Fatma was born circa 1558[1] during Selim's princedom, at Konya where he served as sanjakbey, or provincial governor, at the time.
In 1573,[3] she married Kanijeli Siyavuş Pasha (died 1602), then Beylerbey (governor-general) of Rumelia,[5] and eventually Grand Vizier (1582–1584, 1586–1589, 1592–1593).
Stephan Gerlach, first assistant and clergyman to the ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire at Istanbul from 1573 to 1578, recorded word that the Beylerbey was originally a slave whom Fatma's father Selim bought as a boy for 500 ducats and came to regard as his own son.
[3] The marriage was happy, as indicated by the fact that she pleaded with her brother Murad to spare Siyavuş Pasha's life when at some point the latter fell out of favour.
[9][4] She had a provision made, supported by vakfs, that is, charitable foundations, so that the Quran would be read every morning, for the sake of her soul.