Agha (;
; ; "chief, master, lord"
) is an
honorific
An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...
title for a civilian or officer, or often part of such title. In the Ottoman times, some court functionaries and leaders of organizations like bazaar or the janissary units were entitled to the ''agha'' title. In rural communities, this term is used for people who own considerable lands and are influential in their community. Regardless of a rural community, this title is also used for any man who is influential or respected.
Etymology
The word ''agha'' entered English from Turkish,
and the Turkish word comes from the
Old Turkic ''aqa'', meaning "elder brother". It is an equivalent of
Mongolian word ''aqa'' or ''aka''.
Other uses
"Agha" is nowadays used as a common
Persian honorific title for men, the equivalent of "mister" in
English. The corresponding honorific term for women is
khanum which is also of Turkic origin.
However, the title is considered a baron in comparison to European nobility.
[Imperial, royal and noble ranks
Wikipedia Page]
See also
*
State organisation of the Ottoman Empire
*
Agha Petros
*
Agaluk
*
Aga Khan
Aga Khan (; ; also transliterated as ''Aqa Khan'' and ''Agha Khan'') is a title held by the Imamate in Nizari doctrine, Imām of the Nizari Isma'ilism, Nizari Isma'ilism, Ismāʿīli Shia Islam, Shias. The current holder of the title is the ...
*
Agha of the Janissaries
*
Kapi Agha
*
Kizlar Agha
*
Silahdar Agha
References
{{Authority control
Court titles
Government of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman titles
Titles in Iran
Titles of national or ethnic leadership
Titles in Lebanon
Military ranks of the Ottoman Empire
Janissaries
Titles in Bosnia and Herzegovina during Ottoman period