Mirza (name) explained

Mirza (or ; Persian: میرزا)[1] is a name of Persian origin. It is used as a surname or prefix to identify patriarchal lineage. It is derived from the term Mirzadeh (میرزادہ).

It is a historical royal and noble title,[2] denoting the rank of a royal prince,[2] high nobleman,[3] distinguished military commander,[3] or a scholar.[4] Specifically, it was used as a title by (and today signifies patriarchal lineage to) the various Persian Empires, the Nogai Horde, Shirvanshahs and Circassians of the European Caucasus, the Mughals / Moguls and Muslim Rajputs of the Indian Subcontinent. It was also a title bestowed upon members of the highest aristocracies in Tatar states, such as the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan.

Etymology

Mirzadeh

The original title Mīrzā or Merzāh is derived from the Persian term Mīrzādeh which literally means child of the Mīr or child of the ruler.[4] Mīrzādeh in turn consists of the Arabic title Amīr (English: Emir), meaning "commander" and the Persian suffix zādeh, meaning "son of" or "lineage of".[4] Due to vowel harmony in Turkic languages, the alternative pronunciation Morza (plural morzalar; derived from Persian) is also used.

History

Mirza first emerged during the 15th century as an appellative term for members of the Timurid dynasty, adopted in deference to their progenitor, the Central Asian conqueror Timur, who used Amir as his principal title.[5] [6] During the early Timurid period, Mirza preceded a prince's given name, therefore adhering to the Persian fashion, though subsequently the Turkish style was adopted, with the title instead being placed after.[7] This was continued by later rulers such as the Aq Qoyunlus, Safavids, Ottomans and Mughals.[5]

Originally restricted to only kings and princes,[8] the title eventually spread among other social groups, though only the former could have it placed after their given name.[9] During the 16th century, the Safavids conferred it upon high-ranking viziers such as Mirza Shah Hossein and Mirza Ata-Allah Isfahani.[5] By the Qajar period, the title simply marked a person as a clerk or a literate man of consequence.[10] Writing in 1828, Frederic Shoberl records that "as a prefix to the name, it may be assumed by, or conferred on any person. It is right, however, to observe, that none but well-educated men, or such as follow respectable professions, or hold honourable posts, take the title of Mirza."[9]

Persian empires

Safavid dynasty

Afsharid dynasty

Qajar dynasty

Shirvanshahs

Three consecutive titular kings of Shirvan, of the Shirvanshah Dynasty (present-day Azerbaijan), adopted the title as well following the death of Gurban Ali.

Circassians

Circassian dynasty

The hereditary title of Mirza was adopted by the nobility class of the Circassians. Idar of Kabardia, also known as "Mirza Haydar Temruk Bey", was the great-grandson of Prince Inal – Sultan of Egypt the founder of the "Temruk dynasty" of the Kabardian princes, known in Russia as the "Cherkassky" a Circassian princely family.

Circassian nobility with the name Mirza include:

Princely Issues:

Russian empire

Under Catherine the Great, empress of Russia, the Mirzas gained equal rights with the Russian nobility due to their extreme wealth. Abdul Mirza was given the title Prince Yusupov, and his descendant Prince Felix Yusupov married Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia, the only niece of Tsar Nicholas II.

Mughal empire

The title Mirza was borne by an imperial prince. It was adopted as part of ones name, implying relationship to the Mongol dynasties like the Mughal dynasty (the Imperial House of Timur).[11] In the traditional naming sequence of the Indian royal families, the title can be placed both before the name and after it, such as Prince Mirza Mughal or Prince Kamran Mirza. Prince Khusrau Mirza was the grandson of Emperor Babur (Babur Mirza), son of Emperor Jahangir and a brother of Emperor Shah Jahan. Emperor Akbar Shah II was known as Prince Mirza Akbar before his coronation. Emperor Babur took the imperial title of Badshah on 6 March 1508, before which he used the title Mirza.[12]

Mughal dynasty

Imperial families of Central India and Bengal

The archaic Bengali form of Mirza was Mridha in Bengal and Bihar.[13]

Royal family of Awadh

Rajput dynasty

Rajputs of Northern India

Originally being adversaries and opponents to the Mughal Emperors, the title Mirza was also adopted by the Muslim Rajputs of Northern India.[14] Many of the Rajput imperial families who were descendants of ancient Hindu warriors who strategically formed blood alliances with Mughal aristocracy. The Rajputs were rulers of princely states comprising vast territories of Northern India, including the Punjab Region, Kashmir and Rajasthan. Inter-marriage between Mughal aristocracy and Rajput aristocracy became very common and various factions of Rajput kingdoms embraced the Islamic faith, giving rise to the term "Muslim Rajputs".[15] Rajput rulers were also granted the title Mirza on account of being high-ranked commanders in the Mughal military.[16] The meaning of Mirza (Persian origin)[17] is identical to the meaning of Rajput (Sanskrit Origin).[18]

Other notable people named Mirza

Sport

Academics and literature

Arts and entertainment

Government

Judges and advocates

Journalists

Military

Nobility and royalty

Other people

See also

Further reading

References

Specific
  • Sources

    • Notes and References

    1. Web site: Mirza Definition. Collins Dictionary. 15 October 2014. n.d..
    2. Web site: Mirza Definition. Dictionary.com. 14 January 2018. n.d..
    3. Web site: Mirza Definition. Merriam-Webster. 14 January 2018. n.d..
    4. Web site: Mirza Definition. Collins Dictionary. 15 October 2014. n.d..
    5. Mitchell. Colin Paul. Josef W. Meri. Josef W. Meri. Timurids. Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopaedia. 2, L-Z, index. 2006. Taylor & Francis. New York. 978-0-415-96692-4. 814.
    6. Soudavar. Abolala. Nikki R. Keddie. Nikki Keddie. Matthee Rudi. The Early Safavids and their Cultural Interactions with Surrounding States. Iran and the Surrounding World: Interactions in Culture and Cultural Politics. 2011. University of Washington Press. Seattle and London. 978-0-295-80024-0. 93.
    7. Book: Khwandamir. Muhammad Khwandamir. Wheeler Thackston. Wheeler Thackston. Habibu's-siyar. III. 1994. Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University. 641.
    8. Book: Herbert. Thomas. Sir Thomas Herbert, 1st Baronet. Butler. John Anthony. Travels in Africa, Persia, and Asia the Great. 2012. ACMRS (Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies). 978-0-86698-475-1. 148.
    9. Book: Shoberl, Frederic. Frederic Shoberl. Persia: Containing a Description of the Country, with an Account of Its Government, Laws, and Religion, and of the Character, Manners and Customs, Arts, Amusements, &c. of Its Inhabitants. 1828. J. Grigg. Philadelphia. 53.
    10. Book: Tāj al-Salṭanah. Zahra Khanom Tadj es-Saltaneh. Abbas Amanat. Abbas Amanat. Crowning Anguish: Memoirs of a Persian Princess from the Harem to Modernity, 1884–1914. 1993. Mage Publishers. 978-0-934211-35-2. 341.
    11. Web site: 10glossary. www.columbia.edu.
    12. pg 24. The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture
    13. The Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque is named for a man known in Mughal records as Khan Muhammad Mirza; see https://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=4450 Mughal dynasty (the Imperial House of Timur "Sarai Mulk Khanam Qutubuddunniya wa Deen Amir Qutubuddin Taimur Baig Sahib-e-kiran").
    14. Web site: History: Muslim Rajputs. Rana M. Ahsan Khan. 21 December 2015.
    15. Lord Lawrence and the Reconstruction of India Under The Crown by Sir Charles Aitcheson, K.C.S.I., M.A., LL.D., Rulers of India series, Clarendon Press 1897, V p117
    16. http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00702051%26ct%3D237%26rqs%3D302%26rqs%3D309%26rqs%3D310 30. Ra´jah Ma´n Singh, son of Bhagwán Dás – Biography
    17. Web site: Mirza Definition. Collins Dictionary. 16 June 2017. n.d..
    18. Encyclopedia: Rajput Definition. Encyclopædia Britannica. 16 June 2017. n.d..

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