Vizier

A vizier (/vɪˈzɪər/, rarely /ˈvɪzjər/;Arabic: وزير‎; Wazeer, Persian: vazīr‎‎, Turkish: vezir, Urdu: وزیر‎, Vazeer; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title wazir to a minister formerly called katib (secretary) who was at first merely a helper, but afterwards became the representative and successor of the dapir (official scribe or secretary) of the Sassanian kings.

In modern usage, the term has been used for ministers in the Arab world, Iran, Turkey, East Africa ( Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia) Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

It is also specially used in the only absolute Asian monarchy, the House of Bolkiah of Brunei with the title Prime Vizier or Perdana Wazir in Brunei Malay as the head of all viziers. It is given to the current King Hassanal Bolkiah's second brother, the Prime Vizier Mohamed Bolkiah. In Brunei, an ordinary vizier is known as Pengiran Temenggong.

Vizier (Ancient Egypt)

The vizier (/vɪˈzɪər/ or /ˈvɪzɪər/) was the highest official in Ancient Egypt to serve the king, or pharaoh during the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.Vizier is the generally accepted rendering of ancient Egyptian tjati, tjaty etc., among Egyptologists. The Instruction of Rekhmire (Installation of the Vizier), a New Kingdom text, defines many of the duties of the tjaty, and lays down codes of behavior. The viziers were often appointed by the pharaoh, most from loyalty or talent.

Responsibilities

The viziers were appointed by the pharaohs, but often belonged to a pharaoh's family. The vizier's paramount duty was to supervise the running of the country, such as a prime minister, at times even small details of it such as sampling the city's water supply. All other lesser supervisors and officials, such as tax collectors and scribes, would report to the vizier. The judiciary was part of the civil administration and the vizier also sat in the High Court. However at any time, the pharaoh could exert his own control over any aspect of government, overriding the vizier's decisions. The vizier also supervised the security of the pharaoh and the palace. The viziers often acted as the pharaoh's seal bearer as well, and the vizier would record trade. In the New Kingdom, there were two viziers, one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower Egypt.

Vizier (Ebla)

Vizier (/vɪˈzɪər/ or /ˈvɪzɪər/), is the title used by modern scholars to indicate the head of the administration in the first Eblaite kingdom. The title holder held the highest position after the king and controlled the army. During the reign of king Isar-Damu, the office of vizier became hereditary.

Title and responsibilities

Vizier is a rendering presented by Alfonso Archi to indicate the second in command official of Ebla, whose native title was probably "head of the administration" (lugal sa-za). Eblaite viziers' authority was of great importance, that they were thought of as kings during the earliest stages of deciphering the tablets of Ebla, as the names of actual monarchs rarely appeared in administrative tablets. Aside from heading the administration, the vizier was in command of the kingdom's trade, army and acted as the head of provincial governors.

History

The title was not created until after the period of king Igrish-Halam (fl c. 2360 BC), but high officials were already prominent during his reign, most importantly Darmiya and Tir (whose name appear on an important agreement named the Abarsal treaty). The first vizier was Arrukum and he was appointed by king Irkab-Damu. He was followed by Ibrium who kept his office for 20 years, and managed to establish a parallel dynasty of viziers next to the royal family, being succeeded by his son Ibbi-Sipish.