Servants and Sovereigns of the House of Osman
Sept 12, 2016 18:34:40 GMT
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Post by Sublime Porte on Sept 12, 2016 18:34:40 GMT
Imperial Councillors:
Grand Vezir
The Grand Vezir holds the Sultan's seal and may act with almost complete power of attorney, with the ability to call together a meeting of all other Vezirs 'under the dome' in the council chamber. He is housed at the Sublime Porte itself, and is dismissible only by the Sultan. He is the chief minister of the Ottoman state.
Rumeli Kazasker (Judge of the Soldiers of Rumelia):
One of the two chief judges of the Ottoman Empire, originally a post with a purely military jurisdiction, hence its origins in the name kadi-asker - judge of the soldiers. The Rumeli Kazasker has jurisdiction over European Turkey and its Ottoman subjects.
Anadolu Kazasker (Jude of the Soldiers of Anatolia):
One of the two chief judges of the Ottoman Empire, originally a post with a purely military jurisdiction, hence its origins in the name kadi-asker - judge of the soldiers. The Anadolu Kazasker has jurisdiction over Asia Minor, and the non-European Turks.
Defterdar (Chief Financier)
The Defterdar is the Ottoman Minister of Finance, in charge of the defters (Turkish plural: defterler), a form of land registry and tax register. With a systematic cadastre ('tax-map') of the Ottoman heartlands, the Defterdar has access to information a modern historian would drool over.
Nişancı (Court Calligrapher)
Officially the court calligrapher, the Nishanci also acts as a record-keeper and archivist, and keeps track of all feudal land-grants in the form of the lifelong-Timar grants to military cavalrymen.
Reis ül-Küttab (Chief of the Scribes)
Or simply 'Reis Efendi' was previously subordinate to the Nishanci, but has recently been promoted to the position of de facto foreign minister. The Reis Efendi is the chief of the scribes, and keeps records of all international treaties as well as drafting imperial decrees and diplomas confirming the authority of regional governors, or Beylerbeyler. The Reis Efendi is now the first point-of-call for foreign embassies and queries, due to his immediate access to the source material. This post will later be officially confirmed as 'Foreign Minister' during the nineteenth century.
Kapudan Pasha
Often the preserve of swashbuckling foreign-convert adventurer-pirates, the Kapudan Pasha is the chief of the Ottoman Navy, and often the arch-corsair of the Barbary coast too. The post comes with a substantial income, a prime residence at the imperial arsenal on the Golden Horn, and the governorship of the Eyelet of the Archipelago. However, most holders of the post have little time to settle into their residence, as the demands of the job require constant provincial touring and much time spent abroad. The Kapudan holds the rank of Beylerbey, carrying two or three horse-tail banners.
Silahdar Agha (Arms Bearer)
The Silahdar Agha holds a position close to the Sultan, and accompanies him carrying the sovereign's sword. The Silahdar Agha is also chief of an elite unit of palace guards, known for the yellow flag under which they march.
Kapi Agha (Agha of the Gate)
Also known as the Chief White Eunuch, the Kapi Agha holds an office on the right of the doorway from the Outer Court of the Seraglio, where government takes place, into the Inner Court of the Imperial Household. The Kapi Agha is responsible for admission into the secluded inner sanctum, including the transmission of messages. The Kapi Agha is the administrator of the Palace School and is responsible for raising promising young boys through education into civil service.
Kizlar Agha (Agha of the Girls)
Also known as the Chief Black Eunuch, the Kizlar Agha is often empowered when a powerful Queen Mother or wife is present, as he is the only official able to transmit messages from the world of the women in the House of Felicity into the world of men outside. The Kizlar Agha is incharge of the education of young princes before they reach the age of admission to the Palace School.
Sheikh ul-Islam
A talented kadi is selected from all those within the realm to hold this highest religious office. The Sheikh ul-Islam is the overseer of all qadis (who enforce Islamic law) and Mustis (who interpet it). The Sheikh ul-Islam oversees the functioning of religious education, which is the main form of mass education, and the functioning of charitable and Mosque institutions across the empire. He is able to issue fatwas, advise the Sultan on religious law, and has the power to confirm or deny the coronation of a new Padishah, although is inferior to him once confirmed.
Beylerbey of Rumelia
The governor of Rumelia, who controls most of the European Empire and is one of the two senior military officials in the empire, is present at meetings of the Imperial Council but may only participate when his jurisdiction is discussed.
Beylerbey of Anadolu
The governor of Anatolia is another of the two chief military officials of empire, and likewise sits on the Imperial Council, but is also limited to matters within his jurisdiction.
Grand Vezir
The Grand Vezir holds the Sultan's seal and may act with almost complete power of attorney, with the ability to call together a meeting of all other Vezirs 'under the dome' in the council chamber. He is housed at the Sublime Porte itself, and is dismissible only by the Sultan. He is the chief minister of the Ottoman state.
Rumeli Kazasker (Judge of the Soldiers of Rumelia):
One of the two chief judges of the Ottoman Empire, originally a post with a purely military jurisdiction, hence its origins in the name kadi-asker - judge of the soldiers. The Rumeli Kazasker has jurisdiction over European Turkey and its Ottoman subjects.
Anadolu Kazasker (Jude of the Soldiers of Anatolia):
One of the two chief judges of the Ottoman Empire, originally a post with a purely military jurisdiction, hence its origins in the name kadi-asker - judge of the soldiers. The Anadolu Kazasker has jurisdiction over Asia Minor, and the non-European Turks.
Defterdar (Chief Financier)
The Defterdar is the Ottoman Minister of Finance, in charge of the defters (Turkish plural: defterler), a form of land registry and tax register. With a systematic cadastre ('tax-map') of the Ottoman heartlands, the Defterdar has access to information a modern historian would drool over.
Nişancı (Court Calligrapher)
Officially the court calligrapher, the Nishanci also acts as a record-keeper and archivist, and keeps track of all feudal land-grants in the form of the lifelong-Timar grants to military cavalrymen.
Reis ül-Küttab (Chief of the Scribes)
Or simply 'Reis Efendi' was previously subordinate to the Nishanci, but has recently been promoted to the position of de facto foreign minister. The Reis Efendi is the chief of the scribes, and keeps records of all international treaties as well as drafting imperial decrees and diplomas confirming the authority of regional governors, or Beylerbeyler. The Reis Efendi is now the first point-of-call for foreign embassies and queries, due to his immediate access to the source material. This post will later be officially confirmed as 'Foreign Minister' during the nineteenth century.
Kapudan Pasha
Often the preserve of swashbuckling foreign-convert adventurer-pirates, the Kapudan Pasha is the chief of the Ottoman Navy, and often the arch-corsair of the Barbary coast too. The post comes with a substantial income, a prime residence at the imperial arsenal on the Golden Horn, and the governorship of the Eyelet of the Archipelago. However, most holders of the post have little time to settle into their residence, as the demands of the job require constant provincial touring and much time spent abroad. The Kapudan holds the rank of Beylerbey, carrying two or three horse-tail banners.
Silahdar Agha (Arms Bearer)
The Silahdar Agha holds a position close to the Sultan, and accompanies him carrying the sovereign's sword. The Silahdar Agha is also chief of an elite unit of palace guards, known for the yellow flag under which they march.
Kapi Agha (Agha of the Gate)
Also known as the Chief White Eunuch, the Kapi Agha holds an office on the right of the doorway from the Outer Court of the Seraglio, where government takes place, into the Inner Court of the Imperial Household. The Kapi Agha is responsible for admission into the secluded inner sanctum, including the transmission of messages. The Kapi Agha is the administrator of the Palace School and is responsible for raising promising young boys through education into civil service.
Kizlar Agha (Agha of the Girls)
Also known as the Chief Black Eunuch, the Kizlar Agha is often empowered when a powerful Queen Mother or wife is present, as he is the only official able to transmit messages from the world of the women in the House of Felicity into the world of men outside. The Kizlar Agha is incharge of the education of young princes before they reach the age of admission to the Palace School.
Sheikh ul-Islam
A talented kadi is selected from all those within the realm to hold this highest religious office. The Sheikh ul-Islam is the overseer of all qadis (who enforce Islamic law) and Mustis (who interpet it). The Sheikh ul-Islam oversees the functioning of religious education, which is the main form of mass education, and the functioning of charitable and Mosque institutions across the empire. He is able to issue fatwas, advise the Sultan on religious law, and has the power to confirm or deny the coronation of a new Padishah, although is inferior to him once confirmed.
Beylerbey of Rumelia
The governor of Rumelia, who controls most of the European Empire and is one of the two senior military officials in the empire, is present at meetings of the Imperial Council but may only participate when his jurisdiction is discussed.
Beylerbey of Anadolu
The governor of Anatolia is another of the two chief military officials of empire, and likewise sits on the Imperial Council, but is also limited to matters within his jurisdiction.
