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", "Paşa", "Ağa", "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 Sultan, Padishah and Khan; which were of various origins such as Arabic, Persian and Turkish or Mongolian, 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, Caesar of Rome, Custodian of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Kouds, 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 [History of Iraq#Ottoman Iraq and Mamluk rule|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 list of [Ottoman Empire territories|many others countries and cities]."

Dynasty member

Imperial prince

Male descendants of a sovereign in the male line.Çelebi. Gentleman. Used before the reign of Mehmed II. Format style: " Çelebi".Şehzade or Şehzade Sultan. Prince of the imperial blood. Format titles and styles:

* Short: "Şehzade Sultan ", i.e. Sultan Imperial Prince or "Şehzade ", i.e. Imperial Prince, with the style of şehzadem or efendim.
* Full: Devletlû Najabatlu Şehzade Sultan Hazretleri EfendiVali Ahad. Crown Prince. Full titles and styles: Devletlû Najabatlu Valiahd-i Saltanat Şehzade-i Javanbahd Efendi Hazretleri.

Imperial princess

Female descendants of a sovereign in the male line.Hatun. 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 Sultan سلطان). Princess of the imperial blood. Used after 16th century. Formal title:
* Short: " Sultan", i.e. Sultana, with the style of sultanım or efendim.
* Full: Devletlû İsmetlu Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân Hazretleri

Sons and daughters of sultana

Sultanzade. Prince. Used for sons of princess of the imperial blood.

* Formal title: "Sultanzade Bey", i.e. Sir Prince Sultan Hanımsultan خانم سلطان). Madam Princess. Used for daughters of princess of the imperial blood.
* Formal title: " Hanımsultan", i.e. Sultana madam

Relative of dynasty member

Imperial mother

Mothers of the reigning sultansValide Hatun. Lady mother. Used before 16th century. Formal style: " Hatun" or "Valide Hatun", i.e. Lady mother.Valide Sultan. Sultana mother. Used after 16th century. Formal titles and styles:

* Short: " Valide Sultan" or "Valide Sultan", i.e. Sultana mother, with the style of sultanım or validem.
* Full: Devletlû İsmetlû Vâlide Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân HazretleriBüyük Valide Sultan. Grand or senior sultana mother. Grandmothers of the reigning sultans; first made by Murad III as a gift to his aunt Mihrimah Sultan at the beginning of his reign; later used by Safiye Sultan, during the reigns of her grandsons and great-grandson; last used by Kösem Sultan during the reign of her grandson Sultan Mehmed IV

Imperial female consort

Consorts of the sultan and prince of the blood.Haseki Sultan. Sultana consort. Title for the chief consort of the sultan in the 16th century and originally could not be held by more than one consort simultaneously. In later periods, the meaning of the title began to change from chief consort to something more general like a senior imperial consort when Sultan Ibrahim granted this title for his eight consorts. This title was only used until around the 17th century. Formal title:

* Short: " Haseki Sultan" or "Haseki Sultan", i.e. Sultana consort or Empress Consort, with the style of sultanım or efendim.
* Full: Devletlû İsmetlu Haseki Sultân Aliyyetü'ş-Şân HazretleriHaseki Kadın. Lady consort. Title for sultan's consort who became mother of the imperial princes. This title was used around 17th century.Hatun. 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 Kadınefendi. 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 HazretleriHanımefendi. 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

Husbands of princess of the blood.Damad. Full titles and styles: Damat-i Shahriyari Bey Efendi.

During the time of Suleiman

Titles and appellations in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent, from Albert Howe Lybyer's book "The government of the Ottoman Empire in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent":

Agha : a general officer.
Ajem-oghlan : a cadet or apprentice Janissary.
Akinji : the irregular cavalry.
Ashji-bashi : a chief cook
Azab : the irregular infantry.
Bashi : The Head or Chief of an organization.
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 Islamic 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.
Grand vizier
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 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 Islamic 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 Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Silahdar, a member of the second corps of standing cavalry; the page who carried the sultan's arms.
* Silahdar Agha
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

Other titles include:

Agha : commander, a title junior to Bey and conferred on military officers on a personal basis.
Alp: brave warrior or knight; 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 or Emirülmüminin: Commander of the Faithful, one of the many titles of the Sultan.
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.
Beylerbey : 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.
Çelebi: gentleman, a title indicating a high social status
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.
Devletlû: a title of imperial gentry.
Divan: was a high government ministry in North Africa.
Dragoman: was an interpreter, translator, and official guide.
Dragoman of the Fleet: was a senior office.
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 Empress Consort then at the end of the 16th century it is used as the Main Consort or Imperial Consort of the Sultan and in the 17th century it would be used as the Main Woman or Only Favorite.
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.
Hospodar: was a title had been held by many vassals of the sultan,
Ikbal or İkbâl : 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: general of the palace guards.
Katib: secretary of the Kiaya bey.
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 Selim I by the Sherif of Mecca.
Khakhan: Khan of Khans, one of the many titles of the Sultan of Turkey.
Khedive: Governor of Egypt and Sudan, and vassal of the Ottoman Empire.
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.
Kayzer-i Rûm: Caesar of Rome, Emperor.
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: "Cradle of the Great Sultan," another title for the Sultan's mother.
Miralay or mir-i alay: Colonel or Captain. The holder of the rank enjoyed the title of Bey.
Muhtasib: meaning market overseer, market inspector, or master of the bazaar, who supervised weights and measures in the market.
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.
Pashazadeh: son of a Pasha, used as an alternative courtesy title to Bey.
Reis: naval captain or commodore.
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 Mehmed 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 Mehmed II.
Silahadar: Master-General of the Ordnance.
Sipah Salar: General of Cavalry.
Sultan: title borne by male members of the Imperial family, particularly after the reign of Mehmed 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.