The Ottoman Empire, which ruled over a vast territory for over six centuries, had a unique system of succession that involved confining the potential heirs to the throne in a part of the palace called the Cage. The Cage was meant to prevent bloody conflicts among the princes and ensure the continuity of the dynasty. However, it also had negative effects on the mental and physical health of the inmates, as well as their preparedness to rule.
The Cage was not a literal cage, but a metaphor for the isolation and surveillance that the princes faced. They were usually confined to the Cage when they reached puberty and left the harem. They were only allowed to leave the Cage when they succeeded to the throne or died. They had no access to education, politics, or affairs outside the palace. They only had the company of their slaves and concubines.
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