List of Iranian titles and ranks

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

Contents

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)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Farrokh, Kaveh. Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War. Osprey Publishing, 2007. Pages 33, 39, 47, 60, 76, 77
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 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 Persian Dictionary
  5. ↑ Dehkhoda Dictionary
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