Omissions? The origins of vizier go back to an Arabic word, wazir, which means "one who bears the burden of government office.". Updates? Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The office dates from at least the 4th dynasty (c. 2575c. The term vizier is also customarily applied to a pair of civil officers in ancient Egypt having viceregal powers. Later the title vizier was granted to provincial governors and to high officials such as the defterdar (finance officer). In 1654 the grand vizier acquired an official residence known as the Babli (Sublime Porte), which replaced the palace as the effective centre of Ottoman government. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vizier.' Corrections? A daily challenge for crossword fanatics. Thenceforth until the conquest of Istanbul (1453), it denoted the highest rank in the ruling institution and could be held simultaneously by several persons, including the ministers of state. The office took shape during its tenure by the Barmakid (Barmecide) family in the 8th century. Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice. Accessed 22 Jul. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. In ancient monarchies, a vizier was a very high-ranking official. The Abbsid vizier stood between sovereign and subjects, representing the former in all matters touching the latter. Under the sultan Mehmed II (reigned 144446, 145181), the Ottomans assumed the old Islamic practice of giving the title vizier to the office of the chief minister, but they had to use the distinguishing epithet grand. A number of viziers, known as the dome viziers, were appointed to assist the grand vizier, to replace him when he was absent on campaign, and to command armies when required. From 1900 to 1920, tug-of-war was an official event at the Summer Olympics. Send us feedback. Learn a new word every day. During the Ottoman Empire, the Grand Vizier was the sultan's representative in the government. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Copyright 2022 Vocabulary.com, Inc., a division of IXL Learning All Rights Reserved.

The researchers found the tomb while excavating the dry moat that encircles the pyramid complex, not far from another burial site also discovered by the teamthat of, Some are telling their finance, operations and technology chiefs to make room for a grand, In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the 72-year-old actor known for voicing the evil Grand, Akhenatens son, Tutankhaten, became the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt at just 8 or 9 years old; the real power in the kingdom was in the hands of the child kings, Civilian officials were often competent ex-slaves, sometimes including even the, Post the Definition of vizier to Facebook, Share the Definition of vizier on Twitter, 'Dunderhead' and Other Nicer Ways to Say Stupid, 'Pride': The Word That Went From Vice to Strength. The term itself appeared much later, though around 1570 CE. The grand vizier was the absolute representative of the sultan, whose signet ring he kept as an insignia of office. vizier, Arabic and modern Persian wazr, Turkish vazir, originally the chief minister or representative of the Abbsid caliphs and later a high administrative officer in various Muslim countries, among Arabs, Persians, Turks, Mongols, and other eastern peoples. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This withdrawal of the head of state from direct contact with his people was unknown to the previous Umayyad caliphate and was certainly an imitation of Persian usage. Beginning in the 19th century, the grand viziers presided over the council of ministers, appointed by the sultan; and after 1908 they acquired the right to appoint the cabinet ministers. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? Delivered to your inbox! Vizier. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vizier.

a worker who holds or is invested with an office. Under the early Ottoman sultans, the office was called pervane (advice), a usage inherited from the Seljuqs of Anatolia. 2022. His actual power, however, varied with the vigour of the sultans. Tour Egypt - The Viziers of Ancient Egypt. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vizier. 2465 bce) and achieved great importance from the reign of Sesostris III (183618 bce), when the vizier acquired jurisdiction over the entire bureaucracy of ancient Egypt. The title disappeared with the collapse of the empire. Bikini, bourbon, and badminton were places first. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Boost your test score with programs developed by Vocabulary.coms experts. In this period members of the powerful andarli family served periodically as ministers and held the rank of vizier. A historian would tell you that the earliest viziers were the nobles who served Egyptian pharaohs as long ago as 2700 BCE. The Ottoman title vizier was first conferred on a military commander about 1380.