[8] However, in the eighteenth century, the ikbals held the title kalfa which means 'assistant master, mistress'.
[21][5] This suggests that at that time they were eligible for both kinds of high level harem career.
In the nineteenth century the term kalfa appears to have been used exclusively for members of the household staff.
[22] In the eighteenth century, the ikbals had personal servants,[23] and were paid 250 kuruş every three months.
[4] As clothing reflected a woman's positions in the harem hierarchy, the ikbals wore rich fabrics and in winter they wore stuffed dresses,[28] which was indicative of their high status.
[2] Although previously it was thought that after an ikbal became pregnant she was promoted to the rank of kadın, this was not the case.