The title is of Turkish origin, meaning "beg of begs" (commander of commanders).[1] Under the Safavids, it meant governor-general.[3]
The title first appears in 1543/44, when the Safavid ruler Tahmasp I (r. 1524–1576) issued a decree that referred the governor of Herat as beglerbegi.[1] The title was created to distinguish more important governors from less important ones.[4] As a result, starting in the 1540s, governor-general (beglerbegi), senior-governor (hakem-khan), and junior-governor (hakem-soltan) were one of the titles that would be given to a emir governing a province or smaller administration.[3]
Other beglerbegis soon appear in records, such as the beglerbegi of Astarabad in 1548, and the beglerbegi of Kerman in 1565. According to Willem Floor: "This, and the fact that beglerbegis also were at the same time emir al-omara of their jurisdiction, contradicts the view that the term beglerbegi was simply a Turkish translation of the title emir al-omara." Beglerbegi was only applied to governors of large administrations in the second half of the 16th-century. The title was more commonly employed in the latter part of the 17th century, even for lesser administrations. Several khans and soltans were subject to the beglerbegi.[3]
The beglerbegis had complete command over the soldiers and khans under their command. According to the early 18th-century Dastur al-Moluk, a beglerbegi was superior to a khan in rank, and the soltans were subordinate to the khan. The beglerbegi, who was also an emir, was also known as the emir al-omara of the province that he oversaw. There were eleven beglerbegis towards the end of the reign of Shah Abbas II (r. 1588–1629); five gholams (Fars, Karabakh, Baghdad, Astarabad, Shirvan), two valis of some sort (Lorestan and Kurdistan) and four Qizilbash emirs (Khorasan, Chokhur-e Sa'd (Erivan), Azerbaijan, Qandahar).[5]
Herat and Kerman, which were among the first provinces to be administered by a beglerbegi, are not included in the list. This is due to not all of these administrations would continue to be governed by a beglerbegi after the 1630s. After the Treaty of Zuhab in 1639, the Safavids lost Baghdad to the Ottoman Empire. Between 1632 and 1722, a vizier oversaw the administration of Fars.[5]
Jackson, Peter (1989). "Beglerbegī". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume IV/1: Bāyju–Behruz. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 84. ISBN978-0-71009-124-6.
January 01, 1970
beglerbegi, equivalent, ottoman, title, beylerbey, persian, بیگلربیگی, title, generally, held, governors, provinces, higher, importance, safavid, iran, farman, decree, from, safavid, ruler, tahmasp, mohammad, qoli, khan, beglerbegi, chokhur, erivan, reply, app. For the equivalent Ottoman title see beylerbey Beglerbegi Persian بیگلربیگی was a title generally held by governors of provinces of higher importance in Safavid Iran 1 2 Farman decree from the Safavid ruler Tahmasp II for Mohammad Qoli Khan Sa dlu the beglerbegi of Chokhur e Sa d Erivan in reply to an appeal The title is of Turkish origin meaning beg of begs commander of commanders 1 Under the Safavids it meant governor general 3 The title first appears in 1543 44 when the Safavid ruler Tahmasp I r 1524 1576 issued a decree that referred the governor of Herat as beglerbegi 1 The title was created to distinguish more important governors from less important ones 4 As a result starting in the 1540s governor general beglerbegi senior governor hakem khan and junior governor hakem soltan were one of the titles that would be given to a emir governing a province or smaller administration 3 Other beglerbegis soon appear in records such as the beglerbegi of Astarabad in 1548 and the beglerbegi of Kerman in 1565 According to Willem Floor This and the fact that beglerbegis also were at the same time emir al omara of their jurisdiction contradicts the view that the term beglerbegi was simply a Turkish translation of the title emir al omara Beglerbegi was only applied to governors of large administrations in the second half of the 16th century The title was more commonly employed in the latter part of the 17th century even for lesser administrations Several khans and soltans were subject to the beglerbegi 3 The beglerbegis had complete command over the soldiers and khans under their command According to the early 18th century Dastur al Moluk a beglerbegi was superior to a khan in rank and the soltans were subordinate to the khan The beglerbegi who was also an emir was also known as the emir al omara of the province that he oversaw There were eleven beglerbegis towards the end of the reign of Shah Abbas II r 1588 1629 five gholams Fars Karabakh Baghdad Astarabad Shirvan two valis of some sort Lorestan and Kurdistan and four Qizilbash emirs Khorasan Chokhur e Sa d Erivan Azerbaijan Qandahar 5 Herat and Kerman which were among the first provinces to be administered by a beglerbegi are not included in the list This is due to not all of these administrations would continue to be governed by a beglerbegi after the 1630s After the Treaty of Zuhab in 1639 the Safavids lost Baghdad to the Ottoman Empire Between 1632 and 1722 a vizier oversaw the administration of Fars 5 References edit a b c Jackson 1989 p 84 Floor 2001 pp 95 96 a b c Floor 2001 p 96 Floor 2001 p 95 a b Floor 2001 p 97 Sources editFloor Willem 2001 Safavid Government Institutions Mazda Publishers ISBN 978 1568591353 Jackson Peter 1989 Beglerbegi In Yarshater Ehsan ed Encyclopaedia Iranica Volume IV 1 Bayju Behruz London and New York Routledge amp Kegan Paul p 84 ISBN 978 0 71009 124 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beglerbegi amp oldid 1170778577, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
