EGYPT
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The Muhammad 'Ali Dynasty
STYLES AND TITLES
The Sovereign: The King of Egypt (Misr al-Malik) and of the Sudan, Sovereign of Nubia, of Kordofan and of Darfur, with the style of His Majesty (Sahib al-Jalala).
The wife of the Sovereign: Queen (Misr al-Malika) of Egypt and of the Sudan, with the style of Her Majesty (Sahibat al-Jalala).
The mother of the Sovereign: Queen (Malika) (personal name), with the style of Her Majesty (Sahibat al-Jalala).
The Heir Apparent: The Prince of Sa'id (Amir as-Sa'id), with the style of His Royal Highness (Sahib us-Sumuw al-Malik).
The younger sons of the Sovereign: Prince (Amir) of Egypt, with the style of His Royal Highness (Sahib us-Sumuw al-Malik).
The daughters of the Sovereign: Princess (Amira) of Egypt, with the style of Her Royal Highness (Sahibat us-Sumuw al-Malik).
Notes:
1) The wife of Sultan Husain Kamil bore the title of Sultana, together with the style of 'Azama (rendered as Hautesse in French, Altezza in Italian and Highness in English), after 1914. She enjoyed them for the rest of her life, even after the Royal Rescript regulating the styles and titles of the Royal House in 1922.
2) The son, daughter-in-law and daughters of Sultan Husain Kamil bore the titles of Prince or Princess, together with the style of His or Her SultanicHighness after 11th October 1917. They enjoyed them for the rest of their lives, even after the Royal Rescript regulating the styles and titles of the Royal House in 1922.
3) From 1845 onwards, members of the Khedival house assumed the titles of Prince (Prens in Turkish or Amir in Arabic) or Princess (Prenses in Turkish or Amira in Arabic). Attempts were made to restrict the assumption of these titles and to establish a formal system of recognition. Certain descendants of previous rulers were recognised in the title of Prince or Princess together with the style of His Highness (Sahib us-Sumuw) or Her Highness (Sahibat us-Sumuw) by decree dated 16th May 1901 (modified 23rd November 1910 and 18th April 1915). The wives of Princes were similarly recognised in the title of Princess and the style of Highness. By the terms of a Royal Rescript in 1922, only those princes so recognised, were entitled to pass on these titles to their male heirs, according to the rules of male primogeniture.
4) Legitimate descendants in the male line, from marriages recognised by the Royal Family Council, but not recognized in or accorded the title of Prince or Princess were granted the title of Nabil and Nabila in 1922. Nevertheless, many members of the family who enjoy this rank prefer to be adressed as Prince orPrincess.
5) By the terms of a Royal Rescript in 1922, titles were limited to members of the Royal Family who remained Egyptian nationals. Members of the family lost their titles on assuming foreign nationality, being deprived of their Egyptian nationality, or by a decision of the Royal Family Council. However, these strictures were largely ignored, particularly by members of the family long domiciled in Turkey, where they had enjoyed the titles of Prens or Prenses by courtesy of the Ottoman Imperial Court.
NOBILITY:
Egypt, in common with many Middle-Eastern kingdoms, did not have a system of hereditary nobility, in the European sense. However, court etiquette was extremely formal, with a strict hierarchy of ranks and adherence to precedence. As of 1922 (modified 1936), the non-hereditary nobility were divided into six ranks (Rutbat):
1) Riyasat: conferred on former Prime Ministers. Recipients enjoyed the title Pasha and the style of His Excellency (Sahib ud-Daula); their sons enjoyed the courtesy title of Bey, wives and daughters that of Khanum.
2) Special Grade: conferred only on holders of the Chain of Fu'ad I. Recipients enjoyed the title Pasha and the style of His Excellency (Sahib ul-Makam ur-Rafi), their sons enjoyed the courtesy title of Bey, wives and daughters that of Khanum.
3) Imtiaz: conferred on holders of the Grand Cordon of the Order of Muhammad 'Ali, former Ministers of State, and eight other distinguished individuals at any one time. Recipients enjoyed the title Pasha and the style of His Excellency (Sahib ul-Ma'ali), their sons enjoyed the courtesy title of Bey, wives and daughters that of Khanum.
4) Pasha: conferred on officers holding the military rank of Major-General, their naval, air and civilian equivalents, or above. Recipients enjoyed the style of His Excellency (Sahib us-Sa'ada), their sons enjoyed the courtesy title of Bey, wives and daughters that of Khanum.
5) Bey of the first class: conferred on officers holding the military rank of Brigadier, their naval, air and civilian equivalents, or above. Recipients enjoyed the style of His Excellency (Sahib ul-Izza) and their wives enjoyed the courtesy title of Khanum.
6) Bey of the second class: conferred on officers holding the military rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, their naval, air and civilian equivalents, or above. Recipients enjoyed the style of (Sahib ul-Izza) and their wives enjoyed the courtesy title of Khanum.
END.
Copyright© Christopher Buyers, August 2000 - July 2008