Ottoman racial hierarchies valued Circassian rulers over darker Sudanese and Nubian slaves

Evidence

His sex appeal aside, Sad attributes his limited resources and the color of his sons to his wife; in doing so, Sad provides a glimpse of the hierarchy of color that existed in the army and in the levels of authority. Historically, Circassian children, sold by their parents to the Ottomans in the system known as devshirme, were raised to become members of the ruling class; hence they were considered to be more valuable, and cost more than darker children, who would be groomed only as slaves or servants. His final comment alludes to the mystique of unbridled sexuality that hung over Nubians and Sudanese in Egypt. From Abü Rida to Khulkhäl Aga to Saad's fantasies, Sanüa left his audiences titillated with hints about the prowess (or even the genitalia) of his Nubian characters. — Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 438

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to broader reading on racial hierarchies within the Ottoman military-administrative system, relevant to how colonial/Egyptian rule over Sudan was racialized.
• DEFINE: Defines devshirme as the Ottoman system of conscripting children, here Circassians, for ruling-class roles.