EGYPT
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The Muhammad 'Ali Dynasty
Agha (or aga): title of Turkish origin meaning commander, junior to Bey. Dissused as a title of honour by the second half of the nineteenth century.
al-Waguih: 'The Honourable', a form of address used in society for any wealthy man or son of a notable who did not enjoy the title of Pasha or Bey.
Amir: Prince.
Amira: Princess.
Amir al-Alai: Colonel (army or police), Captain (REN) or, Group Captain (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Bey.
Amir al-Liwa: Major-General (army or police), Rear-Admiral (REN) or, Air Vice-Marshal (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Pasha.
Arnauti (or Arnawudi): Albanian.
A'yan: indigenous class of notables, landholders, usually of Arabic origin.
'Azama: the style assumed by Husain Kamil and Fuad I while Sultans of Egypt, translated as Hautesse in French, Altezza in Italian and Highness in English.
Bey (or Beg): title of Turkish origin and junior to Pasha, retained and conferred in two ranks after 1922. Also accorded as a courtesy title to the sons of a Pasha.
Bimbashi: Major (army or police), Lieutenant-Commander (REN) or, Squadron Leader (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Bey.
Daulatlu Fakhamatlu (or Devletlu Fekhametlu): the style enjoyed by the Vali of Egypt until the reign of Khedive Ismail, equivalent to 'His Highness'.
Divan Effendisi: Aide de Camp.
Effendi (or Efendi): a title of Turkish origin, analageous to Esquire, and junior to Bey.
Effendimiz (or Efendimiz or Efendina): A form of address analageous to Monseigeur and frequently used for members of the Royal Family.
Ferik: Lieutenant-General (army), Vice-Admiral (REN) or Air Chief Marshal (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Pasha.
Hakim: provincial governor.
Hakim 'Amm: Governor-General, especially of the Sudan.
Hanim (or Hanem): see Khanum.
Hautesse: style accorded to the Sultan and Sultana of Egypt after 1914, usually translated as Highness in English and Altezza in Italian.
Hazrat (or Hadret): "Excellency".
Hazrat Sahib ud-Daula (or Hadret Saheb Al Dawla): "His Excellency, the Lord of the State". A style attached to the highest court rank (termed Rutbat al-Riyasat) and accorded to gentlemen outside the Royal Family.
Hazrat Sahib ul-Izza (or Hadret Saheb Al-Izzah): style attached to the fourth highest rank accorded to gentlemen.
Hazrat Sahib al-Jalala: the style used for the King after 1922, equivalent to 'His Majesty'.
Hazrat Sahib ul-Ma'ali (or Hadret Saheb Al-Mâali): "His Excellency the Sublime Lord", a style attached to the third highest rank (termed Rutbatal-Imtiaz) accorded to gentlemen.
Hazrat Sahib ul-Makam ur-Rafi (or Hadret Saheb Al-Makam Al-Rafie): a style attached to the second highest court rank. Conferred for life, after 1936, on recipients of the Chain of Fu'ad I.
Hazrat Sahib us-Sa'ada (or Hadret Saheb Al-Sâadah): a style attached to the fourth highest court rank accorded to gentlemen.
Hazrat Sahib us-Sumuw al-Malik: the style used for Royal Princes, equvalent to 'His Royal Highness'.
Hazrat Sahibat al-Jalala: the style used for the Queen after 1922, equivalent to 'Her Majesty'.
Hazrat Sahibat us-Sumuw al-Malik: the style used for Royal Princesses, equvalent to 'Her Royal Highness'.
Hukumdar (or Hukumdar 'Umum): 'Commissioner', the title of the Governor-General of the Sudan until ca. 1885.
Jalal: 'Majesty'.
Jalal al-Malik: 'His Majesty the King'.
Jalal al-Malika: 'Her Majesty the Queen'.
Kadin: junior wife, other than one of the four official wives permitted by the laws of Islam.
Kaid: General Officer Commanding.
Kaimakam: Lieutenant-Colonel (army or police), Commander (REN) or, Wing Commander (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Bey.
Kalfa: slave.
Khanum (or Hanim/Hanem): 'Lady', feminine form of Khan. A title of Turkish origin, enjoyed by the wives and daughters of a Pasha.
Khediva: title used for the wife of the Khedive.
Khedive: 'master, lord, sovereign'. A title translated as Viceroy, used informally for the ruler of Egypt since the reign of Muhammad 'Ali the Great, and officially from 17th May 1866.
khutuba: engagement.
Liwa: Major-General (army or police), Rear-Admiral (REN) or, Air Vice-Marshal (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Pasha.
Ma'ali: Sublime.
Majlis: council, assembly, or parliament.
Majlis al-Balat: Royal Council of State.
Majlis-i-Ahkam: Council for the Promulgation of Laws.
Majlis-i-Tanzimat: Council for the Reformation of Old Laws and the Promulgation of New Laws.
Malik: King, the official title of the ruler of Egypt adopted 15th March 1922.
Malika: Queen.
Mamluk: white slave.
Mir: Turkish corruption of Amir, commander.
Miralai: Turkish corruption of Amir al-Alai, Colonel (army or police), Captain (REN) or, Group Captain (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Bey.
Mirliva: Turkish corruption of Amir al-Liwa, Major-General (army or police), Rear-Admiral (REN) or, Air Vice-Marshal (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Pasha.
Mîrmîran: Turkish corruption of Amir ul-Umara, Lieutenant-General (army), Vice-Admiral (REN) or Air Chief Marshal (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Pasha.
Mudir: manager.
Mudir 'Umum: governor of an important province, e.g. Dafur, Equatoria.
Mulazim: Lieutenant.
Mulazim Awal: First Lieutenant (army or police), Sub-Lieutenant (REN) or, Flying Officer (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Effendi.
Mulazim Tani: Second Lieutenant (army or police), Midshipman (REN) or, Pilot Officer (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Effendi.
Mushir: Field Marshal (army), Admiral of the Fleet (REN) or, Marshal of the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Pasha.
Nabil: Lord.
Nabila: Lady.
nikah: formal legal contract of marriage, which can sometimes be concluded before puberty, in which case the wife remains in her parental home until she is of child bearing age.
Nishan (or Nichan): order of chivalry or decoration of honour.
Pasha (or Basha in Arabic): title of Turkish origin, retained and conferred after 1922 in three ranks.
Sahib: Lord.
Sagashoshi: Adjutant Major. The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Effendi.
Sahib ul-Izza (or Saheb Al-Izzah): style attached to the fifth highest rank accorded to gentlemen.
Sahib ul-Majd: 'noble lord', the style accorded to members of the Royal Family enjoying the title of Nabil, equivalent to 'His Lordship'.
Sahibat ul-Majd: 'noble lady', the style accorded to members of the Royal Family enjoying the title of Nabila, equivalent to 'Her Ladyship'.
Saraskar: commander-in-chief'.
Saréchesme: 'commander of a thousand', an old Turkish military rank equivalent to Colonel.
Sultan: ruler, title used for the ruler of Egypt between 1914 and 1922.
Sultana: title used for the wife of the ruler of Egypt between 1914 and 1922.
Vali (or Vali): Governor.
Valida Effendimiz (or Validé Efendimiz or Walda Efendimiz): title borne by the mother of the reigning Khedive.
Valida Pasha Effendimiz (or Validé Pasha Efendimiz or Walda Pasha Efendina): the title used by the mother of Khedive Ismail Pasha.
Valida Sultana Effendimiz (or Validé Sultan Efendimiz or Walda Sultane Efendina): Sultana Mother, title used for the mother of Khedive 'Abbas Hilmi II.
Wazir (or Vizier): Minister of State.
Yuzbashi (or Youzbashi): Captain (army or police), Lieutenant (REN) or, Flight Lieutenant (REAF). The holder of the rank enjoyed the personal title of Effendi.
Zevat-i-kiram: the term apllied to the Turko-Circassian élite comprising the top three ranks of the military and bureaucracy.
zifaf: 'the bedding', the term used for the marriage celebration when a bride enters the household of her husband's family.
Copyright© Christopher Buyers, August 2000 - December 2014