Season 1
While hunting through the woods, young 26 year old Prince Süleyman discovers his father the Sultan Selim has died, and that he must part to Constantinople to take the throne. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian girl named Alexandra gets kidnapped in a Tartar slave raid. Her mother, father, and sister are killed. Süleyman arrives at Constantinople with his best friend Pargalı Ibrahim Paşa. Alexandra is
taken on a ship through the Black Sea, where she is mistreated and beat badly. The Ottoman pirates sell Alexandra to the Palace at Crimea, and from there she is sold to the Topkapı Palace (the palace where Süleyman is). Once Alexandra arrives at the palace she is inspected and accepted in the Sultan's harem. Mahidevran Sultan, a senior hatun and mother of the sultan's only son Mustafa, gets worried when she notices Süleyman is not spending time with her. That night, there is a big party to welcome Süleyman, and many slave girls, including Alexandra, are chosen to dance for him. Süleyman watches Alexandra dance, and falls madly in love with her. Alexandra is then invited to spend a night in the sultan's room. As Alexandra gets ready to properly meet the sultan, she talks with the leader of the harem, Nigar hatun. Nigar tells Alexandra that Thursday is a sacred day to them, and that the sultan only sees his his favorite hatun that day (it is Wednesday). She spends the night with the sultan. Mahidevran is getting ready to see the sultan since it is Thursday and it is the custom, but then she gets news that Alexandra will spend that night with the sultan as well. This devastates Mahidevran. The sultan changes Alexandra's name to Hürrem, which is what brings joy to ones face. One night, at a party, Mahidevran intimidates Hürrem, making her dance. Mahidevran called Hürrem Alexandra and Hürrem corrected her, which was considered an offense, and the Valide Sultan sent Hürrem to be punished. Süleyman demands to see Hürrem and removes her from her punishment. When the Valide Sultan finds out about this, Hürrem falls further from the Valide's grace. Süleyman gives a ring to Hürrem as a gift. When Mahidevran sees the ring she tries to pry it from Hürrem's hand, but Hürrem manages to escape with the ring. Mahidevran, screaming and crying, faints. Mahidevran is pregnant. One morning, Mahidevran beats Hürrem severely, blaming Hürrem for her resent miscarriage. When the sultan finds out, he tells Mahidevran he does not love her anymore. Süleyman parts on his first campaign. In order to get rid of Hürrem in Süleyman's absence, the Valide Sultan plans to marry Hürrem with Casim Paşa, Hürrem refuses to leave and lies to the Valide Sultan, telling her she can't leave because she is pregnant. The Valide Sultan believes the lie and lets Hürrem stay, but she tells Daye Hatun, a close servant, to take Hürrem to the doctor in secret. Hürrem asks one of her closest friends in the harem, Maria, to help her run away. Maria refuses, and when Daye and Nigar hatun come to take Hürrem to the medic, Hürrem breaks a vase and threatens to commit suicide if they come any closer. Nigar convinces Hürrem to put the glass down. They take her to the medic and Hürrem discovers she is actually pregnant. Süleyman receives news that Hürrem is pregnant and is very happy. Weeks later, Süleyman returns from his campaign.
