Pasha
This article discusses the rank/title used in the Ottoman Empire. For other uses see pasha (disambiguation)Pasha (or
pascha,
bashaw;
Turkish:
paşa; originally from
Persian padshah or
padeshah meaning "king") was a high rank in the
Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to
governors and
generals. As an
honorary title, "Pasha" is roughly equivalent to "
Sir".
Etymologists variously derive the word
pasha from the
Persian padshah, Turkish
padishah, equivalent to "
king" or "
emperor" (well above his station, though: used for the Great Sultan himself), and from the Turkish
bash aga (in some dialects
pash), the "head lord", "
chief", etc. (more likely for an officer).
Old Turkish had no fixed distinction between /b/ and /p/. As first used in western Europe the title appeared in writing with the initial "b". The English forms
bashaw,
bassaw,
bucha, etc., general in the 16th and
17th century, derive through the medieval
Latin and
Italian word
bass.
The Ottoman
sultan of
Turkey and (by delegation) the viceroyal
khedive of Egypt had the right to bestow the title of
Pasha. The title appears, originally, to have applied exclusively to military commanders, but subsequently it could distinguish any high official, and also unofficial persons whom the court desired to honour.
It was part of the official style of the
Kapudan pasha (Great admiral of the entire Ottoman fleet)
Pashas ranked above
beys and Aghas, but below
khedives and
viziers.
Three grades of Pasha existed, distinguished by the number of yak- or horse-tails (three, two and one respectively; a symbol of Mongol tradition) or peacock tails, which the bearer was entitled to display on standard as symbol of military authority when on campaign.Only the Sultan himself was entitle to four tails, as sovereign commander in chief.
The following military ranks entitled to the style pasha (lower ranks were styled Bey or merely
Effendi):
*The
Vizier-i-Azam (Grand Vizier, the prime minister, but also often taking the field as Generalissimo instead of the Great Sultan)
*
Mushir (Field marshall)
*
Ferik (army Lieutenant-general or navy Vice-admiral)
*
Lewa=
Liva (major general or Rear-admiral)
*The
Kizlar Agha (chief black eunuch, the highest officer in Topkapi seraglio; three tails, as commander of the
baltaci corps (halberdiers in the imperial army) The same was true for Istanbul's
Shaikh ul-islam, the highest clergyman, of cabinet rank
If a Pasha governed a provincial
territories it could after him be called
pashaluk, besides the administrative term, such as
eyalet. Both
Beylerbeyis (governors-general) and
Valis (the most common type of Governor) were entitled to the style of Pasha (typically with two tails).The word
pashalik designates any
province or other jurisdiction of a pasha.
Ottoman authorities conferred the title upon both
Muslims and
Christian without distinction. The also frequently gave it to foreigners in the service of the Turks or of the
Egyptians, e.g. *
Hobart Pasha.
In usage, the title followed the given name. Although the word serves as a non-hereditary title, English-speakers have commonly used
pasha as if it formed part of a personal name, as for instance in
Ibrahim Pasha or
Emin Pasha, similar to the practice referring to a
British Peer as Lord X since in both cases it substitutes for a more precise rank title.
*The sons of a Pasha were styled
Pashazade, which means just that.
*
Abbas I of Egypt*
Abbas II of Egypt*
Ahmed Pasha (Claude Alexandre de Bonneval)
*
Ali Pasha*
Ali Pasha Eshghi*
Arabi Pasha*
Emin Pasha*
Enver Pasha*
Essad Pasha*
Faraz Pasha*
Fuad Pasha*
Glubb Pasha*
Ibrahim Pasha*
Iskander Pasha*
Ismet Pasha (Inönü)
*
Jafar al-Askari*
Hagop Kazazian Pasha*
Kazazian Pasha*Multiple members of the
Köprülü family, especially
Kara Mustafa*
Mehmet Ali*
Mehmed Pasha Sokolović*
Midhat Pasha*
Mustafa Pasha*
Mustafa Reshid Pasha*
Mustafa Kemal Pasha, subsequently known as
Kemal Atatürk, founder of the post-Ottoman Turkish republic
*
Nubar Pasha*
Osman Pasha*
Resat Pasha*
Said Pasha*
Sinan Pasha*
Sulejman Pasha*
Tewfik Pasha*
Tewilk Pasha*
Turhan Pasha Përmeti*
Tusun Pasha*
Valentine Baker*
Ottoman titles*
AllAboutTurkey*
RoyalArk- here Turkey
