Sultan of Sultans
Encyclopedia
"Sultan of Sultans" is the literal English
translation of the original Turkish
Sultan es-Selatin or Sultan us-Selatin. It is similar to the title Great Sultan
, which is translated from Arabic.
As with various other laudatory titles of Semitic origin, such as "King of Kings
", Sultan of Sultans can express a claim of imperial
rank up to and including universal legitimate sovereignty
. Although the notion and title of an emperor
is largely alien to Islamic tradition, the Ottoman
dynasty which, employed the title of "Sultan of Sultans" in its official full style had perhaps the best claim to usage, due to its territorial extent and great length. The Ottomans also adopted the traditional imperial term "Kaisar" (Caesar) for their own ruler (the Padishah
).
The Shahanshah (Persian
for "King of Kings") of Iran
also claimed, with slightly less legitimacy to be the "Sultan of Sultans". These claims, made against the Ottomans
were tied to the conflict between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam
.
The title has also been appropriated for local use by various minor Muslim rulers, especially in Bengal
.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation of the original Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
Sultan es-Selatin or Sultan us-Selatin. It is similar to the title Great Sultan
Great Sultan
Great Sultan is one of various informal titles, such as Grand Turk, used to refer to the Ottoman Sultan, known in Ottoman Turkish as Padishah, Hünkar or Hakan, the sovereign of the Ottoman dynasty....
, which is translated from Arabic.
As with various other laudatory titles of Semitic origin, such as "King of Kings
King of Kings
King of Kings is a title that has been used by several monarchies and empires throughout history. The title originates in the Ancient Near East. It is broadly the equivalent of the later title Emperor....
", Sultan of Sultans can express a claim of imperial
Empire
The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy....
rank up to and including universal legitimate sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
. Although the notion and title of an emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
is largely alien to Islamic tradition, the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
dynasty which, employed the title of "Sultan of Sultans" in its official full style had perhaps the best claim to usage, due to its territorial extent and great length. The Ottomans also adopted the traditional imperial term "Kaisar" (Caesar) for their own ruler (the Padishah
Padishah
Padishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah is a superlative royal title, composed of the Persian pād "master" and the widespread shāh "king", which was adopted by several monarchs claiming the highest rank, roughly equivalent to the ancient Persian notion of "The Great" or "Great King", and...
).
The Shahanshah (Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
for "King of Kings") of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
also claimed, with slightly less legitimacy to be the "Sultan of Sultans". These claims, made against the Ottomans
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
were tied to the conflict between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
The title has also been appropriated for local use by various minor Muslim rulers, especially in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
.