Vizier

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

Historical titles

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

Related Topics:
Persia - Middle-Persian - 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).

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In Islam's Core Area

• in Al-Andalus (Iberian peninsula under the Maurs) appointed by the Caliph of Cordoba
• similarly in many of the emirates and sultanates of the taifa which the caliphate was broken up into (for example the Abbadids in Seville)
• in Egypt, the most populous Arab country, under the Fatimid Caliphs
• During the days of the Ottoman Empire the Grand Vizier was the -often de facto ruling- prime minister, second only to the Sultan (many of whom left politics to him, indulging in court pleasures) and was the leader of the Divan, the Imperial Council.
• In muslim Iran (Persian empire) the Prime Minister under the politcal authority of the Shahanshah was commonly styled Vazir i-Azam ('Supreme -, i.e. Grand Vizier'; alternative titles include Atabag i-Azam and Sardar i-Azam), and various Ministers held cabinet rank as vazir, including a Vazir-i-Daftar (minister for finance) and a Vazir-i-Lashkar (war portfolio).
• In the 'regency' of Tunisia, under the Husainid dynasty various ministers of the Bey, including
• In Afghanistan, under the Duranni dynasty, the wazir al-durbar was the ('House') Minister of the Royal Court.

In some societies, unsuccessful viziers were commonly eliminated (justifiedly or as scapegoats). This was particularly common during much of Ottoman history; for example, one of the most brutal sultans, Selim I, had seven viziers executed during his eight-year rule; others were deposed but merely demoted, some even returned in office.

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In the Far East (East Indies etc)

• In India many rulers, even quite some hindu princes, had a vizir ? compare Diwan, Nawab wasir, Pradhan etcetera
• In the (former) sultanate of the Maldives (Divehi language), the Prime Minister was styled Bodu Vizier, and various Ministers held cabinet rank as vazierin (plural), including Hakura'a (portfolio of Public Works), Shahbandar (Navy portfolio, also Admiral in chief), Vela'ana'a (Foreign Affairs)