Serdar (Ottoman rank)

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Serdar is a military rank in the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Montenegro. It means a head (ser) of place/land (dar). Serdars especially served at borders of Ottoman Empire. They were responsible for security of lands. For example, Yakup Ağa who was the father of Barbaros from Yenice.

[edit] Etymology

Serdar is a two-part name. "Ser" is a prefix meaning head or chief; "dar" is a suffix, it means patriot. "Ser" is a Persian word and "dar" is an Arabic word.

[edit] Uses

  • Serdar is a popular male name in Turkey.
  • Serdar-ı Ekrem or (Serdar-ı Azam) means the chief commander with the highest rank where it sometimes refers to the Sadrazam of Ottoman Empire.
  • Serdar is also used as a noun (especially to give a nostalgic feeling) with its original meaning (i.e. commander-in-chief) in Turkish.

For example, "Ordunun serdarı yiğit savaşçılarına saldırı emrini verdi." (means "The commander-in-chief of the force ordered his brave fighters to attack."

  • The word has been adapted in English with its original or alike spellings, i.e. serdar, sardar, sirdar, all meaning commander-in-chief of an army. However, these words are not used in common language.

[edit] See also


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