Mirza

Mirza (/ˈmɜːrzə/ or /mɪərˈzɑː/; Persian: میرزا‎)[1][lower-alpha 1] is a name of Persian origin. It is used as a surname or prefix to identify patriarchal lineage.

For other uses, see Mirza (disambiguation).

Part of a series on
Imperial, royal and noble ranks in West, Central, South Asia and North Africa
Emperor: Caliph · King of Kings · Shahanshah · Padishah · Sultan of Sultans · Chakravarti · Chhatrapati · Samrat · Khagan
High King: Great King · Sultan · Maharaja · Beg Khan · Amir al-umara · Khagan Bek · Nawab
King: Malik · Emir · Hakim · Sharif · Shah · Shirvanshah · Raja · Khan · Dey · Nizam · Nawab
Grand Duke: Khedive · Nawab · Wāli · Yabghu
Crown Prince: Shahzada · Mirza · Nawabzada · Yuvraj · Vali Ahd · Prince of the Sa'id · Mir · Tegin
Prince or Duke: Emir · Sheikh · Ikhshid · Pasha · Babu Saheb · Sardar · Rajkumar · Sahibzada · Nawab · Nawabzada · Yuvraj · Nizam · Sardar · Thakur · Şehzade · Mirza · Morza · Shad
Noble Prince: Sahibzada
Earl or Count: Mankari · Dewan Bahadur · Rao Bahadur · Rai Bahadur · Khan Bahadur · Beylerbey · Atabeg
Viscount: Zamindar · Khan Sahib · Bey · Baig or Begum · Begzada · Uç bey
Baron: Lala · Agha · Hazinedar
Royal house: Damat
Nobleman: Zamindar · Mankari · Mirza · Pasha · Bey · Baig · Begzada · al-Dawla
Governmental: Lala · Agha · Hazinedar

It is derived from a historical title of Persian origin (Mīrzā),[2] denoting the rank of a royal prince,[3] high nobleman,[4] distinguished military commander,[5] or a scholar.[6]

Specifically, it was used as a title by and today signifies patriarchal lineage to the various Persian Empires, the Shirvanshahs and Circassians of the Caucasus, and mainly the Mughals / Moguls or Muslim Rajputs of the Indian Subcontinent.[7] It was also a title bestowed upon members of the highest aristocracies in Tatar states, such as the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan and the Nogai Horde.

Etymology

The word Mīrzā or Merzāh is derived from the Persian term Amīrzādeh which literally means child of the Amīr or child of the ruler.[8] Amīrzādeh in turn consists of the Arabic title Amīr (English: Emir), meaning "commander" and the Persian suffix zādeh, meaning "son of" or "lineage of".[9] Due to vowel harmony in Turkic languages, the alternative pronunciation Morza (plural morzalar; derived from the Persian) is also used.

Royal Title

The titles themselves were given by the Kings, Sultans and Emperors (equivalent to the western Fount of honour) to their sons and grandsons, or even distant kins. Noblemen loyal to the kings also received this Title.

The title itself is derived from the title Emir. Emir, meaning "commander" or "Prince", is derived from the Semitic root "Amr", meaning "command". Originally it simply meant "commander" or "leader", usually in reference to a group of people. It came to be used as a title of governors or rulers, typically in smaller states, and usually renders the English word "prince". The word entered English in 1595, from the French émir.[10]

Persian Empires
Meeting between Babur Mirza and Sultan Ali Mirza near Samarqand
Alqas Mirza meeting Suleiman the Magnificent. Illustration from the Süleymanname.

Safavid dynasty

Afsharid dynasty

Qajar dynasty

Shirvanshahs

Three consecutive titular kings of Shirvan, of the Shirvanshah Dynasty (present-day Azerbaijan), adopted the title as well following the death of Gurban Ali.

Circassians

Circassian Dynasty

The hereditary title of Mirza was adopted by the nobility class of the Circassians. Idar of Kabardia, also known as "Mirza Haydar Temruk Bey", was the great-grandson of Prince Inal – Sultan of Egypt the founder of the "Temruk dynasty" of the Kabardian princes, known in Russia as the "Cherkassky" a Circassian princely family.

Circassian nobility with the name Mirza include:

Princely Issues:

  • Temruk Mirza (ca. 1501 – 1571)
  • Kambulat Mirza (ca. 1510 – 1589)
  • Zhelegot Mirza (ca. 1520- ?)

Russian Empire

Under Catherine the Great, empress of Russia, the Mirzas gained equal rights with the Russian nobility due to their extreme wealth. Abdul Mirza was given the title Prince Yusupov, and his descendant Prince Felix Yusupov married Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia, the only niece of Tsar Nicholas II.

Mughal Empire
Babur Mirza (born Mirza Zahiruddin), first emperor of Mughal Dynasty.[11]
Akbar Mirza (born Mirza Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad), one of the most popular Mughal kings of India, known as "Akbar the Great".
Mirzas of the Mughal imperial family, c. 1878.[12]

In the Indian subcontinent, the title Mirza was borne by an imperial prince. It was adopted as part of ones name, implying relationship to the Turk dynasties like the Mughal Dynasty (the Imperial House of Timur).[13] In the traditional naming sequence of the Indian royal families, the title can be placed both before the name and after it, such as Prince Mirza Mughal or Prince Kamran Mirza. Prince Khusrau Mirza was the grandson of Emperor Babur (Babur Mirza), son of Emperor Jahangir and a brother of Emperor Shah Jahan. Emperor Akbar Shah II was known as Prince Mirza Akbar before his coronation. Emperor Babur took the imperial title of Padishah on 6 March 1508, before which he used the title Mirza.[14]

Mughal Dynasty of Northern India

Royal Family of Bengal

Imperial Families of Central India and Bengal The archaic Bengali form of Mirza was Mridha in Bengal and Bihar.[15]

  • Mirza Shuja ud-din Muhammad Khan, second Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  • Mirza Asadullah, third Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  • Mirza Muhammad Ali, fourth Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  • Mirza Mohammad Siraj, fifth Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  • Mirza Hassan Ali Khan Bahadur, 18th Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  • Mirza Wasif Ali Khan, 19th Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  • Mirza Waris Ali Khan, 20th Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

Royal Family of Awadh
Further information: Nawab of Awadh

Rajput Dynasty

Rajputs of Northern India

Originally being adversaries and opponents to the Mughal Emperors of Northern India, the title Mirza was also adopted by the Muslim Rajputs of Northern India.[16] The Rajput imperial families were descendants of ancient Indo-Aryan warriors who strategically formed blood alliances with Mughal aristocracy. The Rajputs were rulers of princely states comprising vast territories of Northern India, including the Punjab Region, Kashmir and Rajasthan. Inter-marriage between Mughal aristocracy and Rajput aristocracy became very common and various factions of Rajput kingdoms embraced the Islamic faith, giving rise to the term "Muslim Rajputs".[17] Rajput rulers were also granted the title Mirza on account of being high-ranked commanders in the Mughal military.[18] The meaning of Mirza (Persian origin)[19] is identical to the meaning of Rajput (Sanskrit Origin).[20]

Other notable Mirzas

Sport

Academics and literature
  • Heidi Safia Mirza (born 1958), British academic
  • Iraj Mirza, Persian folk poet, also known as Jalaal-al-mamalek.
  • Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, tax-collector and administrator from northern India, writer of an early travel guide to Europe.
  • Mirza Athar Baig is a Pakistani novelist, playwright and short story writer.
  • Mirza Gʻafur Gʻulom, Uzbek poet, writer, and literary translator, considered one of the most influential Uzbek writers of the 20th century.
  • Mirza Ghalib (born Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan), an Urdu and Persian poet from South Asia who adorned the Mughal court.
  • Mirza Kalich Beg, Sindhi writer.
  • Mirza Khan of "Mirza & Sahiba", a tragic romance story, based on true events, which is enshrined in Punjabi literature and commonly told in the Punjab region. Mirza of "Mirza & Sahiba" was of Kharal Muslim Rajput / Muslim Jat tribe of Puar Rajput descent.
  • Muhammad Munawwar Mirza, a prominent scholar, historian, writer and intellectual from Pakistan.
  • Nawab Mirza Khan "Daagh", Urdu poet.
  • Mirza Beigh Family from Jammu & Kashmir's Srinagar district have immensely worked and contributed for Shia Literature under the genre of elegy commonly called "Kashmiri noha". Some of noted family members include Mirza Abdul Ghani Beigh, Mirza Manzoor Hussain Beigh and Mirza Sharafat Hussain Beigh.[21]

Entertainment
  • Aziz Mirza (born 1947), Indian film director, producer and writer.
  • Dia Mirza, Indian actress and former "Miss Asia Pacific" titleholder.
  • Mastan Haider Mirza, Indian Mafia boss, mobster and filmmaker; popularly known as the first "celebrity gangster" of Bombay.
  • Mirza Babayev, Azerbaijani movie actor and singer. Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR and People's Artist of Azerbaijan.
  • Mirza Nadeem Baig Mirza Nazeer Baig Mughal better known by his stage name Nadeem Baig, a Pakistani actor, singer and producer.
  • Mohib Mirza is a Pakistani actor and television host.
  • Saeed Mirza, Indian film director and screenwriter, considered one of the most influential parallel cinema movie makers in India.

Arts

Government

Judges and advocates
  • Jerome Mirza (1937-2007), was a prominent American lawyer, barrister, published author and philanthropist. A native of Chicago, he was a prominent member of the Illinois legal community from the early 1960s until his passing. He ran a multi-million dollar legal practice, was the former president of the Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, founded the Jerome Mirza College of Advocacy at Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois and published numerous legal textbooks, including "Winning Litigation the Mirza Way". He is survived by the Jerome Mirza Foundation and Mirza and Associates, which continues to operate as a prominent boutique law firm in Illinois.
  • Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig, Former Vice Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council.
  • Zafar Hussain Mirza, Pakistani judge and the father of former Home Minister of Sindh Zulfiqar Mirza.

Journalist

Military
  • Mirza Ahmed Bey, one of the original [Mughal] soldiers of the famed "Hodson's Horse" regiment of the British Indian Army, pictured in the historical 1858 photograph. He was a descendant of Mirza Hakim Bey, after whom the Indian village Hakimpur, Gurdaspur District is named.
  • Mirza Aslam Baig a Former Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan.
  • Mirza Ghulam Murtaza was the chieftain of Qadian and a commander withn the Sikh Army.
  • Mirza Kuchak Khan was a Persian revolutionary who led the Jungle Movement in the northern jungles of Gilan Province.

Nobility

Movies
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See also

Further reading
  • Life of a Mirza Chapter 7 (pg 225–227) The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture (2004) by Annemarie Schimmel ISBN 1-86189-185-7
  • Mirzah in The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable By Ebenezer Cobham Brewer: The quintessential guide to myth, folklore, legend, legend and literature. ISBN 1-84022-310-3
  • MI’RZA Chambers's Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge For the People. ISBN 1-149-98693-X
  • A. Jaimoukha The Circassians: A Handbook Routledge, Palgrave, 2001, pp 157–60 ISBN 0-312-23994-7

Footnotes
  1. Persian: میرزا; Azeri: Mirzə; Tajik: Мирзо; Uzbek: Mirzo; Russian: мурза; Bashkir: mïrða; Circassian: мырзэ (common variance in Tatar nobility as Morza); Urdu: مرزا; Punjabi: مرزا

References
Specific
  1. "Mirza Definition". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. "Mirza Definition". Dictionary.com. n.d. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. "Mirza Definition". Dictionary.com. n.d. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. "Mirza Definition". Merriam-Webster. n.d. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  5. "Mirza Definition". Merriam-Webster. n.d. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  6. "Mirza Definition". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  7. "History". Rana M. Ahsan Khan. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  8. "Mirza Definition". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  9. "Mirza Definition". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  10. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=amir&searchmode=none EtymologyOnLine
  11. World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 4th Edition Outlines – Chapter 21: The Muslim Empires. Longman. 2003.
  12. A photo from 'The People of India', published from 1868 to the early 1870s by WH Allen, for the India Office
  13. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00urdu/hali/majalis/10glossary.html
  14. pg 24. The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture
  15. The Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque is named for a man known in Mughal records as Khan Muhammad Mirza; see https://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=4450 Archived 17 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine Mughal dynasty (the Imperial House of Timur "Sarai Mulk Khanam Qutubuddunniya wa Deen Amir Qutubuddin Taimur Baig Sahib-e-kiran").
  16. "History: Muslim Rajputs". Rana M. Ahsan Khan. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  17. Lord Lawrence and the Reconstruction of India Under The Crown by Sir Charles Aitcheson, K.C.S.I., M.A., LL.D., Rulers of India series, Clarendon Press 1897, V p117
  18. 30. Ra´jah Ma´n Singh, son of Bhagwán Dás – Biography Archived 7 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine Ain-i-Akbari, Vol. I.
  19. "Mirza Definition". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  20. "Rajput Definition". Encyclopædia Britannica. n.d. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  21. Justice, Hakim Imtiyaz; Hussain (2017). The Shi'as of Jammu & Kashmir. Srinagar Jammu & Kashmir: Srinagar Publishing House. pp. 508–509.
Sources
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