Pasha Was a Rank Written After the Name
A pasha was a high Ottoman official. Unlike most titles, it followed the name rather than preceding it.
A pasha was a high-ranking official of the Ottoman Empire, roughly equivalent to a governor or general. The title followed the name rather than preceding it, so it was Ali Pasha, never Pasha Ali โ the opposite of Lord or Sir in English. Rank was shown by the number of horsetails carried before the holder, from one to three. Turkey abolished the title in 1934 along with all other Ottoman honours.
- An Ottoman official. *Ali Pasha.*
- A governor or general. *The pasha of Egypt.*
- Horsetails โ the rank marker. *Three horsetails.*
- Vizier โ a senior minister. *The grand vizier.*
- Abolished 1934 โ with other titles. *Abolished in 1934.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | pasha | A pasha. |
| Plural | pashas | Two pashas. |
| Variant | pacha | Also spelled pacha. |
| Turkish | paลa | Pasha. |
| Related | bashaw | An old English form. |
- He was appointed pasha of the province.Office.
- The title followed the name.Usage.
- Rank was shown by horsetails.Insignia.
Ottoman titles in English
- Pasha โ a governor or general
- Vizier โ a minister; the grand vizier headed the government
- Bey โ a lower rank, originally a chieftain
- Agha โ a commander, especially of the janissaries
- Sultan โ the ruler himself
Turkish *paลa*, probably from *baล*, head, or from Persian *padishah*, a ruler. English recorded it from the 1600s.
Was pasha written before or after the name?
After. It was Ali Pasha, never Pasha Ali, the opposite of English titles such as Lord.
Is the title still used?
No. Turkey abolished Ottoman titles in 1934, though the word survives informally for a domineering person.