Agas

Agas is the plural form of the historical title aga, used across Turkish and Persianate states to denote a leader, master, or lord. The title itself is typically rendered in English as agha, aga, or agha. The word derives from Turkic and Persian roots meaning “lord” or “master” and spread through Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal spheres of influence.

Historically, agas held various offices, including military command, provincial administration, and household leadership. The exact rank and privileges varied by region and period; agas could be local governors, regimental officers, or trusted aides to higher officials. The title signified social status and loyalty to a ruler rather than a standardized bureaucratic rank.

In modern usage, agas appear primarily in historical texts. The form remains in some languages as an honorific and, less commonly, as a surname or element of compound titles. In English-language writing, the plural agas (and the variant aghas) can appear in references to multiple individuals bearing the title. Related terms include Agha and Aga Khan, reflecting the broader family of titles that originated in Turkic and Persian-speaking cultures.