List of Ottoman titles and appellations
This is a list of titles and appellations used in the Ottoman Empire. In place of surnames, Muslims in the Empire carried titles such as "Sultan", "Pasha", "Hoca", "Bey", "Hanım", "Efendi", etc. These titles either defined their formal profession or their informal status within the society. Later, family surnames were made mandatory in Turkey by the 1934 Surname Law.
Usage by Ottoman royalty
The sovereigns' main titles were Khan, Sultan, and Padishah; which were of Turkish, Arabic and Persian origin, respectively. His full style was the result of a long historical accumulation of titles expressing the empire's rights and claims as successor to the various states it annexed or subdued. Beside these imperial titles, "Caesar" of Rome was among the important titles claimed by Sultan Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinople. The title sultan, originally meaning "authority" or "dominion", used in an ungendered manner to encompass the whole imperial family, men and women, reflected the Ottoman conception of sovereign power as a "family prerogative". Male dynasty member carrying the title before their given name, with female member carrying it after. Nevertheless, when used to refer to female dynasty members and relatives, title sultan often translated to sultana in to outside Ottoman, possibly to distinguish them from the Ottoman ruler. Hadrat or Hazretleri is honorific Arabic title; a literal translation of Hadrah is "Presence", which is often translated as "Your Highness".Sovereign
The emperors' formal title consisted of Sultan together with Khan. This dual title symbolized the Ottomans' dual legitimating heritage, Islamic and Central Asian. Formal titles and styles:- Short: Sultan Han Hazretleri, with the style of hünkarım, padişah efendim, or sultanım
- The full style of the Ottoman sultan once the empire's frontiers had stabilized became:
"Sultan Han, Sovereign of The Sublime House of Osman, Sultan of Sultans, Khagan, Commander of the faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the lord of the Universe, Custodian of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Kouds, Kayser-i Rum, Padishah of The Three Cities of Istanbul, Edirne and Bursa, and of the Cities of Châm and Cairo, of all Azerbaijan, of the Maghreb, of Barkah, of Kairouan, of Alep, of the Arab and Persian Iraq, of Basra, of El Hasa strip, of Raqqa, of Mosul, of Parthia, of Diyarbekir Vilayet, of Cilicia, of the provinces of Erzurum, of Sivas, of Adana, of Karaman, of Van, of Barbaria, of Habech, of Tunisia, of Tripoli, of Châm, of Cyprus, of Rhodes, of Crete, of the province of Morea, of Bahr-i Sefid, of Bahr-i Siyah, of Anatolia, of Rumelia, of Bagdad, of Kurdistan, of Greece, of Turkestan, of Tartary, of Circassia, of the two regions of Kabarda, of Gorjestan, of the steppe of Kipchaks, of the whole country of the Tatars, of Kefa and of all the neighbouring regions, of Bosnia, of the City and Fort of Belgrade, of the province of Sirbistan, with all the castles and cities, of all Arnaut, of all Eflak and Bogdania, as well as all the dependencies and borders, and many others countries and cities."Dynasty member
Imperial prince
Male descendants of a sovereign in the male line.- Gentleman. Used before the reign of Mehmed II. Format style: " -i Javanbahd Efendi Hazretleri.
Imperial princess
- Lady. Used before 16th century and also used for sultan's mothers and consorts. In the 16th century, title sultan carried by prominent members of the imperial family and hatun carried by lesser female member.
- * Format style: " Hatun", i.e. Lady
- Sultana. Used after 16th century. Formal title:
- * Short: " Sultana", i.e. Sultana, with the style of sultanım or efendim.
- * Full: Devletlû İsmetlu Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri
Sons and daughters of sultana
- Prince Sultan. Sons of sultanas.
- * Formal title: "Sultanzade Bey", i.e. Sir Prince Sultan
- Sultana madam. Daughters of sultanas.
- * Formal title: " Hanımsultan", i.e. Sultana madam
Relative of dynasty member
Imperial mother
Mothers of the reigning sultans- Lady mother. Used before 16th century. Formal style: " " or "Valide Sultan", i.e. Sultana mother, with the style of sultanım or validem.
- * Full: Devletlû İsmetlû Vâlide Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri
- Sultana grandmother or Grand Sultana mother. Grandmothers of the reigning sultans. Only used by Kösem Sultan during the reign of her grandson Mehmed IV.
Imperial female consort
- Sultana consort. Title for the chief consort of the sultan in 16th century. In later periods, the meaning of the title began to change to something more general like "imperial consort" and later it became title used for the "mother of the imperial princes". This title was only used until around 17th century. Formal title:
- * Short: " Haseki Sultan" or "Haseki Sultan", i.e. Sultana consort, with the style of sultanım or efendim.
- * Full: Devletlû İsmetlu Haseki Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri
- Lady consort. Title for sultan's consort who became mother of the imperial princess. This title was used around 17th century.
- Lady. Also used for imperial princesses and sultans' mothers. In the 16th century, the title sultan was carried by prominent members of the imperial family and hatun was carried by lesser female members.
- * Format style: " Hatun", i.e. Lady
- Lady. Title given to main imperial consort of Ottoman sultan from the 17th century. The title was a replacement of the early title Hatun.
- * Format style: " Kadınefendi", i.e. Lady
- * Full titles and styles: Devletlu İsmetlu Kadınefendi Hazretleri
- Madam. Title given to the imperial consort of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from the 17th century, who came below the rank of kadınefendi. The title was also given to the official consorts of the imperial princes.
Imperial male consort
- Prince consort. Full titles and styles: Damat-i Shahriyari Bey Efendi.
During the time of Suleiman
- Agha : a general officer.
- Ajem-oghlan : a cadet or apprentice Janissary.
- Akinji : the irregular cavalry.
- Ashji-bashi : a chief cook
- Azab : the irregular infantry.
- Berat-emini : a distributor of ordinances.
- Boluk-bashi : a captain of the Janissaries.
- Bostanji : a gardener; a euphemism for the Sultan's palace guard.
- Bostanji-bashi : The "chief gardener" and head of the palace guard. Equivalent to the rank of pasha.
- Chakirji : a falconer.
- Chasneji : a taster.
- Chasneji-bashi : the chief taster.
- Tchaoush or Chaush : an usher.
- Çavuşbaşı or Chaush-bashi : chief of the Chaushes, and a high court official. Equivalent to the rank of pasha.
- Chelebi : a gentleman.
- Cheri-bashi : a petty officer of feudal cavalry.
- Danishmend : a master of arts.
- Defterdar : a treasurer.
- Defter-emini : a recorder of fiefs.
- Deli : appellation of a scout or a captain of the Akinji.
- Dervish : a member of a Muslim religious order.
- Deveji : a camel-driver.
- Emin : an intendant.
- Emir : a Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.; a commander, a governor.
- Emir al-Akhor : a grand equerry.
- Ghurabâ : a member of the lowest corps of the standing cavalry.
- Gonnullu : a volunteer soldier or sailor.
- Hekim-bashi : a chief physician.
- Helvaji-bashi : a chief confectioner.
- Hoja : a teacher; the Sultan's adviser.
- Ikinji Kapu-oghlan : a white eunuch in charge of the second gate of the palace.
- Imam the Caliph or lawful successor of Mohammed; a leader of daily prayers.
- Iskemleji : a page of high rank.
- Itch-oghlan : a page in one of the Sultan's palaces.
- Jebeji-bashi : a chief armorer.
- Jerrah-bashi : a chief surgeon.
- Kâim : a caretaker of a mosque.
- Kanuni : legislator.
- Kapu Aghasi : the white eunuch in charge of the principal palace.
- Kapudan Pasha an admiral.
- Kapuji : a gatekeeper.
- Kapuji-bashi : literally "head gatekeeper"; master of ceremonies.
- Kapujilar-kiayasi : a grand chamberlain.
- Katib : scribe or secretary
- Kazi or Kadi : a judge.
- Kazasker : one of the two chief judges of the Ottoman Empire, entrusted with military matters.
- Kharaji, a non-Muslim who pays the kharij.
- Khatib, a leader of Friday prayers.
- Khazinehdar-bashi, a treasurer-in-chief.
- Khazineh-odassi, the second chamber of pages.
- Khojagan, a chief of a treasury bureau.
- Kiaya , a steward or lieutenant.
- Kiaya-bey, the lieutenant of the grand vizier.
- Kiaya Katibi, a private secretary of the Kiaya-bey.
- Kilerji-bashi, a chief of the sultan's pantry.
- Kizlar Aghasi, the black eunuch in charge of the palace of the harem.
- Kul, a slave; one of the sultan's slave-family.
- Masraf-shehriyari, substitute for the intendant of kitchen.
- Mektubji, a private secretary of the grand vizier.
- Mihter, a tent-pitcher; a musician.
- Mihter-bashi, the chief tent-pitcher.
- Mir Alem, the imperial standard bearer.
- Molla, a judge of high rank.
- Mosellem, a fief holder by ancient tenure.
- Muderis, a professor in a Medresseh.
- Muezzin, one who calls Muslims to prayer.
- Mufettish, a special judge dealing with endowments.
- Mufti, a Muslim legal authority; in particular, the Sheik ul-Islam.
- Muhtesib, a lieutenant of police.
- Mujtahid, a doctor of the Sacred Law.
- Mulazim, a graduate of the higher Medressehs.
- Munejim-bashi, a chief astrologer.
- Muste emin, a resident foreigner.
- Mutbakh-emini, intendant of the kitchen.
- Muteveli, an administrator of an endowment.
- Naib, an inferior judge.
- Nakib ol-Eshraf, the Chief of the Seids or Descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Nazir, an inspector of an endowment.
- Nishanji, a chancellor.
- Nizam al-mulk, basis of the order of the kingdom.
- Oda-bashi, the page of highest rank; a corporal of the Janissaries.
- Papuji, a page of high rank.
- Pasha, a very high official.
- Peik, a member of the body-guard of halbardiers.
- Reis Effendi, or Reis ul-Khuttab, a recording secretary; a recording secretary of the Divan, later an important minister of state.
- Rekiab-Aghalari, a group of high officers of the outside service of the palace.
- Rusnamehji, a chief book-keeper of the Treasury.
- Sakka, a water-carrier.
- Sanjak-bey, a high officer of feudal, cavalry and governor of a Sanjak.
- Sarraf, a banker.
- Segban-bashi , the second officer of the corps of Janissaries.
- Seid, a Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Seraskier, a commander-in-chief.
- Serraj, saddlers.
- Shahinji, a falconer.
- Sharabdar , a page of high rank.
- Shehr-emini, intendant of imperial buildings.
- Sheik, a preacher; a head of a religious community.
- Sheik ul-Islam, the Mufti of Constantinople and head of the Muslim Institution.
- Sherif, a Descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Silahdar , a member of the second corps of standing cavalry; the page who carried the sultan's arms.
- Sofi, woolen; a dervish.
- Softa, an undergraduate in a Medresseh.
- Solak, a janissary bowman of the sultan's personal guard.
- Sipahi, a cavalry soldier; a member of the standing or feudal cavalry.
- Spahi-oghlan , a member of the highest corps of the standing cavalry.
- Subashi, a captain of the feudal cavalry and governor of a town.
- Sultan, is a word Arabic origin, originally meaning "authority" or "dominion". By the beginning of the 16th century, this title, carried by both men and women of the Ottoman dynasty, was replacing other titles by which prominent members of the imperial family had been known, with emperor and imperial princes carrying the title before their given name, with sultan's mother, imperial princesses, and main imperial consort carrying it after.This usage underlines the Ottoman conception of sovereign power as family prerogative.
- Tahvil Kalemi, a bureau of the Chancery.
- Terjuman, an interpreter.
- Terjuman Divani Humayun, a chief interpreter of the sultan.
- Teshrifatji, a master of ceremonies.
- Teskereji, a master of petitions.
- Teskereji-bashi, the Nishanji.
- Timarji, the holder of a Timar.
- Ulufaji , a member of the third corps of the sultan's standing cavalry.
- Veznedar, an official weigher of money.
- Vizier, a minister of state.
- Voivode, an officer, a governor.
- Yaya, a fief holder by ancient tenure, owing infantry service.
- Yaziji, a scribe or secretary.
- Zagarji-bashi, a high officer of the Janissaries.
- Zanijiler, lancers or Voinaks.
- Zarabkhane-emini, intendant of mints and mines.
- Ziam, the holder of a Ziamet.
Other princely, noble, aristocratic, and honorific titles
- Agha : commander, a title junior to Bey and conferred on military officers on a personal basis.
- Alp: brave warrior, a title conferred during the early years of Ottoman rule.
- Amir al-Hajj: Commander of the Hajj Pilgrimage, a title for the annual commanders of the Hajj pilgrimage caravans from Damascus and Cairo
- Amir ul-Muminin: Commander of the Faithful, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey.
- Ottoman Ayan: local notables or dynasts that maintained different extents of administrative control over swaths of land in the Ottoman Empire from the 16th to the early 19th centuries.
- Bey: a title junior to Pasha and conferred on civil and military officers on a personal basis; also borne as a courtesy title for the sons of a Pasha.
- Beg, an ancient Turkic administrative title
- Bey Effendi: part of the title of a husband and sons of an Imperial Princess.
- Beylerbeyi : Lord of Lords. An office signifying rule over a great province, equivalent to Governor-General. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha.
- Beyzade: son of a Bey, a courtesy title borne by a son of a Bey Effendi.
- Binbashi: Major or Commander. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi.
- Cariye: slave concubines, the lowest rank of the women of the harem, and the rank almost all harem women when they first entered the harem.
- Çavuş: "messenger", used for two separate soldier professions, both acting as messengers although differing in levels.
- Çavuşbaşı or Başçavuş: "head messenger", assistant to the Grand Vizier.
- Chiflik Rulers: Compared to Christian feudal system the chiflik rulers controlled land holdings. These land holdings could be passed on to their sons.
- Khalif : Successor.
- Khalifat Rasul Rub al-A'alimin: Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe. The highest earthly title of the Muslim world, enjoyed by the Sultans of Turkey after their conquest of Egypt in 1517.
- Damad-i-Shahriyari: Imperial son-in-law, title conferred on the husbands of Imperial Princesses.
- Damat: was an official Ottoman title describing men that entered the imperial House of Osman by means of marriage, literally becoming the bridegroom to the Ottoman sultan and the dynasty.
- Effendi: master, title equivalent to Esquire; frequently used together with higher titles in order to indicate signify enhanced status. Used by the sons of Sultans from the reign of Sultan 'Abdu'l Majid I.
- Ferik: Lieutenant-General or Vice-Admiral. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha.
- Ghazi: victorious, a title conferred on leaders who distinguish themselves in war.
- Gözde: noticed. Style borne by junior ladies of the Harem when first gaining favour from the Sultan.
- Hanım: female of Khan, equivalent to Lady.
- Hanımsultan: Title borne by the daughters of Imperial Princesses.
- Haji : honorific used for men who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca.
- Hakhan ul-Barrayun wa al-Bahrain: Lord of the Lands and Seas, one of the many titles of the Sultan.
- Haseki Sultan : Title borne by favourite wives of the Sultan in 16th and 17th century.
- Hazretleri: style equivalent to Highness.
- Hazinedar: The High Hazinedar or First Hazinedar or Hazinedar Usta was a title of the housemistress of the sultan's palace, the most influential person after the prince.
- Ikbal : title borne by the junior wives of the Sultan in the 19th and 20th century, who came below the rank of Kadın.
- Kadın : Title borne by the senior wives of the Sultan from the late 16th century and early 20th century. The title was a replacement of the early title, Hatun.
- Kaimakam: Lieutenant-Colonel or Commander. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Bey.
- Kapıcıbaşı: chief of the palace guards.
- Katkhuda: Second in command to the Agha in the Janissary corps
- Khan : a title signifying sovereign or ruler in Turkey, but a very junior title signifying a male noble, or even a mere name, in other parts of the Muslim world.
- Khadim ul-Haramain us-Sharifain: Protector of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina, a title awarded to Salim I by the Sherif of Mecca.
- Khakhan: Khan of Khans, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey.
- Kizlar Aghasi: Chief of the Eunuchs. The office entitled the holder to the style of His Highness.
- Kapudan Pasha: Grand Admiral or Admiral of the Fleet.The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha.
- Kodjabashis: local Christian notables in parts of Ottoman Greece who exercised considerable influence and held posts in the Ottoman administration.
- Lala: were the experienced statesmen who were assigned as the tutors of young princes.
- Lewa : Major-General or Rear-Admiral. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha.
- Mahd-i Ulya-i-Sultanat: crade of the great Sultan, another title for the Sultan's mother.
- Miralai: Colonel or Captain. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Bey.
- Mulazim Awal: Lieutenant or Sub-Lieutenant. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi.
- Mulazim Tani: Second Lieutenant or Midshipman. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi.
- Mushir: Field Marshal.The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Pasha.
- Naqib al-ashraf: Supervisor or head of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad's Descendants
- Nishan : order of chivalry or decoration of honour.
- Padshah : Emperor, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey.
- Pasha: Lord, a title senior to that of Bey and conferred on a personal basis on senior civil officials and military officers. Awarded in several grades, signified by a whip, the highest rank being a whip of three yak or horse tails.
- Pashazada: son of a Pasha, used as an alternative courtesy title to Bey.
- Sadaf-i-Durr-i-Khilafat: shell of the pearl of the caliphate, another title for the mother of the Sultan.
- Saraskar: C-in-C.
- Shah: King, title of Persian origin.
- Shah-i-Alam Panah: King, refuge of the world, one of the titles of the Sultan.
- Shahzada : son of the King, title used for the sons of Sultans from the reign of Muhammad I.
- Shaikh ul-Islam: the title held by the highest ranking Muslim religious official below the Khalif. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha together the style of His Highness.
- Shalabi : gracious lord, title borne by sons of the Sultan until the reign of Muhammad II.
- Silahadar: Master-General of the Ordnance.
- Sipah Salar: General of Cavalry.
- Sultan: title borne by male members of the Imperial family, particularly after then reign of Muhammad II. When it is used before the given name, together with Khan after the name, it signifies ruler. When used before the name, Imperial Prince. When used after the name, Imperial Princess.
- Sultan Khan: The Grand Sultan, the chief title borne by the ruler of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire, equivalent to Emperor.
- Sultan us-Selatin: Sultan of Sultan, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey.
- Sultanzade : literally "son of a Sultan", the title borne by the sons of Imperial Princesses.
- Sünnetçi: Circumciser.
- Vali: Governor. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha.
- Vali Ahad : Heir Apparent or Presumptive usually translated as Crown Prince.
- Valide Sultan: The title borne by the "legal mother" of a reigning Sultan from the 16th century.
- Vizier: bearer of the burden, i.e. Minister.
- Vizier-i-Azam: Grand Vizier, the title borne by the incumbent Prime Minister. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha together the style of His Highness.
- Yuzbashi : Captain or Lieutenant. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Effendi.
- Khedive: Governor of Egypt and Sudan, and vassal of the Ottoman Empire.
- Muhtasib: meaning market overseer, market inspector, or master of the bazaar, who supervised weights and measures in the market.