Mirza
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Mirza (/ˈmɜːrzə/ or /mɪərˈzɑː/; Persian: میرزا)[1][lower-alpha 1] is a name of Persian origin. It is commonly used as a surname or prefix to identify patriarchal lineage.
It is derived from a historical title of Persian origin (Mīrzā), denoting the rank of a royal prince, high nobleman, or a military commander equivalent to a nobleman. It is usually defined in English as a Prince.
Specifically, it was used as a title by and today signifies a patriarchal lineage to the various Persian Empires, Turkish Ottoman Empire, Shirvanshahs of Central Asia, Circassians of Eastern Europe, Mughals / Moguls or Muslim Rajputs of the Indian Subcontinent.[2] It was also a title bestowed upon members of the highest aristocracies in Tatar states, such as the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan.
Etymology
The word Mīrzā is derived from the Persian term ‘Amīrzāde which literally means "child of the ‘Amīr" or "child of the ruler" in Persian.[3] ‘Amīrzād in turn consists of the Arabic title ‘Amīr (english: Emir), meaning "commander" and "Prince", and the Persian suffix -zād, meaning "birth" or "lineage". Due to vowel harmony in Turkic languages, the alternative pronunciation Morza (plural morzalar; derived from the Persian word) is also used. The word Mirza means royalty in almost every old version of Persian, Arab, Caucasian, Turkish and Indian languages.
Variant spellings in English include mirzya, miriza, mirize, mirze, morsey, mursay, murse, meirsa, mirzey, mursi, murze, murza, mirza, myrza, meerza.[4]
Royal Title
The titles themselves were given by the Kings, Sultans and Emperors (equivalent to the western Fount of honour) to their sons and grandsons, or even distant kins. Noblemen loyal to the kings also received this Title.
The title itself is derived from the title Emir. Emir, meaning "commander" or "Prince", is derived from the Semitic root "Amr", meaning "command". Originally it simply meant "commander" or "leader", usually in reference to a group of people. It came to be used as a title of governors or rulers, typically in smaller states, and usually renders the English word "Prince." The word entered English in 1595, from the French émir.[5]
Persian Empire
Safavid Dynasty
- Padeshah Ali Mirza
- Prince Alqas Mirza
Qajar Dynasty
- His Highness Prince Iraj Mirza
- His Highness Prince Malek Mansur Mirza Shao es-Saltaneh
- His Highness Prince Bahram Mirza Sardar Mass'oud
- His Highness Prince Abbas Mirza
- His Highness Prince Abdol Majid Mirza
- Highness Prince Ali-Mohammad Mirza
- His Highness Prince Bahram Mirza
- His Highness Prince Djahangir Mirza
- His Highness Prince Eskandar Mirza
- His Highness Prince Hamid Mirza
- His Highness Prince Khanlar Mirza
- His Highness Prince Khosrow Mirza
- His Highness Prince Muhammad Mirza
- His Highness Prince Mahmoud Mirza
- His Highness Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza
- His Highness Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza II
- His Highness Prince Ahmad Shah Qajar
- His Highness Prince Nosrat-od-Dowleh Firouz Mirza
- His Highness Prince Firouz Mirza Nosrat-ed-Dowleh Farman Farmaian III
- His Highness Prince Ali Mirza Qajar
- His Highness Prince Nosrat al-Din Mirza Salar es-Saltaneh
- His Highness Prince Abdol-samad Mirza Ezz ed-Dowleh Saloor
- His Highness Prince Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan
- His Highness Prince Mohammad Ali Mirza Dowlatshah
- His Highness Prince Mohammad Taqi Mirza
- His Highness Prince Kamran Mirza Nayeb es-Saltaneh
Shirvan Empire
Shirvanshah Dynasty
Three consecutive titular kings of Shirvan, of the Shirvanshah Dynasty (present-day Azerbaijan), adopted the title as well following the death of Gurban Ali.
Circassian Empire
Circassian Dynasty
The hereditary title of Mirza was adopted by the nobility class of the Circassians. Idar of Kabardia, also known as "Mirza Haydar Temruk Bey", was the great-grandson of Prince Inal - Sultan of Egypt the founder of the "Temruk dynasty" of the Kabardian princes, known in Russia as the "Cherkassky" a Circassian princely family.
Circassian nobility with the name Mirza include:
- Mirza Haydar Temruk Bey (ca. 1470 - 1571)
Princely Issues:
- Temruk Mirza (ca. 1501 - 1571)
- Kambulat Mirza (ca. 1510 - 1589)
- Zhelegot Mirza (ca. 1520- ?)
Russian Empire
Under Catherine the Great, empress of Russia, the Mirzas gained equal rights with the Russian nobility due to their extreme wealth. In return, the Mirzas financed her Russo-Turkish war against the Ottoman Empire.[6] Abdul Mirza was given the title Prince Yusupov, and his descendant Prince Felix Yusupov married Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia, the only niece of Tsar Nicholas II.
Mughal Empire
In the Indian Subcontinent (modern day Pakistan, India, Bangladesh), the title Mirza was borne by an imperial prince. It was adopted as part of ones name, implying relationship to the Turk dynasties like the Mughal Dynasty (the Imperial House of Timur).[9] In the traditional naming sequence of the Indian royal families, the title can be placed both before the name and after it, such as Prince Mirza Mughal or Prince Kamran Mirza. Prince Khusrau Mirza was the grandson of Emperor Babur (Babur Mirza), son of Emperor Jahangir and a brother of Emperor Shah Jahan. Emperor Akbar Shah II was known as Prince Mirza Akbar before his coronation. Emperor Babur took the imperial title of Padishah on 6 March 1508, before which he used the title Mirza.[10]
Mughal Dynasty of Northern India
- Mirza Zahiruddin 1523–1530, first Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Nasiruddin 1530–1539 & 1554–1555, second Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Jalaluddin 1555–1605, third Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Nuruddin 1605–1627, fourth Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Khurram 1627–1658, fifth Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Muhiuddin 1658–1707, sixth Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Azam 1707, seventh Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Mu'Azzam 1707–1712, eighth Mughal Emperor.
- Sultan Muizuddin Mirza 1712–1713, ninth Mughal Emperor.
- Mouinudd'in Muhammad Mirza 1712–1719, tenth Mughal Emperor.
- Sultan Shamsuddin Mirza 1719, eleventh Mughal Emperor.
- Sultan Rafiuddin Mirza (later Shah Jahan II) 1719, twelfth Mughal Emperor.
- Sultan Nekusiyar Mirza 1719, thirteenth Mughal Emperor.
- Sultan Akhtar Mirza, fourteenth Mughal Emperor.
- Ahmad Shah Mirza 1720–1748, fifteenth Mughal Emperor.
- Aziz 'ud-Din Beg Mirza 1754–1759, sixteenth Mughal Emperor.
- Jalal 'ud-Din Mirza 1759–1760, seventeenth Mughal Emperor.
- Muhi-ul-millat Mirza 1788–1806, eighteenth Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Akbar 1806–1837, nineteenth Mughal Emperor.
- Sirajuddin Mirza 1837–1857, Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Abdullah, son of Bahadur Shah II 1850–1897, Mughal Emperor.
- Mirza Aziz Koka (1542–1624), foster-brother of Akbar, son of Ataga Khan
Royal Family of Bengal
Imperial Families of Central India and Bengal Because the Bengali language has no phoneme /z/, Mirza has the local form Mridha (from Mirdhjah) in Bengal and Bihar.[11]
- Mirza Shuja ud-din Muhammad Khan, second Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
- Mirza Asadullah, third Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
- Mirza Muhammad Ali, fourth Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
- Mirza Mohammad Siraj, fifth Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
- Mirza Hassan Ali Khan Bahadur, 18th Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
- Mirza Wasif Ali Khan, 19th Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
- Mirza Waris Ali Khan, 20th Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
Royal Family of Awadh
- Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan, second Nawab Subahdar of Awadh (Oudh)
- Mirza Amani Asif-ud-Dawlah, fourth Nawab Subahdar of Awadh
- Mirza Asif Jah Wazir Ali Khan, fifth Nawab Subahdar of Awadh
- Mirza Wajid Ali Shah, eleventh Nawab Subahdar (fifth King) of Awadh
Rajput Dynasty
Rajputs of Northern India
Originally being adversaries and opponents to the Mughal Emperors of Northern India, the title Mirza was also adopted by the Muslim Rajputs of Northern India.[12] The Rajput imperial families were descendants of ancient Indo-Aryan warriors who strategically formed blood alliances with Mughal aristocracy. The Rajputs were rulers of princely states comprising vast territories of Northern India, including the Punjab Region, Kashmir and Gujarat. Inter-marriage between Mughal aristocracy and Rajput aristocracy became very common and various factions of Rajput kingdoms embraced the Islamic faith, giving rise to the term "Muslim Rajputs".[13] Rajput rulers were also granted the title Mirza on account of being high-ranked commanders in the Mughal military.[14] The meaning of Mirza (Persian origin)[15] is a literal translation to the meaning of Rajput (Sanskrit Origin).[16]
Notable Mirzas
Academics and literature
- Iraj Mirza, Persian folk poet, also known as Jalaal-al-mamalek.
- Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, tax-collector and administrator from northern India, writer of an early travel guide to Europe.
- Mirza Athar Baig is a Pakistani novelist, playwright and short story writer.
- Mirzo Gʻafur Gʻulom, Uzbek poet, writer, and literary translator, considered to be one of the most influential Uzbek writers of the 20th century.
- Mirza Ghalib (born: Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan), a famous Urdu and Persian poet from South Asia who adorned the Mughal court.
- Mirza Kalich Beg was a Sindhi writer.
- Mirza Khan of "Mirza & Sahiba", a tragic romance story, based on true events, which is enshrined in Punjabi literature and commonly told in the Punjab region. Mirza of "Mirza & Sahiba" was of Muslim Jat / Muslim Rajput descent.
- Muhammad Munawwar Mirza, a prominent scholar, historian, writer and intellectual from Pakistan.
- Nawab Mirza Khan "Daagh" a famous Urdu poet.
Entertainment
- Aziz Mirza, Indian film director, producer and writer.
- Dia Mirza, Indian actress and former "Miss Asia Pacific" titleholder.
- Mastan Haider Mirza, Indian Mafia boss, mobster and filmmaker; popularly known as the first "celebrity gangster" of Bombay.
- Mirza Babayev, Azerbaijani movie actor and singer. Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR and People’s Artist of Azerbaijan.
- Mirza Nadeem Baig Mirza Nazeer Baig Mughal better known by his stage name Nadeem Baig, is a Pakistani actor, singer and producer.
- Mohib Mirza is a Pakistani actor and television host.
- Saeed Mirza, renowned Indian film director and screenwriter. Considered to be one of the most influential parallel cinema movie makers in India.
Arts
- Bashir Mirza also known as BM, was a Pakistani painter.
- Haroon Mirza, Anglo-Pakistani artist born in London.
- Mirza Kadym Irevani, Azerbaijani artist.
Government
- Fahmida Mirza, first female Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
- Hasnain Mirza, lawyer, barrister and Member of Parliament who was Member of Provincial Assembly(MPA).
- Iskandar Ali Mirza, the first President and 4th Governor General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956.
- Mirza Ali Asghar Khan Amin al-Soltan, the last prime minister of Iranunder Naser al-Din Shah Qajar.
- Mirza Ismail, Prime Minister, Jaipur (Diwan of Jaipur) (1942-1946).
- Mirza Kuchik Khan, early twentieth century revolutionary, a Gilani Nationalist and the president of the Republic Of Gilan.
- Mirza Muzaffar Ahmad, a Federal Finance Minister and Finance Secretary, Chairman of Planning Commission of Pakistan Executive director of the World bank.
- Mirza Nasrullah Khan, the first Iranian Prime Minister.
- Zulfiqar Mirza, Pakistani politician affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Judges and Advocates
- Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig, Former Vice Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council.
- Zafar Hussain Mirza, Pakistani judge and the father of former Home Minister of Sindh Zulfiqar Mirza.
Journalist
- Janbaz Mirza was a writer, poet, and journalist from Pakistan.
- Tahir Mirza was a senior Pakistani journalist and former editor of Dawn, Pakistan's oldest and most widely circulated English-language newspaper.
Military
- Mirza Ahmed Bey, one of the original Punjabi soldiers of the famed "Hodson's Horse" regiment of the British Indian Army, pictured in the historical 1858 photograph.[17] He was a descendent of Mirza Hakim Bey, after whom the Indian village Hakimpur, Gurdaspur District is named.[18]
- Mirza Aslam Baig a Former Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan.
- Mirza Ghulam Murtaza was the ruler of Qadian and fought for the Sikh Empire and later the British Raj.
- Mirza Kuchak Khan was a Persian revolutionary who led the Jungle Movement in the northern jungles of Gilan Province.
Nobility
- Khan Muhammad Mirza, Architect during the Mughal Era.
- Mirza Hadi Baig Punjabi nobleman of Turco-Mongol origin who was granted 80 villages by Babur because of family relations.
- Mirza Najaf Khan, Indian Courtier and Commander in Chief of the Mughal Imperial Army.
Sport
- Fadi Merza, is an Austrian middleweight Muaythai fighter, kickboxer and boxer.
- Mirza Begić, Slovenian Olympic Basketball player.
- Mirza Delibašić, Bosnian Basketball Player on the Olympic team of Yugoslavia.
- Mirza Teletović, Bosnian Basketball Player on Brooklyn Nets.
- Mirza Samina Baig is a Pakistani high-altitude mountaineer.
- Sania Mirza, top-ranked Indian Tennis Player.
Movies
- Mirza – The Untold Story - Punjabi language Movie from India
- Mirzya - Hindi language Movie from India
- Mirza Juuliet - Hindi language Movie from India
See also
Further reading
- Life of a Mirza Chapter 7 (pg 225-227) The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture (2004) by Annemarie Schimmel ISBN 1-86189-185-7
- Mirzah in The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable By Ebenezer Cobham Brewer: The quintessential guide to myth, folklore, legend, legend and literature. ISBN 1-84022-310-3
- MI’RZA Chambers’s Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge For the People. ISBN 1-149-98693-X
- A. Jaimoukha The Circassians: A Handbook Routledge, Palgrave, 2001, pp 157–60) ISBN 0-312-23994-7
Footnotes
References
- Notes
- ↑ "Mirza Definition". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ "History: Muslim Rajputs". Rana M. Ahsan Khan. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ mirza. CollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 2 October 2012
- ↑ OED: http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/119129?redirectedFrom=mirza#eid Accessed June 17, 2013
- ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=amir&searchmode=none EtymologyOnLine
- ↑ Life in Samarkand Caucasus and Central Asia vis-à-vis Russia, the West, and Islam, Madina Tlostanova: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge (ISSN 1540-5699)]
- ↑ World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 4th Edition Outlines - Chapter 21: The Muslim Empires. Longman. 2003.
- ↑ A photo from 'The People of India', published from 1868 to the early 1870s by WH Allen, for the India Office
- ↑ http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00urdu/hali/majalis/10glossary.html
- ↑ pg 24. The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture
- ↑ The Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque is named for a man known in Mughal records as Khan Muhammad Mirza; see https://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=4450 Mughal dynasty (the Imperial House of Timur "Sarai Mulk Khanam Qutubuddunniya wa Deen Amir Qutubuddin Taimur Baig Sahib-e-kiran").
- ↑ "History: Muslim Rajputs". Rana M. Ahsan Khan. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ Lord Lawrence and the Reconstruction of India Under The Crown by Sir Charles Aitcheson, K.C.S.I., M.A., LL.D., Rulers of India series, Clarendon Press 1897, V p117
- ↑ 30. Ra´jah Ma´n Singh, son of Bhagwán Dás - Biography Ain-i-Akbari, Vol. I.
- ↑ "Mirza Definition". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "Rajput Definition". Britannica. n.d. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "British & Native Officers of Hodson's Horse, 1858". Felix Beato. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- ↑ "Hakimpur Village, Gurdaspur District, India". Unknown. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- Sources
- Brewer's Dictionary of Phrases and Fable, 16th edition Revised by Adrian Room, 1999
- WorldStatesmen
- Eymology Online
- Mirza, AskDefine.com