Vizier

A Vizier (????, sometimes also spelled Vizir, Wasir, Wazir, Wesir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many oriental languages)

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is an oriental, originally Persian, term for a high-ranking political (and sometimes religious) advisor or Minister, often to a Muslim monarch such as a Caliph, Amir, Malik (king) or Sultan. Also used anachronistically or in a modern islamic republic's cabinet.

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In pre-Islamic Persia the vichir (Middle-Persian for Vizier), was a minister to the Shah.

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This word has been borrowed from Persian into Arabic, Turkish and almost all other languages of the Muslim nations.

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However it has been used in two very different ways : either for a unique position, in western terms the prime minister at the head of the monarch's government (the term Grand Vizier always refers to such post) or as a shared 'cabinet rank', rather like a British Secretary of state (if one of them is the prime minister, he may hold the title of Grand vizier or another style).

Persian: Persian can refer to:...

Monarch: :For other senses, see monarch (disambiguation)....

Caliph: Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. It is an Anglicized/Latinized version of the Arabic word خليفة or Khalīfah () which means "successor", that is, successor to the prophet Muhammad. Some Orientalists wrote the ti...

Vizier related Images and Photos (experimental)

Audience Given in Constantinople by the Grand Vizier Aimali Carac 18th March 1779

Reception of General Aubert-Dubayet by the Grand Vizier of the Sultan in Constantinople 1796-7