Beylerbey
Encyclopedia
Beylerbey is the Ottoman
and Safavid
title used for the highest rank in the hierarchy of provincial administrators (all military officers at high ranks, generally pasha
s.) It is in western terms a Governor-general
, with authority over the Governors (often styled Wali) of several vilayets, generally (if not yet made) a Pasha
(General), second only to the Grand Vizier
.
The rank was used (with many different spelling variants) initially for very large parts of the empire – all of Anatolia
and Rumelia
– but in later centuries the title was devaluated by extending it to the governors of various much smaller Ottoman eyalet
s.
The title was also used by the Khans of the Indian (later Pakistani) princely state of Kalat.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Safavid
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
title used for the highest rank in the hierarchy of provincial administrators (all military officers at high ranks, generally pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
s.) It is in western terms a Governor-general
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
, with authority over the Governors (often styled Wali) of several vilayets, generally (if not yet made) a Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
(General), second only to the Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
.
The rank was used (with many different spelling variants) initially for very large parts of the empire – all of Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and Rumelia
Rumelia
Rumelia was an historical region comprising the territories of the Ottoman Empire in Europe...
– but in later centuries the title was devaluated by extending it to the governors of various much smaller Ottoman eyalet
Eyalet
Eyalets were a former primary administrative division of the Ottoman Empire. The term is sometimes translated province or government. Depending on the rank of their commander, they are also sometimes known as pashaliks, beylerbeyliks, and kapudanliks.From 1453 to the beginning of the nineteenth...
s.
The title was also used by the Khans of the Indian (later Pakistani) princely state of Kalat.
See also
- BeylerbeylikBeylerbeylikBeylerbeylik was a type of country subdivision in the Ottoman Empire....
, a large territorial subdivision of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, governed by a Beylerbeyi. - BeyBeyBey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
, his jurisdiction BeylikBeyBey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
. - Subdivisions of the Ottoman EmpireSubdivisions of the Ottoman EmpireThe subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire were administrative divisions of the state organisation of the Ottoman Empire. Outside this system were various types of vassal and tributary states....
.