This is a list of titles and appellations used in the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...

. In place of surnames, Muslims in the Empire carried

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

s such as "

Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it c ...

", "

Pasha Pasha, Pacha or Paşa ( ota, پاشا; tr, paşa; sq, Pashë; ar, باشا), in older works sometimes anglicized as bashaw, was a higher rank in the Ottoman political and military system, typically granted to governors, generals, dignita ...

", " Hoca", " Bey", " Hanım", " Efendi", etc. These titles either defined their formal profession (such as Pasha, Hoca, etc.) or their informal status within the society (such as Bey, Hanım, Efendi, etc.). Later, family surnames were made mandatory in Turkey by the 1934 Surname Law.

Usage by Ottoman royalty

The sovereigns' main titles were

, Padishah (Emperor) and

Khan Khan may refer to: *Khan (inn), from Persian, a caravanserai or resting-place for a travelling caravan *Khan (surname), including a list of people with the name *Khan (title), a royal title for a ruler in Mongol and Turkic languages and used by ...

; which were of

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

, Persian and Turkish/Mongolian origin, respectively. 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. Beside these imperial titles, Caesar of Rome was among the important titles claimed by Sultan Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinople. The title sultan (), originally meaning "authority" or "dominion", used in an ungendered manner to encompass the whole imperial family, men and women, reflected the Ottoman conception of sovereign power as a "family prerogative". Male dynasty member carrying the title before their given name, with female member carrying it after. Nevertheless, when used to refer to female dynasty members and relatives, title sultan often translated to sultana in to outside Ottoman, possibly to distinguish them from the Ottoman ruler. or is honorific Arabic title; a literal translation of is "Presence", which is often translated as "Your Highness".

Sovereign

The emperors' formal title consisted of ''Sultan'' together with ''Khan'' (in Turkish language the word became ''Han''). This dual title symbolized the Ottomans' dual legitimating heritage, Islamic and Central Asian. Formal titles and styles: * Short: Sultan (given name) , with the style of (my sovereign, equivalent with "Your Imperial Majesty"), (my master emperor), or (my sultan) * The full style of the Ottoman sultan once the empire's frontiers had stabilized became:
"Sultan (given name) Han, Sovereign of The Sublime House of Osman, (Sultan of Sultans), (Khan of Khans),

Commander of the faithful Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe, Custodian of the Holy Cities of

Mecca Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow v ...

Medina Medina,, ', "the radiant city"; or , ', (), "the city" officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (, , Turkish: Medine-i Münevvere) and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah (, ), is the Holiest sites in Islam, second-holiest city in Islam, ...

and Kouds (Jerusalem), Padishah (Emperor) of The Three Cities of

Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...

(Constantinople), Edirne (Adrianople) and

Bursa ( grc-gre, Προῦσα, Proûsa, Latin: Prusa, ota, بورسه, Arabic:بورصة) is a city in northwestern Turkey and the administrative center of Bursa Province. The fourth-most populous city in Turkey and second-most populous in the ...

, and of the Cities of Châm (Damascus) and

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metr ...

(Egypt), of all

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...

, of the

Maghreb The Maghreb (; ar, الْمَغْرِب, al-Maghrib, lit=the west), also known as the Arab Maghreb ( ar, المغرب العربي) and Northwest Africa, is the western part of North Africa and the Arab world. The region includes Algeria, ...

, of Barkah, of Kairouan, of Alep, of the Arab and Persian Iraq, of

Basra Basra ( ar, ٱلْبَصْرَة, al-Baṣrah) is an Iraqi city located on the Shatt al-Arab. It had an estimated population of 1.4 million in 2018. Basra is also Iraq's main port, although it does not have deep water access, which is han ...

, of El Hasa strip, of

Raqqa Raqqa ( ar, ٱلرَّقَّة, ar-Raqqah, also and ) ( Kurdish: Reqa/ ڕەقە) is a city in Syria on the northeast bank of the Euphrates River, about east of Aleppo. It is located east of the Tabqa Dam, Syria's largest dam. The Hellenistic, ...

, of

Mosul Mosul ( ar, الموصل, al-Mawṣil, ku, مووسڵ, translit=Mûsil, Turkish: ''Musul'', syr, ܡܘܨܠ, Māwṣil) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. The city is considered the second larg ...

, of

Parthia Parthia ( peo, 𐎱𐎼𐎰𐎺 ''Parθava''; xpr, 𐭐𐭓𐭕𐭅 ''Parθaw''; pal, 𐭯𐭫𐭮𐭥𐭡𐭥 ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Med ...

, of , of

Cilicia Cilicia (); el, Κιλικία, ''Kilikía''; Middle Persian: ''klkyʾy'' (''Klikiyā''); Parthian: ''kylkyʾ'' (''Kilikiyā''); tr, Kilikya). is a geographical region in southern Anatolia in Turkey, extending inland from the northeastern co ...

, of the provinces of Erzurum, of Sivas, of

Adana Adana (; ; ) is a major city in southern Turkey. It is situated on the Seyhan River, inland from the Mediterranean Sea. The administrative seat of Adana province, it has a population of 2.26 million. Adana lies in the heart of Cilicia, wh ...

, of

Karaman Karaman, historically known as Laranda ( Greek: Λάρανδα), is a city in south central Turkey, located in Central Anatolia, north of the Taurus Mountains, about south of Konya. It is the capital district of the Karaman Province. Accordin ...

, of

Van A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...

, of Barbaria, of Habech (Abyssinia), of

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

, of Tripoli, of Châm (Syria), of

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...

, of

Rhodes Rhodes (; el, Ρόδος , translit=Ródos ) is the largest and the historical capital of the Dodecanese islands of Greece. Administratively, the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the S ...

, of

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, ...

, of the province of Morea (Peloponnese), of Bahr-i Sefid (Mediterranean Sea), of Bahr-i Siyah (Black Sea), of

Anatolia Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

, of

Rumelia Rumelia ( ota, روم ايلى, Rum İli; tr, Rumeli; el, Ρωμυλία), etymologically "Land of the Romans", at the time meaning Eastern Orthodox Christians and more specifically Christians from the Byzantine rite, was the name of a hi ...

(the European part of the Empire), of Bagdad, of

Kurdistan Kurdistan ( ku, کوردستان ,Kurdistan ; lit. "land of the Kurds") or Greater Kurdistan is a roughly defined geo-cultural territory in Western Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, languag ...

, of

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...

, of

Turkestan Turkestan, also spelled Turkistan ( fa, ترکستان, Torkestân, lit=Land of the Turks), is a historical region in Central Asia corresponding to the regions of Transoxiana and Xinjiang. Overview Known as Turan to the Persians, western Turk ...

, of

Tartary Tartary ( la, Tartaria, french: Tartarie, german: Tartarei, russian: Тартария, Tartariya) or Tatary (russian: Татария, Tatariya) was a blanket term used in Western European literature and cartography for a vast part of Asia bound ...

, of Circassia, of the two regions of

Kabarda Grand Principality of Great Kabarda or East Circassia was a historical country in the North Caucasus corresponding partly to the modern Kabardino-Balkaria. It had better political organization than its neighbors and existed as a political commu ...

, of Gorjestan (Georgia), of the

steppe In physical geography, a steppe () is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes. Steppe biomes may include: * the montane grasslands and shrublands biome * the temperate gras ...

Kipchaks The Kipchaks or Qipchaks, also known as Kipchak Turks or Polovtsians, were a Turkic nomadic people and confederation that existed in the Middle Ages, inhabiting parts of the Eurasian Steppe. First mentioned in the 8th century as part of the ...

, of the whole

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whi ...

of the

Tatars The Tatars ()Tatar
in the Collins English Dictionary is an umbrella term for different Turki ...

, of Kefa (Theodosia) and of all the neighbouring regions, of

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and Pars pro toto#Geography, often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of Southern Europe, south and southeast Euro ...

, of the City and Fort of

Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; names in other languages) is the capital and largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and the crossroads of the Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. Nearly 1,166,763 mi ...

, of the province of Sirbistan (Serbia), with all the castles and cities, of all Arnaut, of all Eflak (Wallachia) and Bogdania (Moldavia), as well as all the dependencies and borders, and many others countries and cities."

Dynasty member

Imperial prince

Male descendants of a sovereign in the male line. * Gentleman (, ). Used before the reign of Mehmed II. Format style: "(given name) ". * Sultan Imperial Prince (), or simply Imperial Prince (, ). Format titles and styles: ** Short: " (given name)", i.e. Sultan Imperial Prince (given name) or " (given name)", i.e. Imperial Prince (given name), with the style of (my imperial prince) or (my master). ** Full: (given name) * Crown Prince (). Full titles and styles: (given name) .

Imperial princess

Female descendants of a sovereign in the male line. * Lady (, ). Used before 16th century and also used for sultan's mothers and consorts. In the 16th century, title sultan carried by prominent members of the imperial family and hatun carried by lesser female member. ** Format style: "(given name) ", i.e. Lady (given name) * Sultana (, ). Used after 16th century. Formal title: ** Short: "(given name) Sultana", i.e. Sultana (given name), with the style of (my sultan(a)) or (my mistress). ** Full: (given name)

Sons and daughters of sultana

* Prince Sultan (, ). Sons of sultanas (imperial princes). ** Formal title: " (given name) ", i.e. Sir Prince Sultan (given name) * Sultana madam (, ). Daughters of sultanas (imperial princesses). ** Formal title: "(given name) ", i.e. Sultana madam (given name)

Relative of dynasty member

Imperial mother

Mothers of the reigning sultans * Lady mother (). Used before 16th century. Formal style: "(given name) " or " (given name) ", i.e. Lady mother (given name). * Sultana mother (, ). Used after 16th century. Formal titles and styles: ** Short: "(given name) " or " (given name) ", i.e. Sultana mother (given name), with the style of (my sultan(a)) or (my mother). ** Full: (given name) * Sultana grandmother or Grand Sultana mother (). Grandmothers of the reigning sultans. Used by Kösem Sultan during the reign of her grandson

Mehmed IV Mehmed IV ( ota, محمد رابع, Meḥmed-i rābi; tr, IV. Mehmed; 2 January 1642 – 6 January 1693) also known as Mehmed the Hunter ( tr, Avcı Mehmed) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687. He came to the throne at the a ...

, And

Safiye Sultan Safiye Sultan ( ota, صفیه سلطان; "''pure''" 1550 – 20 April 1619) was the Haseki Sultan (chief consort) of Murad III and Valide Sultan of the Ottoman Empire as the mother of Mehmed III and the grandmother of Sultans: Ahmed I and Mus ...

, during the reigns of his grandsons and great-grandson.

Imperial female consort

Consorts of the sultans and imperial princes. * Sultana consort or Imperial Consort (, ). Title for the chief consort of the sultan in the 16th century. In later periods, the meaning of the title began to change to something more general like "Empress consort" only for Hurrem Sultan and then Imperial or Principal Consort for Nurbanu Sultan and

and later it became title used for the "mother of the imperial princes". This title was only used until around the 17th century. Formal title: ** Short: "(given name) " or " (given name) ", i.e. Sultana consort or Emprres Consort (only for Hurrem Sultan) (given name), with the style of (my sultan(a)) or (my mistress). ** Full: (given name) * Lady consort (). Title for sultan's consort who became mother of the imperial princes. This title was used around 17th century. * Lady (, ). Also used for imperial princesses and sultans' mothers. In the 16th century, the title sultan was carried by prominent members of the imperial family and was carried by lesser female members. ** Format style: "(given name) ", i.e. Lady (given name) * Lady (, ). Title given to main imperial consort of Ottoman sultan from the 17th century. The title was a replacement of the early title . ** Format style: "(given name) ", i.e. Lady (given name) ** Full titles and styles: (given name) (rank) * Madam (, ). Title given to the imperial consort of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from the 17th century, who came below the rank of . The title was also given to the official consorts of the imperial princes.

Imperial male consort

Husbands of the sultana. * Prince consort (, ). Full titles and styles: (given name) .

During the time of Suleiman

Titles and appellations in the time of

Suleiman the Magnificent Suleiman I ( ota, سليمان اول, Süleyman-ı Evvel; tr, I. Süleyman; 6 November 14946 September 1566), commonly known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the West and Suleiman the Lawgiver ( ota, قانونى سلطان سليمان, Ḳ ...

, from

Albert Howe Lybyer Albert Howe Lybyer (1876 in Putnamville, Indiana – 1949) was a scholar of the history of the Middle East and the Balkans. Lybyer taught medieval and modern European history at Oberlin College from 1909 to 1913, and also held teaching positi ...

's book "The government of the Ottoman Empire in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent": * Agha ( ota, آغا, tr, ağa): a general officer. * Ajem-oghlan ( ota, عجمی اوغلان, tr, acemi oğlan): a cadet or apprentice Janissary. * Akinji ( ota, آقنجى, tr, akıncı): the irregular cavalry. * Ashji-bashi
Commons
ota, آشجی باشی, tr, aşcıbaşı): a chief cook * Azab ( ota, عزب, tr, azap): the irregular infantry. * Bashi ( ota, باشی, tr, -başı): The Head or Chief of an organization. * Berat-emini ( ota, برات امینی): a distributor of ordinances. * Boluk-bashi ( ota, بولق باشی, tr, bölükbaşı): a captain of the Janissaries. * Bostanji ( ota, بوستانجی, tr, bostancı): a gardener; a euphemism for the Sultan's palace guard. * Bostanji-bashi ( ota, بوستانجی باشی, tr, bostancıbaşı): The "chief gardener" and head of the palace guard. Equivalent to the rank of pasha. * Chakirji ( ota, چاقرجی, tr, çakırcı): a falconer. * Chasneji ( ota, چشنیجی, tr, çeşnici): a taster. * Chasneji-bashi ( ota, چشنیجی باشی, tr, çeşnicibaşı): the chief taster. * Tchaoush or Chaush ( ota, چاووش, tr, çavuş): an usher. * Çavuşbaşı or Chaush-bashi ( ota, چاووش باشی, tr, çavuşbaşı): chief of the Chaushes, and a high court official. Equivalent to the rank of pasha. * Chelebi ( ota, چلبى, tr, çelebi): a gentleman. * Cheri-bashi ( ota, چری باشی, tr, çeribaşı): a petty officer of feudal cavalry. * Danishmend ( ota, دانشمند, tr, danişmend): a master of arts. * Defterdar ( ota, دفتردار, Modern Turkish: ''defterdar''): a treasurer. * Defter-emini ( ota, دفتر امینی): a recorder of fiefs. * Deli ( ota, دلی, Modern Turkish: ''deli''): appellation of a scout or a captain of the Akinji. * Dervish ( ota, درویش, Modern Turkish: ''derviş''): a member of a Muslim religious order. * Deveji ( ota, دوه جی, Modern Turkish: ''deveci''): a camel-driver. * Emin ( ota, آمین, Modern Turkish: ''emin''): an intendant. *

Emir Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or cer ...

( ota, امیر, Modern Turkish: ''emir''): a Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.; a commander, a governor. * Emir al-Akhor ( ota, امير الآخر, Modern Turkish: ''ahır bakıcısı''): a grand equerry. * Ghurabâ ( ota, غربا, Modern Turkish: ''guraba''): a member of the lowest corps of the standing cavalry. * Gonnullu ( ota, گوڭـللو, Modern Turkish: ''gönüllü''): a volunteer soldier or sailor. * Hekim-bashi ( ota, حکیم باشی, Modern Turkish: ''hekimbaşı''): a chief physician. * Helvaji-bashi ( ota, حلواجی باشی, Modern Turkish: ''helvacıbaşı''): a chief confectioner. * Hoja ( ota, خواجه, Modern Turkish: ''hoca''): a teacher; the Sultan's adviser. * Ikinji Kapu-oghlan ( ota, ایکنجی قاپی اوغلان, Modern Turkish: ''ikinci'' ''kapıoğlan''): a white eunuch in charge of the second gate of the palace. *

Imam Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, serve ...

(Ottoman Turkish: امام, Modern Turkish: ''imam'') the Caliph or lawful successor of Mohammed; a leader of daily prayers. * Iskemleji (Ottoman Turkish: اسکمله جی, Modern Turkish: ''iskemleci''): a page of high rank. * Itch-oghlan (Ottoman Turkish: ایچ اوغلان, Modern Turkish: ''içoğlan''): a page in one of the Sultan's palaces. * Jebeji-bashi (Ottoman Turkish: جيب جي باشي, Modern Turkish: ''cebecibaşı''): a chief armorer. * Jerrah-bashi (Ottoman Turkish: جراح باشی, Modern Turkish: ''cerrahbaşı''): a chief surgeon. * Kâim (Ottoman Turkish: قائم, Modern Turkish: ''kaim''): a caretaker of a mosque. * Kanuni (Ottoman Turkish: قانونی, Modern Turkish: ''kanuni''): legislator. * Kapu Aghasi (Ottoman Turkish: قاپی آغاسی, Modern Turkish: ''kapıağası''): the white eunuch in charge of the principal palace. *

Kapudan Pasha The Kapudan Pasha ( ota, قپودان پاشا, modern Turkish: ), was the Grand Admiral of the navy of the Ottoman Empire. He was also known as the ( ota, قپودان دریا, links=no, modern: , "Captain of the Sea"). Typically, he was bas ...

(Ottoman Turkish: کاپیتان پاشا, Modern Turkish: ''kaptan'' ''paşa'') an admiral. * Kapuji (Ottoman Turkish: قاپی جی, Modern Turkish: ''kapıcı''): a gatekeeper. * Kapuji-bashi (Ottoman Turkish: قاپی جی باشی, Modern Turkish: ''kapıcıbaşı''): literally "head gatekeeper"; master of ceremonies. * Kapujilar-kiayasi (Ottoman Turkish: قاپی جی لر قایاسی, Modern Turkish: ''kapıcılar'' ''kâhyası''): a grand chamberlain. * Katib (Modern Turkish: ''Kâtib''): scribe or secretary * Kazi or Kadi (Ottoman Turkish: قاضی, Modern Turkish: ''kadı''): a judge. * Kazasker (Ottoman Turkish: قاضيعسكر, Modern Turkish: ''kadıasker''): one of the two chief judges of the Ottoman Empire, entrusted with military matters. * Kharaji (Carzeri, Caragi), a non-Muslim who pays the kharij. * Khatib, a leader of Friday prayers. * Khazinehdar-bashi (Ottoman Turkish: خزانه دار باشی, Modern Turkish: ''hazinedarbaşı''), a treasurer-in-chief. * Khazineh-odassi (chamber of the treasury), the second chamber of pages. * Khojagan, a chief of a treasury bureau. * Kiaya (Cacaia, Cahaia, Caia, Checaya, Chechessi, Chiccaia, Chietcudasci, Gachaia, Ketkhuda, Quaia, Queaya) (common form of ketkhuda), a steward or lieutenant. * Kiaya-bey, the lieutenant of the grand vizier. * Kiaya Katibi, a private secretary of the Kiaya-bey. * Kilerji-bashi, a chief of the sultan's pantry. * Kizlar Aghasi (general of the girls), the black eunuch in charge of the palace of the harem. * Kul, a slave; one of the sultan's slave-family. * Masraf-shehriyari (imperial steward), substitute for the intendant of kitchen. * Mektubji, a private secretary of the grand vizier. * Mihter (Mecter), a tent-pitcher; a musician. * Mihter-bashi, the chief tent-pitcher. * Mir Alem, the imperial standard bearer. * Molla, a judge of high rank. * Mosellem, a fief holder by ancient tenure. * Muderis, a professor in a Medresseh. * Muezzin, one who calls Muslims to prayer. * Mufettish, a special judge dealing with endowments. * Mufti, a Muslim legal authority; in particular, the Sheik ul-Islam. * Muhtesib, a lieutenant of police. *

Mujtahid ''Ijtihad'' ( ; ar, اجتهاد ', ; lit. physical or mental ''effort'') is an Islamic legal term referring to independent reasoning by an expert in Islamic law, or the thorough exertion of a jurist's mental faculty in finding a solution to a l ...

, a doctor of the Sacred Law. * Mulazim (candidate), a graduate of the higher Medressehs. * Munejim-bashi, a chief astrologer. * Muste emin, a resident foreigner. * Mutbakh-emini, intendant of the kitchen. * Muteveli, an administrator of an endowment. *

Naib Nawab ( Balochi: نواب; ar, نواب; bn, নবাব/নওয়াব; hi, नवाब; Punjabi : ਨਵਾਬ; Persian, Punjabi , Sindhi, Urdu: ), also spelled Nawaab, Navaab, Navab, Nowab, Nabob, Nawaabshah, Nawabshah or Noba ...

, an inferior judge. * Nakib ol-Eshraf, the Chief of the Seids or Descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. * Nazir, an inspector of an

endowment Endowment most often refers to: *A term for human penis size It may also refer to: Finance * Financial endowment, pertaining to funds or property donated to institutions or individuals (e.g., college endowment) *Endowment mortgage, a mortgage to ...

. * Nishanji, a chancellor. * Nizam al-mulk, basis of the order of the kingdom (title of a vizier of Melek Shah). * Oda-bashi (head of chamber), the page of highest rank; a corporal of the Janissaries. * Papuji, a page of high rank. *

(Bascia, Bassa), a very high official. * Peik, a member of the body-guard of halbardiers. * Reis Effendi, or Reis ul-Khuttab, a recording secretary; a recording secretary of the Divan, later an important minister of state. * Rekiab-Aghalari (generals of the stirrup), a group of high officers of the outside service of the palace. * Rusnamehji, a chief book-keeper of the Treasury. * Sakka, a water-carrier. * Sanjak-bey, a high officer of feudal, cavalry and governor of a

Sanjak Sanjaks (liwāʾ) (plural form: alwiyāʾ) * Armenian: նահանգ (''nahang''; meaning "province") * Bulgarian: окръг (''okrǔg''; meaning "county", "province", or "region") * el, Διοίκησις (''dioikēsis'', meaning "province" ...

. * Sarraf, a banker. * Segban-bashi (Seymen-bashi) (master of the hounds), the second officer of the corps of Janissaries. * Seid, a Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. *

Seraskier ''Serasker'', or ''seraskier'' ( ota, سرعسكر; ), is a title formerly used in the Ottoman Empire for a vizier who commanded an army. Following the suppression of the Janissaries in 1826, Sultan Mahmud II transferred the functions of the ...

, a commander-in-chief. * Serraj, saddlers. * Shahinji, a falconer. * Sharabdar (Seracter) (drink-bearer), a page of high rank. * Shehr-emini (Saremin), intendant of imperial buildings. * Sheik, a preacher; a head of a religious community. * Sheik ul-Islam, the Mufti of Constantinople and head of the Muslim Institution. * Sherif, a Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. *

Silahdar The Silahdar Agha was a palace office of the Ottoman Empire, denoting the principal page of the Ottoman Sultan. As such its holders were persons of great influence, and provided many senior officials and even Grand Viziers. The title derives from ...

( Silahtar, Selicter, Sillictar, Suiastrus, Suluphtar) (sword-bearer), a member of the second corps of standing cavalry; the page who carried the sultan's arms. * Sofi, woolen; a dervish (an appellation of the Shah of Persia). * Softa (Sukhta), an undergraduate in a Medresseh. * Solak (left-handed), a janissary bowman of the sultan's personal guard. * Sipahi (Sipah, Sipahi, Spachi, Spai), a cavalry soldier; a member of the standing or feudal cavalry. * Spahi-oghlan (Spacoillain) (cavalry youth), a member of the highest corps of the standing cavalry. * Subashi, a captain of the feudal cavalry and governor of a town. * Sultan (سلطان), is a word Arabic origin, originally meaning "authority" or "dominion". By the beginning of the 16th century, this title, carried by both men and women of the Ottoman dynasty, was replacing other titles by which prominent members of the imperial family had been known (notably hatun for women and bey for men), with emperor and imperial princes (Şehzade) carrying the title before their given name, with sultan's mother, imperial princesses, and main imperial consort carrying it after. This usage underlines the Ottoman conception of sovereign power as family prerogative. * Tahvil Kalemi, a bureau of the Chancery. * Terjuman, an interpreter (dragoman). * Terjuman Divani Humayun, a chief interpreter of the sultan. * Teshrifatji, a master of ceremonies. * Teskereji, a master of petitions. * Teskereji-bashi (chief of document-writers), the Nishanji. * Timarji, the holder of a

Timar A timar was a land grant by the sultans of the Ottoman Empire between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, with an annual tax revenue of less than 20,000 akçes. The revenues produced from the land acted as compensation for military service ...

. * Ulufaji (Ouloufedgis, Allophase, Holofagi) (paid troops), a member of the third corps of the sultan's standing cavalry. * Veznedar, an official weigher of money. *

Vizier A vizier (; ar, وزير, wazīr; fa, وزیر, vazīr), or wazir, is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the near east. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called '' katib'' (secretary), who was ...

(burden-bearer), a minister of state. *

Voivode Voivode (, also spelled ''voievod'', ''voevod'', ''voivoda'', ''vojvoda'' or ''wojewoda'') is a title denoting a military leader or warlord in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe since the Early Middle Ages. It primarily referred to the me ...

(Slavic), an officer, a governor. * Yaya, a fief holder by ancient tenure, owing infantry service. * Yaziji (laxagi), a scribe or secretary. * Zagarji-bashi (master of the harriers), a high officer of the Janissaries. * Zanijiler (Italianized), lancers or Voinaks (?). * Zarabkhane-emini, intendant of mints and mines. * Ziam, the holder of a Ziamet.

Other princely, noble, aristocratic, and honorific titles

Other titles include: * Agha (or Agha, Ağası): commander, a title junior to Bey and conferred on military officers on a personal basis. * Alp: brave warrior or knight; a title conferred during the early years of Ottoman rule. * Amir al-Hajj: Commander of the Hajj Pilgrimage, a title for the annual commanders of the Hajj pilgrimage caravans from Damascus and Cairo. * Amir ul-Muminin or Emirülmüminin: Commander of the Faithful, one of the many titles of the Sultan. *

Ottoman Ayan The Ayan (Arabic plural: ''a‘yan'' ; singular: ''‘ayn'' ) was the class of local notables or dynasts in the 16th to the early 19th century Ottoman Empire who held varying degrees of authority in provincial towns and districts.Agoston, Gabor. ...

: local notables or dynasts that maintained different extents of administrative control over swaths of land in the Ottoman Empire from the 16th to the early 19th centuries. * Bey: a title junior to Pasha and conferred on civil and military officers on a personal basis; also borne as a courtesy title for the sons of a Pasha. * Beg, an ancient Turkic administrative title (chieftain, governor etc.). * Bey Effendi: part of the title of a husband and sons of an Imperial Princess. *

Beylerbeyi Beylerbeyi is a neighborhood in the Üsküdar municipality of Istanbul, Turkey. It is located on the Asian shore of the Bosporus, to the north of the Bosphorus Bridge. It is bordered on the northeast by the neighborhood of Çengelköy, on the eas ...

(or Beglerbegi): Lord of Lords. An office signifying rule over a great province, equivalent to Governor-General. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha. * Beyzade: son of a Bey, a courtesy title borne by a son of a Bey Effendi. * Binbashi: (literally "Head of 1000") Major (army) or Commander (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi. * Cariye: slave concubines, the lowest rank of the women of the harem, and the rank almost all harem women when they first entered the harem. *

Çavuş Çavuş, also anglicized Chaush and Chiaus (from tr, çavuş / , "messenger"), Arabic 'shawish, شاويش', (from Old Turkic ''Çabuş'' or ''Çawuş'', "person who gives order, person who yells") was an Ottoman title used for two separate soldi ...

: "messenger", used for two separate soldier professions, both acting as messengers although differing in levels. * Çavuşbaşı or Başçavuş: "head messenger", assistant (or deputy) to the Grand Vizier. * Çelebi: gentleman, a title indicating a high social status * Chiflik Rulers: Compared to Christian feudal system the chiflik rulers controlled land holdings. These land holdings could be passed on to their sons. *

Khalif A caliphate or khilāfah ( ar, خِلَافَة, ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; ar, خَلِيفَة , ), a person considered a political-religious successor to th ...

(also Caliph or Khalifa): Successor (of the Prophet). * Khalifat Rasul Rub al-A'alimin: Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe. The highest earthly title of the Muslim world, enjoyed by the Sultans of Turkey after their conquest of Egypt in 1517. * Damad-i-Shahriyari: Imperial son-in-law, title conferred on the husbands of Imperial Princesses. * Damat: was an official Ottoman title describing men that entered the imperial House of Osman by means of marriage, literally becoming the bridegroom to the Ottoman sultan and the dynasty. * Devletlû: a title of imperial gentry. * Divan: was a high government ministry in North Africa. * Dragoman: was an interpreter, translator, and official guide. *

Dragoman of the Fleet The Dragoman of the Fleet ( Ottoman Turkish: , ' Dragoman of the Arsenal'; el, δραγουμάνος του στόλου) was a senior office in the Ottoman Empire, held by Phanariote Greeks during the 18th and early 19th centuries. As the chief ...

: was a senior office. * Effendi: master, title equivalent to Esquire; frequently used together with higher titles in order to indicate, signify enhanced status. Used by the sons of Sultans from the reign of Sultan 'Abdu'l Majid I. * Ferik: Lieutenant-General (army) or Vice-Admiral (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha. * Ghazi: victorious, a title conferred on leaders who distinguish themselves in war. * Gözde: noticed (by the Sultan). Style borne by junior ladies of the Harem when first gaining favour from the Sultan. * Hanım: female of Khan, equivalent to Lady. * Hanımsultan: Title borne by the daughters of Imperial Princesses. * Haji (or Hacci): honorific used for men who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca. * Hakhan ul-Barrayun wa al-Bahrain: Lord of the Lands and Seas, one of the many titles of the Sultan. * Haseki Sultan (خاصکي سلطان): Title borne by Empress Consort (only for Hürrem Sultan) then at the end of the 16th century it is used as the Main Consort or Imperial Consort of the Sultan and in the 17th century it would be used as the Main Woman or Only Favorite. * Hazretleri: style equivalent to Highness. * Hazinedar: The High Hazinedar or First Hazinedar or Hazinedar Usta was a title of the housemistress of the sultan's palace, the most influential person after the prince. * Hospodar: was a title had been held by many vassals of the sultan, * Ikbal or İkbâl (اقبال): title borne by the junior wives of the Sultan in the 19th and 20th century, who came below the rank of Kadın. * Kadın (قادين): Title borne by the senior wives of the Sultan from the late 16th century and early 20th century. The title was a replacement of the early title, Hatun. * Kaimakam: Lieutenant-Colonel (army) or Commander (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Bey. * Kapıcıbaşı: general of the palace guards. * Katkhuda: Second in command to the Agha in the

Janissary A Janissary ( ota, یڭیچری, yeŋiçeri, , ) was a member of the elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan's household troops and the first modern standing army in Europe. The corps was most likely established under sultan Orhan ...

corps *

(or Hân): a title signifying sovereign or ruler in Turkey, but a very junior title signifying a male noble, or even a mere name, in other parts of the Muslim world. * Khadim ul-Haramain us-Sharifain: Protector of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina, a title awarded to

Selim I Selim I ( ota, سليم الأول; tr, I. Selim; 10 October 1470 – 22 September 1520), known as Selim the Grim or Selim the Resolute ( tr, links=no, Yavuz Sultan Selim), was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520. Despite las ...

by the Sherif of Mecca. * Khakhan: Khan of Khans, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey. * Kizlar Aghasi: Chief of the Eunuchs. The office entitled the holder to the style of His Highness. *

: Grand Admiral or Admiral of the Fleet. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha. * Kayzer-i Rûm: Caesar of Rome, Emperor (i.e.; the Ottoman Sultan). *

Kodjabashis The kodjabashis ( el, κοτζαμπάσηδες, kotzabasides; singular κοτζάμπασης, ''kotzabasis''; sh, kodžobaša, kodžabaša; from tr, kocabaṣı, hocabaṣı) were local Christian notables in parts of the Ottoman Balkans, most ...

: local Christian notables in parts of Ottoman Greece who exercised considerable influence and held posts in the Ottoman administration. * Lala: were the experienced statesmen who were assigned as the tutors of young princes. * Lewa (or Liva): Major-General (army) or Rear-Admiral (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha. * Mahd-i Ulya-i-Sultanat: "Cradle of the Great Sultan," another title for the Sultan's mother. * Miralay or mir-i alay: Colonel (army) or Captain (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Bey. * Mulazim Awal: Lieutenant (army) or Sub-Lieutenant (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi. * Mulazim Tani: Second Lieutenant (army) or Midshipman (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi. * Mushir: Field Marshal. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha. * Naqib al-ashraf: Supervisor or head of the Islamic Prophet

Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mon ...

's Descendants ('' ashraf'') * Nishan (or Nichan): order of chivalry or decoration of honour. * Padshah (or Padishah): Emperor, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey. *

: Lord, a title senior to that of Bey and conferred on a personal basis on senior civil officials and military officers. Awarded in several grades, signified by a whip, the highest rank being a whip of three yak or horse tails. * Pashazadeh: son of a

, used as an alternative courtesy title to Bey. *

Reis Reis may refer to : *Reis (surname), a Portuguese and German surname *Reis (military rank), an Ottoman military rank and obscure Lebanese/Syrian noble title Currency *Portuguese Indian rupia (subdivided into ''réis''), the currency of Portugues ...

: naval captain or commodore. * Sadaf-i-Durr-i-Khilafat: shell of the pearl of the caliphate, another title for the mother of the Sultan. * Saraskar: C-in-C. *

Shah Shah (; fa, شاه, , ) is a royal title that was historically used by the leading figures of Iranian monarchies.Yarshater, EhsaPersia or Iran, Persian or Farsi, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) It was also used by a variety of ...

: King, title of Persian origin. * Shah-i-Alam Panah: King, refuge of the world, one of the titles of the Sultan. * Shahzada (or Shahzade): son of the King, title used for the sons of Sultans from the reign of Muhammad I. * Shaikh ul-Islam: the title held by the highest ranking Muslim religious official below the Khalif. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha together the style of His Highness. * Shalabi (or Çelebi): gracious lord, title borne by sons of the Sultan until the reign of Muhammad II. * Silahadar: Master-General of the Ordnance. *

Sipah Salar ''Ispahsālār'' ( fa, اسپهسالار) or ''sipahsālār'' (; "army commander"), in Arabic rendered as ''isfahsalār'' () or ''iṣbahsalār'' (), was a title used in much of the Islamic world during the 10th–15th centuries, to denote the sen ...

: General of Cavalry. *

: title borne by male members of the Imperial family, particularly after the reign of Muhammad II. When it is used before the given name, together with Khan after the name, it signifies ruler. When used before the name, Imperial Prince. When used after the name, Imperial Princess. * Sultan Khan: The Grand Sultan, the chief title borne by the ruler of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire, equivalent to Emperor. * Sultan us-Selatin: Sultan of Sultan, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey. *

Sultanzade Sultanzade is an Ottoman title for sons of sultana or imperial princesses, female descendants of sovereign in male line. The feminine equivalent is ''hanımsultan''. Term Sultan (سلطان) is a word Arabic origin, originally meaning "author ...

(or Sultanzada): literally "son of a Sultan", the title borne by the sons of Imperial Princesses. * Sünnetçi: Circumciser. * Vali: Governor. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha. * Vali Ahad (or Veliaht): Heir Apparent or Presumptive usually translated as Crown Prince. * Valide Sultan: The title borne by the "legal mother" of a reigning Sultan from the 16th century. *

: bearer of the burden, i.e. Minister. * Vizier-i-Azam: Grand Vizier, the title borne by the incumbent Prime Minister. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha together the style of His Highness. * Yuzbashi (or Youzbashi): Captain (army) or Lieutenant (navy). The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi. *

Khedive Khedive (, ota, خدیو, hıdiv; ar, خديوي, khudaywī) was an honorific title of Persian origin used for the sultans and grand viziers of the Ottoman Empire, but most famously for the viceroy of Egypt from 1805 to 1914.Adam Mestyan"K ...

: Governor of Egypt and Sudan, and vassal of the Ottoman Empire. * Muhtasib: meaning market overseer, market inspector, or master of the bazaar, who supervised weights and measures in the market.

References

External links

The government of the Ottoman empire in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent
(p. 32) by

, in public domain
''Ottoman-Turkish conversation-grammar, a practical method of learning the Ottoman-Turkish language''
at the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

By V. H. Hagopian — Official Titles (p. 459) {{DEFAULTSORT:Ottoman titles and appellations Gubernatorial titles * Noble titles

Titles A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

Positions of subnational authority Titles of national or ethnic leadership

Usage by Ottoman royalty

Sovereign

Dynasty member

Imperial prince

Imperial princess

Sons and daughters of sultana

Relative of dynasty member

Imperial mother

Imperial female consort

Imperial male consort

During the time of Suleiman

Other princely, noble, aristocratic, and honorific titles

See also

References

External links