List of Iranian titles and ranks explained

The following is a list of various titles associated with religion, politics, nobility, or the military, as used by various Iranian peoples and dynasties.

By dynasty

Median

Military

Taxmaspada (Spada): army[1]
  • Asbari: literally meaning "horse bearers", cavalry[1]
  • Anuvaniya: archers[1]
  • Rsika: spearmen[1]
  • Pasti: infantry[1]

    • Achaemenid

    Military

    Anusiya: companions, believed to be the word of which the Persian Immortals is derived
  • Kara: literally meaning "peoples army", designation applied to the early armies of Cyrus the Great[1]
  • Navpati/naupati: Naval commander[1]
  • Sparabara: Literally meaning shield (spara) bearer[1]

    • Political

    Khshathrapāvā
  • governor
    Databdara: Administrator of the courts, literally meaning "law bearer", who may have been a combination of the modern-day judge, law officer, or constable[1]

    Religious

    Saoshyant: Zoroastrian notion, similar to "Messiah"[1]

    Sassanian

    Military

    Vuzurg framadhār
  • Great commander; managed the affairs of state[2]
    Aspbad
  • Commander of the Savaran[2]
    Sardar: Savaran[2]
  • Arzbad-e-Aspwaragan: Chief instructor of the Savaran[2]
  • Spahbed
  • Army general who could also be a military governor[2]
    Marzban
  • Province governor, and the same role as a spahbed or strictly an army general in the province[2]
    Padgospan
  • Assistant of the spahbad[2]
    Padan: Spahbed's officers[2]
  • Framandar: Battle field commanders[2]
  • Paygospan: Provincial military commanders[2]
  • Arteshtaran-salar
  • Chief of Warriors, a term reserved for warriors displaying great bravery in battle[2]

    Political

    Eran-Spahbad: Minister of Defense and commander in chief of the army[2]
  • Andarzbad
  • Counsel to the Shah.[2]
    Kanarange (Eastern Iranian term): The title given to a marzban of Central Asia[2]
  • Istandar: Leader of an istan (a province or district area within a province)[2]
  • Argbadh: Highest military title and was held by royal family members[2]
  • Rasnan: A less defined title[2]
  • Artabid: Title for Azadan families who were entrusted with specific duties, such as crowning each new monarch[2]
  • Karrogbadh: Chief of imperial workers; a rather unimportant position mostly delegated to Christians, especially during the reign of Khosrau II.[3]
  • Vastrioshan Salar: Minister of agriculture, commerce and industries.[4]
  • Vuzurgan: Grand nobles, who would be present at coronation ceremonies[2]

    • Religious

    Hirbad: or Hirbod/Herbed; Protector and caretaker of fire temple, Zoroastrian judge and arbiter.[5]
  • Mogh: Zoroastrian Magi[2] (plural: Moghan)
  • Mobad: or Mowbed; High-ranking Priest[2] (moghpati, moghbadh; plural: Mobadan)
  • Mobadan Mobad: or Mowbedan Mowbed; Chief of the clergy[2]

    • Safavid

    Dah-bashi: Commander of 10 soldiers (lit. head of 10)
  • Yuz-bashi: Commander of 100 soldiers
  • Amir Tuman: Commander of 1000 soldiers

    • Qajar

    Political

    Malekeh: Queen
  • Malekeh Jahaan: World Queen, title shared by Nasser-ed-Din Shah's mother and Mohammad 'Ali Shah's wife.
  • Mahd-e-Oliaa: "Queen Mother" (Lit. Mahd = hearth or cradle; Olia' = most high; thus = "most high hearth or cradle" or "most high life giving place" ; i.e., place from whence one is born, and thus more elegantly translated as "Sublime Cradle." Hence the title bearer is the mother of the next Shah), associated with some Qajar (Kadjar) queens, especially Fath Ali Shah's mother and Nasser-ed-Din Shah's mother.
  • A'laa Hazrat: "Your Most High Majesty" in reference to the king. Appellation of Persian/Iranian kings.
  • Oliaa' Hazrat: Literally meaning "Your Most High Majesty" in reference to the Queen. Title specifically created for Malekeh Jahan.
  • Khan: Leader, usually of a tribe
  • Shahzadeh: Prince, used specifically to refer to Qajar princes

    • By people

    Kurds

    Peshmerga
  • the term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters.

    Imperial and Royal titles

    Shahanshah
  • Emperor (lit. "King of Kings")
    Shah
  • King
    Keyaksar (Cyaxares): The one high King
  • Padeshah
  • Great King
    Shahzadeh
  • Prince (lit. "born of a king" i.e., "of kingly birth or parentage")
    Arranshah: King of Arran
  • Layzanshah: King of Layzan
  • Shirvanshah: King of Shirvan (see also: Shirvanshahs)

    • Notes and References

    1. Farrokh, Kaveh. Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War. Osprey Publishing, 2007. Pages 33, 39, 47, 60, 76, 77
    2. Farrokh, K. (2005). Elite Sassanian Cavalry: 226-651 AD. England: Osprey Elite Series 110, Osprey Publishing. Pages 7-8
    3. Arthur Christensen, Sassanid Persia.
    4. [Dehkhoda Dictionary|Dehkhoda Persian Dictionary]
    5. [Dehkhoda Dictionary]

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Iranian titles and ranks".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.