Aletta Brasser

1579 - 1659
Who was she?

Is it Aletta? Alita? In the archives in Delft, Holland she is recorded as Alitea. Nowadays she would possibly be called Ali or Thea. For the time being, let's stick to Aletta.
Dirck Willemsz Brasser 1545 - 1/8/1622, whom you find on our family tree as well, had six children; Govert, Aletta, Joost (also on our tree), Maritje, Levina and Servaes.
Aletta lived from 1579 - 1659.

How this lady met her husband, Dr. Cornelis Haga, is unknown. He probably saw his wife for the first time when she arrived in Instanboel after a dangerous journey.
At the time she was in her early fourties, and Cornelis was only a few years older, so there was no gossip of some young lassie marrying a very wealthy old man. There is absolutely no doubt that Cornelis was extremely rich, for as ambassador at the royal court of the mighty emperor, he earned double the salary that Van Oldenbarneveld collected in Holland.

The importance and influence on world politics by this lady from Delft can hardly be underestimated. While her husdand was busy with his duties around the royal court of the sultan, this sister of the mayor of Delft had a very friendly relationship with the 'Valide Sultan', the Queen Mother of the reigning kalief. This mother of the sultan was even less visible than the sultan himself. But very little went past her around the emperor's harem in the wealthy Topkapi palace. This Valide Sultan, mother of the reigning sultan, was in the centre of this over 400 room palace. She also had a great influence on relations between the sultan, his wives and children. Any pretending future sultan had better have her full approval.
During the time that Cornelis Hage was in Instanbul, the Valide sultan decided on all political issues and she had more authority than the sultan himself.
It is quite acceptable that here was a period that this daughter of the major in Delft had more political influence on happenings in the sultan's empire than the King of Spain and the Emperor of Habsburg together.
The life and work of Aletta Brasser happened mainly behind the scene. Only from short notes by the 'Janitsaren', the people who protected members of the ambassy, do we know that Mrs. Haga was in regular contact with the ladies that really pulled the strings.

The above was researched by Mr. M.Elfers of Mokum TV, The Netherlands.

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