All Topics  
Ottoman titles

 

   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link






 

Ottoman titles



 
 
There were many titles of nobility in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299?1923. It was Treaty of Lausanne by the Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923....
, but as in many oriental traditions nobility was generally not hereditary as in the west, except for the ruling house, but rather conferred by office, with limited rights for one or more following generations.

Widely known are Pasha
Pasha

Pasha or pacha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors and generals....
, Bey
Bey

Bey is a Turkish language title for "chieftain," traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. In historical accounts, many Turkey, other Turkic peoples and Iran leaders are titled Baig....
, Effendi
Effendi

Effendi or Efendi is a nobility title meaning a lord or Master . It is a title of respect or courtesy, equivalent to the English Sir#Formal styling, in Turkey....
, Kaymakam
Kaymakam

A kaymakam is the title used for the governor of a Province district in the Republic of Turkey; additionally, it was a title used for roughly the same official position in the Ottoman Empire....
, Wali
Wali

Wali , is an Arabic word meaning "trusted one"; it generally denotes "friend of God" in the phrase ??? ???? waliyu 'llah It should not be confused with the word Wali which is an administrative title that was used in the Muslim Caliphate, and still today in some Muslim countries....
 and Kaptan-i Derya. In rough hierarchy (with the highest first) these are ranked as follows:



sovereign's main titles were (Great) Sultan
Sultan

Sultan is an Islamic honorifics, with several historical meanings. Originally it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", or "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ???? sulah, meaning "authority" or "power"....
 and Padishah
Padishah

Padishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah is a very prestigious title, which is composed from the Persian words pad "master" and the better-known title shah "king", which was adopted by several Islamic monarchy claiming the highest rank, roughly equivalent to Christian Emperors or the ancient notion of...
, of Arabic viz.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Ottoman titles'
Start a new discussion about 'Ottoman titles'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


There were many titles of nobility in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299?1923. It was Treaty of Lausanne by the Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923....
, but as in many oriental traditions nobility was generally not hereditary as in the west, except for the ruling house, but rather conferred by office, with limited rights for one or more following generations.

Widely known are Pasha
Pasha

Pasha or pacha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors and generals....
, Bey
Bey

Bey is a Turkish language title for "chieftain," traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. In historical accounts, many Turkey, other Turkic peoples and Iran leaders are titled Baig....
, Effendi
Effendi

Effendi or Efendi is a nobility title meaning a lord or Master . It is a title of respect or courtesy, equivalent to the English Sir#Formal styling, in Turkey....
, Kaymakam
Kaymakam

A kaymakam is the title used for the governor of a Province district in the Republic of Turkey; additionally, it was a title used for roughly the same official position in the Ottoman Empire....
, Wali
Wali

Wali , is an Arabic word meaning "trusted one"; it generally denotes "friend of God" in the phrase ??? ???? waliyu 'llah It should not be confused with the word Wali which is an administrative title that was used in the Muslim Caliphate, and still today in some Muslim countries....
 and Kaptan-i Derya. In rough hierarchy (with the highest first) these are ranked as follows:

  • Khalifa, Amirul Momineen
  • Sultan
    Sultan

    Sultan is an Islamic honorifics, with several historical meanings. Originally it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", or "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ???? sulah, meaning "authority" or "power"....
    , Padishah
    Padishah

    Padishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah is a very prestigious title, which is composed from the Persian words pad "master" and the better-known title shah "king", which was adopted by several Islamic monarchy claiming the highest rank, roughly equivalent to Christian Emperors or the ancient notion of...
  • Kaymakam
    Kaymakam

    A kaymakam is the title used for the governor of a Province district in the Republic of Turkey; additionally, it was a title used for roughly the same official position in the Ottoman Empire....
     (being the representative of the Sultan) and Kaptan-i-Derya being about the same rank
  • Khedive
    Khedive

    Khedive was a title first used by Muhammad Ali of Egypt as governor and monarch of Egypt and Sudan, and subsequently by his dynastic successors....
  • Wali
    Wali

    Wali , is an Arabic word meaning "trusted one"; it generally denotes "friend of God" in the phrase ??? ???? waliyu 'llah It should not be confused with the word Wali which is an administrative title that was used in the Muslim Caliphate, and still today in some Muslim countries....
     (usually a post, with the incumbent being a Pasha)
  • Pasha
    Pasha

    Pasha or pacha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors and generals....
  • Bey
    Bey

    Bey is a Turkish language title for "chieftain," traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. In historical accounts, many Turkey, other Turkic peoples and Iran leaders are titled Baig....
  • Effendi
    Effendi

    Effendi or Efendi is a nobility title meaning a lord or Master . It is a title of respect or courtesy, equivalent to the English Sir#Formal styling, in Turkey....


The Ottoman dynasty

The sovereign's main titles were (Great) Sultan
Sultan

Sultan is an Islamic honorifics, with several historical meanings. Originally it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", or "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ???? sulah, meaning "authority" or "power"....
 and Padishah
Padishah

Padishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah is a very prestigious title, which is composed from the Persian words pad "master" and the better-known title shah "king", which was adopted by several Islamic monarchy claiming the highest rank, roughly equivalent to Christian Emperors or the ancient notion of...
, of Arabic viz. Persian origin. His full style was the result of a long historical accumulation of titles expressing the empire's rights and claims as successor to the various states it annexed or subdued.

A late version translates as: Sultan (given name) Khan, Sovereign of the House of Osman, Sultan of Sultans, Khan of Khans, Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe, Protector of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, Emperor of The Three Cities of Constantinople, Andrinopole and Bursa, and of the Cities of Damascus and Cairo, of all Azerbaijan, of the Magris, of Barka, of Kairuan, of Aleppo, of Arabic Iraq and of Ajim, of Basra, of El Hasa, of Dilen, of Raka, of Mosul, of Parthia, of Diyarbakir, of Cicilia, of the Vilayets of Erzurum, of Sivas, of Adana, of Karaman, Van, of Barbary, of Abyssinia, of Tunisia, of Tripoli, of Damascus, of Cyprus, of Rhodes, of Candia, of the Vilayet of the Morea, of the Marmara Sea, the Black Sea and also its coasts, of Anatolia, of Rumelia, Baghdad, Kurdistan, Greece, Turkistan, Tartary, Circassia, of the two regions of Kabarda, of Georgia, of the plain of Kypshak, of the whole country of the Tartars, of Kefa and of all the neighbouring countries, of Bosnia and its dependencies, of the City and Fort of Belgrade, of the Vilayet of Serbia, with all the castles, forts and cities, of all Albania, of all Iflak and Bogdania, as well as all the dependencies and borders, and many other countries and cities.

The Heir Apparent was styled in full: Daulatlu Najabatlu Vali Ahad-i-Sultanat (given name) Effendi Hazlatlari, i.e. Crown Prince, with the style of His Imperial Highness.

Other Male descendants of a Sovereign in the male line: Daulatlu Najabatlu Shahzada
Shahzada

Shahzada is the Urdu and Persian word for prince. The term literally means "son of a monarch or Shah". Shahzadi is princess. Typically the formulation of the princely title Shahzada is connected to the prince's surname....
 Sultan
Sultan

Sultan is an Islamic honorifics, with several historical meanings. Originally it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", or "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ???? sulah, meaning "authority" or "power"....
 (given name) Hazretleri Effendi
, i.e. Prince (given name) Effendi, with the style of His Imperial Highness.

The husbands of Imperial Princesses: Damad-i-Shahyari (given name) Bey Effendi, the latter, only if not possessed of a higher rank or title, with the style of His Highness.

The sons of Imperial Princesses: Sultanzada (given name) Bey-Effendi, i.e. Prince, with the style of His Highness.

The grandsons of Imperial Princesses in the male line merely: (given name) Bey
Bey

Bey is a Turkish language title for "chieftain," traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. In historical accounts, many Turkey, other Turkic peoples and Iran leaders are titled Baig....
.


Sources and references