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The beginnings of this form of consensual slave play are uncertain. Many couples play games of sexual submission or “bedroom slavery” where the woman submits to the man saying “Take me! Do what you want to me!” Code d' Odalisque is a formalisation and development of that common adult game.
By the best account the written codifications of Code d' Odalisque began as a series of written documents used by a small circle of people in Adelaide, Australia, in the 1990s. These people were unhappy with the emphasis on pain and sado-masochism in the [[BDSM]] community and began to develop new rules to cater to their needs. In this they drew loosely upon the idea of the 'odalisque' from Near Eastern and old Turkish (Ottoman) erotic culture and especially from romantic depictions of the female pleasure slave in the [[Ottoman Empire]] such as those found in nineteenth century [[Orientalist]] paintings. That is, they turned to different historical models than those usually found in [[BDSM]] where it is more common to allude back to elements from the French Revolution period (especially from the works of the Marquis de Sade.)
The Code d'Odalisque bears a copyright notice to Steven and Victoria Rose, probably pseudonyms. In their Female Sexual Servants groups they explained:
'''2. The Code'''
The written Code d' Odalisque is a comprehensive document divided into short articles in a quasi-legal manner. It is clear that the Code began as a series of separate documents that have since been consolidated and revised. The editing process is still patchy and incomplete.
The Code begins with some preliminary descriptions of slave play and is then divided into parts under the following headings: General, The Odalisque, Principles of Contract, Discalcing, Contract of Submission, Assessment and Grading, The Plea for Mercy, Alms, The Master/Slave bond, The Nature of the Odalisque, The Rights and Duties of the Slavekeeper, Types of Play, Guests, The Odella, Training, The Slavetrainer, Positions, Gestures and Commands, Ordeals, Punishment, Sojourn, Overmistress, Qoola, Hareems, Etiquette and Decorum, Conduct during Orgia, Speech and Discourse, Written Etiquette, Auctions, Masques, Safe Words and End Game, Sub Rosa.
The Code serves many purposes. It contains a system of contract, a complete code of etiquette, a charter of rights and responsibilities, a system of grading and various devices to ensure safe, legal and consensual play. It is a voluntary Code founded upon the free consent of adults.
The fifth edition of the Code runs to over 50,000 words in length – the size of a small book. There is also a large body of supplementary material in the form of short essays and FAQs sheets to assist interested players. When collected together the supplementary material often goes under the title, 'The Code Companion'.
'''4. Non-violent'''
Code d' Odalisque was developed by people interested in Master/slave relationships but who were not interested in the sado-masochistic elements common in the [[BDSM]] world. The Code provides for sexual submission and explores such themes as bondage, restraint and obedience but without such elements as spanking, whipping, nipple torture, hot wax etc. The premiss of this system of Master/slave play is that there are many women who are, by nature, sexually submissive and who enjoy being used sexually and enjoy sexual obedience, but who do not want to be subject to the more violent aspects of [[BDSM]] culture. Non-violent sexual submission is the cornerstone of Code d' Odalisque and is the main reason that people are attracted to it. Sexually submissive women very often fall into violent or abusive relationships. The Code is designed to protect sexually submissive women from this and to offer them an alternative to sado-masochistic relationships. The Code promotes a culture of respect, chivalry and elegance in which the female slave (odalisque) is regarded as a rare treasure to be cherished, protected and nurtured. Although the Code is male dom/fem sub it is strongly pro-feminine.
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