Vizier

A Vizier (Arabic: وزير‎, wazīr) (sometimes also spelled Vazir, Vizir, Vasir, Wazir, Vesir, or Vezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many western Asian languages), literally "burden-bearer" or "helper", is a term, originally Persian, 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 has been used in the Western Asia generally for certain important officials under the sovereign. It is also used anachronistically in a modern Islamic republic's cabinet, and to describe pre-Islamic offices.

Contents

Etymology

The Middle Persian ancestor of this word in Pahlavi is vichir, which in turn originated from Avestan vichira, meaning decreer or arbitrator.[1] Linguistically, it is related to the Latin word Vicarius. The word entered English in 1562, from the Turkish vezir ("counsellor"), from the Arabic wazir, literally "one who bears (the burden of office)", whose root word is wazara "he carried", and itself a derivation from the Persian vazier.

Historical ministerial titles

The Muslim office of vizier, which spread from the Persians to the Arabs, Turks, Mongols and neighbouring 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 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 simply the Arabic adaptation of a pre-Islamic Persian title, vichir (Middle Persian for Vizier), who was a minister to the Shah. According to Klein, the Arabic word wazir is derived from Avestan vicira "arbitrator, judge" and replaced the Arabic kātib, "writer" in the sense of "secretary of state". On account of Egypt's later association with Arab civilization, the term "vizier" is also retronymically applied to advisors and ministers of the Pharaoh.

However, the term has been used in two very different ways: either for a unique position, the prime minister at the head of the monarch's government (the term Grand Vizier always refers to such a post), or as a shared 'cabinet rank', rather like a British secretary of state. If one such vizier is the prime minister, he may hold the title of Grand Vizier or another title.

In some Muslim societies, unsuccessful viziers were commonly eliminated — justifiably 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 not deposed but merely demoted; and some even returned to office.

In Islamic states

Modern post-monarchy use

In Pakistan, the Prime Minister (de facto ruling politician, formally under the President) is called Vazīr-e Azam (Persian for Grand vizier), other Ministers are styled vazirs. In Iran the term Vazīr is equivalent to minister, e.g. foreign/health Vazīr.

Furthermore, wazīr is the standard Arabic word for a minister (itself a Latin word for 'servant', originally of the monarch, later of the state eitherway); Prime Ministers are usually termed Ra'īs al-Wuzara (Head of the Ministers) or Wazīr al-Kabīr (Great Minister). Thus, for example, the Prime Minister of Egypt is in Arabic a wazīr.

In the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan is sometimes given the honorific of Wazir.

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.

Thus in modern language-translations of the Bible, in Genesis chapter 41, Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, is called Vizier to Pharaoh. In this same chapter of Genesis, Pharaoh changed his newly appointed Vizier's name to Zaphenath-paneah.

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 Zigzag from The Thief and the Cobbler (the original inspiration for the character of Jafar in Disney's Aladdin), the comic book character Iznogoud, Prince Sinbad's advisor Yusuf in the DC Vertigo series Fables, 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

See also

Sources and references

  1. ↑ Dehkhoda Dictionary
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Ottoman Dynasty (Ottoman Caliphate) · Imperial Harem · Palace Schools
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Grand Vizier (list) · Viziers · Finance
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