Vizier

Vizier (also Vizier, Vizier, visor, Vizir or vizier, from Persian وزير ) refers to a since the Middle Ages existing government office.

Origin and Meaning

The original form of the word is the Persian vizier wazir, a Arabized form of the Middle Persian vecir. The title was introduced by the Persian Barmacides who gained much power and authority during the reign of the Abbasids. The model presented for the court office of the wuzurg framadar dar. in Sassanid Empire

The vizier was a helper, but also representative of the Caliph, comparable to today's security advisers and ministers. The viziers emerged from the Caliphate in forming scribe caste, which consisted mostly of Persians. The writers practiced the secular administration and jurisdiction in the name of the Caliph, and thus formed the complement of the predominantly regulated by Islam jurisprudence. The vizier took over more and more government agencies and practiced so that over time a powerful Hofamt from. At the turn of the 9th to the 10th century, the vizier was already the most powerful man in the state and urged the caliph caliph in the position of sole religious leader. The mighty Wesirfamilie the Barmacides (see above) was overthrown only by Harun al-Rashid ( 786-809 ) in 803 and removed from the main offices.

Grand Vizier

The Supreme Vizier or the Grand Vizier ( Wazir -e Azam or Sadr Azam ) was in various Muslim countries, the Prime Minister, appointed by the ruler became the second man in the state, especially in the realms of the Seljuks, Ghaznavids, in the Ottoman Empire, when the Safavids and in Mughal Empire. More Synonyms: Chosen Vizier, first among the viziers, First Vizier, Great Vizier.

In the Ottoman Empire the grand viziers as a badge of rank five, the three viziers Ross tails ( tugh ) were carried in front; to their subordinate Pasha were only two, rarely three to Ross tails. This custom was abolished by Sultan Mahmud II ( 1808-1839 ).

The title was abolished in Turkey in 1922, as previously already the Sultanate and later the Caliphate. The public official has since been prime minister.

Today's meaning

In Iran, Egypt and Afghanistan today, the word means "minister" and is used as such in everyday use. Moreover, this term is in the form of Waziri and the meaning of " Minister " in Swahili common, a language that has been heavily influenced by Arabic and Persian.

Use in Egyptology

In Egyptology the title Tjati is translated as Vizier. The so- called office is attested as early as the Old Kingdom. It is the first and top officials, who was the second man in the state after the Pharaoh. In the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom of Egypt there was only a vizier. In the New Kingdom there was in each case a vizier for the kingdom of parts of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. This division of the Office is also documented for the late period. The vizier was the middleman between Pharaoh and the other officials. He was the supreme judicial body in the country and coordinator of the provincial administration, which was led by nomarchs.

In some grave sites of viziers of the New Kingdom there was the so-called " Instructions of the vizier ," which reported on the daily tasks and duties of the viziers.