her mother was Princess Yelizaveta Hanım (1795–1843). She had two brothers, Prince Islam Bey and Prince Ahmet Bey, and two sisters, Princess Peremrüz Hanım and Princess Embruvaz Hanım. She was the paternal grandaunt of the future Empress Pesend Hanım, consort of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

In 1843 Saliha left her city of birth and arrived at Istanbul. In 1844, Saliha, married for a political alliance, Abdülmecid at the Old Çırağan Palace, Istanbul. The marriage proposal was put forth by Verdicenan's father, Kaytuk Giorgi Bey, and was accepted by Abdülmecid which led to their betrothal. She was designated the Empress and was granted the rank of Sixth Primary Consort under the name Verdicenan (آلتینجی وردجنان قادين). Her whole family was ennobled, father, brothers and nephews. The most notorious were her brother, Islam Bey's son Rasim Bey, who was given the position of doctor in the palace and her brother Ahmet Bey's son Osman Pasha, who was given the position of aide at Sultan Abdülaziz's palace.

On 9 December 1844, she gave birth to Princess Münire Sultan, when the courth moved to the Topkapı Palace for a brief period. On 18 August 1845, she was promoted to the rank of Fifth Primary Consort (بشنجی وردجنان قادين). On 3 December 1847, she gave birth to Prince Şehzade Ahmed Kemaleddin, at the Old Çıragan Palace. On 16 November 1851 she was promoted to the rank of Fourth Primary Consort (درتنجی وردجنان قادين). On 3 October 1852 she was further promoted to the rank of Third Primary Consort (اوچنجی وردجنان قادين).

After Gülüstü Hanım's death in 1865, her daughter Mediha Sultan was entrusted in Verdicenan's care. In 1879, Verdicenan played a major role in Mediha Sultan's marriage to Samipashazade Necip Bey.

Empress dowager Verdicenan Kadın died on 9 November 1889 at Feriye Palace, and was buried in the Mausoleum of the imperial ladies at the Yeni Mosque, Istanbul.