Vanity is sometimes the biggest vice. History is replete with examples of how conspiracies within the confines of empires sometimes lead to tragic lives for princesses. One such story is that of Princess Niloufer from Turkey, hailed around the world as one of the most beautiful women, and described as the “Kohinoor of Hyderabad.” Her beauty was celebrated from Europe to India.
Even with such vanity and eminence at her expense, her personal life slowly crumbled and disintegrated, leading to a tragic end. This is the story of a queen who did not face the enmity of the world, but rather the angst and anguish of her own mother-in-law.
Why is the tomb of the last Ottoman Emperor in Ellora pic.twitter.com/tQ4sMeOEgX
— Sam Dalrymple (@SamDalrymple123) November 22, 2025
The memory of the beautiful princess resurfaced today as a post by historian Sam Dalrymple went viral on social media platform X. The post consisted of a photograph of the tomb of Abdulmecid II, the last emperor of the Ottoman Empire, located in Ellora. He was the brother-in-law of Mir Osman, the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Azam Jah, the Nizam’s eldest son, was married to Abdulmecid’s daughter, Durru Shehvar. It was Shehvar’s will to bury her father in Hyderabad that led to the construction of this tomb. However, due to World War II, his body could not be brought to India and was instead buried in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The Ottoman Empire’s Collapse Soon After Her Birth
The story of how this beautiful Turkish princess, Niloufer Farhat Begum Sahiba, became the daughter-in-law of Hyderabad is fascinating. Born on January 4, 1916, in the Ottoman palace in Istanbul, Niloufer’s childhood began in royal luxury, but the race of time seemed to be running against her.
The narrative goes that the decline of the Ottoman Empire started around her birth. After her seventh birthday, the Ottoman Empire was dethroned following World War I, and the entire royal family was exiled. Niloufer, along with her mother, left Turkey for France, moving from palaces to a simple life—a turn of her destiny.
She grew up like a normal child in France, but her beauty soon caught the world’s attention. Within a few years, her photographs began circulating in European fashion circles. She later earned a place among the world’s top ten most beautiful women, but her father eventually brought her back to the crown and the throne.
The Desire of the Last Nizam of Hyderabad
Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad, wanted his son to marry a princess whose royal lineage stood out. Hence, after the fall of the Caliphate in Turkey, his eldest son, Prince Azam Jah, was married to the Turkish princess Niloufer. She was soon brought to Hyderabad, where her new life began—little did she know the jeopardy that awaited her.
The Nizam family had a strict tradition of purdah. Niloufer, born and brought up in France, was accustomed to a more liberal background, and hence her opinions and strong-headedness soon became an issue. Visitors to the palace were amazed at how the princess could attend events without a veil. From there on, she became a symbol of change. Her presence at Hyderabad’s elite parties, inaugurations, and social events became a hot topic. Wherever she went, people were captivated. Her style, personality, and grace made her the most talked-about face in the city.
