The Ottoman imperial harem had a hierarchical structure that encompassed slave women of various ranks. Affiliation to the imperial court opened up access to various opportunities according to their status in the harem hierarchy. Royal concubines who were elevated to the status of valide sultan (sultan’s mother), following their sons’ succession to the throne, became the most influential women in the Ottoman Empire. These women acted as the chief administrative of the imperial harem, took on the charitable projects and engaged in architectural patronage activities. Conditions, especially those from the second half of the sixteenth century onwards, afforded the women of the imperial household remarkable power. In this period named the ‘sultanate of women’ valide sultans exerted extraordinary political influence and effectively ruled the empire. By most accounts, this period ended with the rise to power of the Köprülü Family of grand vezirs following delegation of political power by Hatice Turhan Valide Sultan in 1656. This paper focuses on Hatice Turhan Sultan’s daughter in law, Emetullah Rabia Gülnus Valide Sultan who, as mother to two sultans, Mustafa II and Ahmed III, remained as valide sultan for twenty years following the period of the ‘sultanate of women.’ It aims to reconstruct the experience of Gülnu? Valide Sultan and explore her role and position in the imperial court in a period which witnessed the rise of the vezir and pasha households. This study demonstrates how Gülnus Sultan acted as an important part of the political system. She engaged in various aspects of political culture such as gift- giving and participation in public ceremonies, she cultivated networks of influence and patronage, played a critical role in important political decisions and had an influential position in diplomatic contacts with Europe. By demonstrating this position required political affiliation in any case, this paper argues that the end of the period of the ‘sultanate of women’ did not mean an end to the power and influence of valide sultans. It also contributes to the fact that the socio- political environment of any period had a determining factor in the role and position of valide sultans. Finally, this paper offers conclusions concerning not only the internal functioning of the imperial court but also place of women in the political system.