About Opentopia
Opentopia Directory Encyclopedia Tools

Vizier

Encyclopedia : V : VI : VIZ : Vizier

 

A Vizier (وزير, sometimes also spelled Vizir, Wasir, Wazir, Wesir, Wezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many oriental languages), literally burden-bearer or helper 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. In modern usage the term is used in the East generally for any important official under the sovereign. Also used anachronistically or in a modern Islamic republic's cabinet.

Contents

Historical ministerial titles

This word entered English in 1562, from Turkish vezir "counsellor," from Arabic wazir, literally "one who bears (the burden of office)", from wazara "he carried". The Muslim office of vizier, which spread from the Arabs to the Persians, Turks, Mongols, and other Oriental peoples (regardless of the style of the ruler), arose under the first Abbasid caliphs and took shape during its tenure by the Barmecides as the chief minister or representative -not unlike a Frankish Mayor of the palace- of the caliph. The vizier stood between sovereign and subjects, representing the former in all matters touching the latter. This withdrawal of the head of the state from direct contact with his people was unknown to the Omayyads, and was certainly an imitation of Persian usage; it has even been plausibly conjectured that the name is but the Arabic adaptation of a Persian title (in pre-Islamic Persia the vichir (Middle-Persian for Vizier), was a minister to the Shah) while Klein says Arabic wazir is from Avestan vicira "arbitrator, judge," and replaced Arabic katib, "writer" in the sense of "secretary of state".

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).

In some Muslim 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.

In Islam's Core Area

In Black Africa

In the Far East (East Indies etc)

Modern Islamic republic

In Pakistan, the Prime Minister (de facto ruling politician, formally under the President) is called Vazir e Azam (Persian for Grand vizier), other Ministers are styled vazirs.

Anachronistic historical use

It is common, even among historians, to apply 'modern' terms to cultures whose own authentic titles are (or were when the habit took root) insufficiently known, in this case to pre-islamic Antiquity.

Princely title

In the rare case of the Indian princely state of Jafarabad (Jafrabad, founded c.1650), ruled by Thanadars, in 1702 a state called Janjira was founded, with rulers (six incumbents) styled wazir; when in 1762 Jafarabad and Janjira states entered into personal union, both titles were maintained, until (after 1825) the higher style of Nawab was assumed.

Art

In contemporary literature and pantomime, the "Grand Vizier" is a character stereotype and is usually portrayed as a scheming backroom plotter and the clear power behind the throne of a usually bumbling or incompetent monarch. A well-known example of this is the sinister character of Jafar in the Disney animated film Aladdin who plots and uses magic to take over the entire Kingdom of Agrabah under the nose of the nation's naïve sultan, just as Jaffar in the 1940 movie The Thief of Bagdad dethroned his master, caliph Ahmad. Others include the comic book character Iznogoud and the villains of the video games Prince of Persia and King's Quest VI.

Perhaps the origin of this character archetype is the biblical account of Esther. The book details the rise of a Jewish woman to Queen of Persia, and her role in stopping the plot of Haman, chief advisor to the Persian king, to wipe out all Jews living in Persia.

Throughout history the notion of the sinister Grand Vizier has often been invoked when a political leader appears to be developing a cozy relationship with a spiritual advisor of questionable scruples or talents. This stereotype is frequently mentioned in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, as for example in both Sourcery and Interesting Times.

Fictional Grand Viziers

Some famous viziers in history

Sources and references

 

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.

Search Titles
0123456789
ABCDEFGHIJ
KLMNOPQRST
UVWXYZ?

E-mail this article to:

Personal Message: