The Sultan of Mandu's harem

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

I saw a reference on a travel programme earlier to a fabled fortress palace in Madhrya Pradesh in central India, the Jahaz Mahal, where the 15th century ruler housed a harem of 10,000 women. I thought that must be a mistake or exaggeration, but no, googling suggests this is agreed by contemporary accounts.

Ten Thousand? Ten Thousand?! Surely even Rod Stewart couldn't require the company of 10,000 women for 'that'. Maybe the Sultan was like Rod and liked them all to attend his concerts every night?

[Gawpus]

'that' isn't what a harem is for, it's just a space reserved for women.

There were 12,000 women in Ghiyasuddin's court, including musicians, dancers and wrestlers.Ghiyath was interested in female education and set up a Madrasa in Sarangpur to teach the women of his court. Tutors were engaged to teach the royal princesses and over seventy women were well versed in the Quran.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghiyath_Shah