an important government official in some Muslim countries in the past (vezier, from wazir). Arabic wazr Chief minister of the Abbsid caliphs and later a high government official in various Muslim countries. The office was originally held and defined by the Barmakids in the 8th century; they acted as the caliph's representative to the public, later serving a similar function for various sultans. In the Ottoman Empire the title could be held by several people at once; under Mehmed II the position of grand vizier, the absolute representative of the sultan, was created
A high-ranking official or minister in an Islamic government, especially in the Ottoman Empire
A councilor of state; a high executive officer in Turkey and other Oriental countries
[vi zEEr, viz yuhr] Ottoman equivalent of the Abbasid wazir; head of the Ottoman bureaucracy; after 15th century often more powerful than sultan (p 616)
The chief minister of Egypt answerable only to the pharaoh He was responsible for the day-to-day running of the country In the New Kingdom there were two viziers - one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower Egypt The position became less important in the Late Period
Civilian title and office in the Ancient Egypt, highest rank below the pharaoh in the early Old Kingdom No military function was assigned