List of Iranian titles and ranks

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]

Asabari

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]

Paygospanan

Provincial military commanders^[2]

Arteshtaran-Salar (Achaemenid term)

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 king^[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

Shaazdeh

Prince, used specifically to refer to Qajar princes

By people

Kurds

Peshmerga

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

Royal titles

Shah

King

Shahanshah

King of Kings

Keyaksar(Cyaxares)

The one high King

Padishah

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)

References