Padishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah (Persian پادشاه Pādishāh) is a very prestigious title, which is composed from the Persian words Pati 'master' and the better-known title Shāh "King", which was adopted by several Islamic monarchies claiming the highest rank, roughly equivalent to Christian Emperors or the Ancient notion of Great King. Farsi redirects here. ... A title is a prefix or suffix added to a persons name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. ... Shah (شاه) is a Persian (Farsi) term for a monarch (king or emperor) that has been adopted in many other languages. ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( â–¶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... For the documentary series, see Monarchy (TV series). ...

History of Islamic monarchies

The rulers on the following thrones, the first three effectively commanding major Muslim empires, were styled Padishah:

• The Shahanshah of Iran (King of Kings of Persia), also recognized by some Shia Muslims as the rightful Caliph (a claim of universal rule, as their Zoroastrian Sassanid predecessors did often express by inserting in their title 'of Iran and Aniran (i.e. the rest of the world)').
• The Great Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, also claiming the title of Caliph (the highest religious authority, as successor to the Prophet Mohammed), recognized by most Sunni Muslims; his Persian arch-rival was Shiite).
• Over most of the Indian subcontinent (where there also was a Sanskritised version, Patisaha), the Mughal Sultan of Delhi as head of the vast (later British Indian) Moghul Empire. The title was also used by Muslim rulers over smaller parts of that subcontinent:
  • His challenger Tipu Sultan (in full Padshah bahadur; the addition bahadur, originally Mongolian for 'brave', always signifies a slightly higher rank, implicitely proclaiming himself the Mughal's superior) in Khudadad (in fact the realm of Mysore, which his father and he took over from the Hindu Maharaja, and neighbouring conquests), respected by the British as a valid military adversary but crushed (for siding with London's French rivals). He was killed in 1799.
  • A former vassal of Delhi, the former Nawab (i.e. Mughal governor, turned hereditary prince) of Avadh(Oudh), who assumed independence at the instigation of the colonial paramount power, who in turn established a protectorate over him, ended the Mughal rule (by then merely nominal) and finally would claim imperial rank in chief of India for their own royal dynasty;
  • Miangul Golshahzada Abdul Wadud (predecessor styled Amir-i shariat, successors (Khan and) Wali) of the tiny (one valley) Pakistani North West Frontier state of Swat called himself badshah from November 1918 to March 1926.^[1]
• In Afghanistan, Ahmed Shah Duranni founded the Durrani Empire in 1747 with the title ''Pādshah-i Afghanistan in Persian Dari, then Da Afghanistan Bacha in the Pashto language. The Sadozai were overthrown in 1823 but there was a brief restoration by Shoja Shah in 1839. The title went dormant after his assassination in 1842 until 1926 when Amanullah Khan resurrected it (official from 1937) and was finally laid to rest with the abdication of Mohammed Zahir Shah in 1973 following a coup; at other times the Afghan monarchy used the style Emir (Amir al-Momenin) or Malik=King. ^[2]
• The last Basha bey of Tunisia, Muhammad (VIII) al-Amin (ruling since 15 May 1943), adopted the sovereign style padshah 20 March 1956 - 25 July 1957.

The paramount prestige of this title, in Islam and even beyond, is clearly apparent from the Ottoman Empire's dealings with the (predominantly Christian) European powers. As the Europeans and the Russians gradually drove the Turks from the Balkans, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, they insisted—even at the cost of delaying the end of hostilities—on the usage of the title 'Padishah' for themselves in the Turkish versions of their treaties with the High Porte, as acknowledgement that their Christian emperors were in all diplomatic and protocollary capacities the equal of the Turkish ruler, who by his religious paramount office in Islam (Caliph) had a theoretical claim of universal sovereignty (at least among Sunnites). Darius the Great, the first to bear the title Shahanshah. ... King of Kings is a lofty title that has been used by several monarchies (usually empires in the informal sense of great powers) throughout history, and in many cases the literal title meaning King of Kings, i. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... For main article see: Caliphate The Caliph (pronounced khaleef in Arabic) is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Sharia. ... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ... The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty (Persian: []) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian Empire (226–651). ... Aniran (in Middle-Persian انيران pronounced An-Iran meaning region non-Iran). ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Ottoman redirects here. ... For main article see: Caliphate The Caliph (pronounced khaleef in Arabic) is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Sharia. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic title, with several historical meanings. ... For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Portrait of Tippu Sultan, 1792 Tippu (Tips) Sultan (full name Sultan Fateh Ali Tippu), also known as the Tiger of Mysore (November 20, 1750, Devanahalli – May 4, 1799, Srirangapattana), was the first son of Haidar Ali by his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-nissa. ... Khudadad was the name of the radical Muslim empire established in a large part of India by Tipu Sultan, the son of Hyder Ali, based in the -usurped- former Hindu princely state of Mysore, which intended to unseat the Mughal empire which it considered weak and no longer truely Islamic... , For other uses, see Mysore (disambiguation). ... Bhavna says there are 300 million gods in Hinduism. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Look up vassal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the scientific journal Heredity see Heredity (journal) Heredity (the adjective is hereditary) is the transfer of characters from parent to offspring, either through their genes or through the social institution called inheritance (for example, a title of nobility is passed from individual to individual according to relevant customs and... The term prince, from the Latin root princeps, is used for a member of the highest ranks of the aristocracy or the nobility. ... Awadh (also known to the British as Oudh) is a region in the center of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... Anthem God Save The King The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (until 1912), New Delhi (after 1912) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy²  - 1858... This article is about states protected and/or dominated by a foreign power. ... The State of Swat was a princely state which existed in the north of the modern North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan until it was dissolved in 1969. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ahmad Shah Durrani Ahmad Shah Abdali (c. ... The Durrani Empire was a larger state that included modern Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of eastern Iran and western India. ... Year 1747 (MDCCXLVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Pashto (پښتو; also known as Afghan, Pushto, Pashto, Pashtoe, Pashtu, and Pukhto) is the language spoken by the ethnic Afghan otherwise known as the Pashtun people who inhabit Afghanistan and the Western provinces of Pakistan. ... The Sadozai are a lineage of the Popalzay clan of the Abdali tribe of the Pashtun. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Shoja Shah was a member of Afghanistans Barakzay dynasty, a ruler who ousted Mahmud Shah from power. ... 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... King Amanullah Khan Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan (June 1, 1892 - April 25, 1960) was the ruler of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Insert non-formatted text here Mohammed Zahir Shah (16 October 1914 – 23 July 2007) was the last King (Shah) of Afghanistan, reigning for four decades, from 1933 to 1973. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Entrance to the emirs palace in Bukhara. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Melik. ... Basha is: Basha, a brand of waterproof sheet Basha, a South Indian movie starring Rajni Kanth. ... Bey is originally a Turkish[1][2] word for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “Sovereign” redirects here. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Ottoman redirects here. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Bab-ı Ali in Ottoman times Synonym of the government of the Ottoman Empire . ... An emperorrefers to Nick Herringshaw, a title, empress may only indicate the wife of an emperor (empress consort. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... For main article see: Caliphate The Caliph (pronounced khaleef in Arabic) is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Sharia. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ...

The compound Pādshah-i-Ghazi 'Victorious Emperor' is only recorded for two individual rulers: Ghazi (March 21, 1912 - April 4, 1939) was king of Iraq from 1933 to 1939. ...

• H.M. Ahmad Shah Bahadur, Padshah-i-Ghazi, Dur-i-Durran ('pearl of pearls'), Padshah of Khorasan (today Afghanistan) 1747 - 1772
• H.H. Rustam-i-Dauran, Aristu-i-Zaman, Asaf Jah IV, Muzaffar ul-Mamaluk, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Farkhunda 'Ali Khan Bahadur [Gufran Manzil], Sipah Salar, Fath Jang, Ayn waffadar Fidvi-i-Senliena, Iqtidar-i-Kishwarsitan Muhammad Akbar Shah Padshah-i-Ghazi, Nizam of Hyderabad 1829 - 1857

Note that as many titles, the word was also often used as a name, either by nobles with other (in this case always lower) styles, or even by commoners

Map showing the pre-2004 Khorasan Province in Iran Khorasan (Persian: خراسان) (also transcribed as Khurasan and Khorassan, anciently called Traxiane during Hellenistic and Parthian times is currently a region located in north eastern Iran, but historically referred to a much larger area east and north-east of the Persian Empire... The Nizam of Hyderabads coat of arms Nizam-ul-Mulk, commonly shortened to Nizam, was the title taken by the Asif Jahi rulers of Hyderabad state in India. ... (In the context of property law, title refers to ownership or documents of ownership; see title (property). ... The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... A commoner, in British law, is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a noble. ...

Fictional usage

In Frank Herbert's Dune series, the Padishah Emperor, also commonly referred to as "Emperor of the Known Universe" or "Emperor of a Million Worlds", was the supreme ruler of humanity, whose power was checked by the Spacing Guild, the Bene Gesserit and the Landsraad, until Paul-Muad'dib took control of Arrakis as the Mentat Emperor. The fictional Dune universe, or Duniverse, is the political, scientific, and social setting of author Frank Herberts six-book Dune series of science fantasy novels. ... Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, portrayed by Giancarlo Giannini in the Dune miniseries The Padishah Emperor was the title of the hereditary rulers of the Padishah Empire in Frank Herberts fictional Dune universe. ... The Spacing Guild is a fictional organization in Frank Herberts Dune universe created in a series of science fiction novels starting in Dune and ending with Chapterhouse Dune. ... The Bene Gesserit (as seen in the prologue of an alternate version of the David Lynch Dune film. ... The Landsraad was a fictional organisation in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. ... Paul Atreides, as portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan in David Lynchs Dune (1985), wielding the infamous Weirding Module. Paul Orestes Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. ... Arrakis, (الراقص ar-rāqiṣ, the dancer) later Rakis (informally known as Dune) is a fictional desert planet featured in the Dune series of novels by Frank Herbert; it is the home of the Fremen (Zensunni wanderers) and later, the Imperial Capital under the Atreides Empire. ... A Mentat is a fictional profession or discipline in Frank Herberts Dune universe. ...

Sources and references

• RoyalArk – Select present country, then choose dynasty from its menu
• WorldStatesmen idem; more cases but less thorough
• Bartbleby.com Dictionary&Etymology

See also

• Shah
• Shahanshah
• Sultan