vizier

A vizier is a high-ranking political adviser or minister who runs governmental affairs and serves as the ruler's chief adviser in many Muslim-majority states and other pre-modern empires. The term denotes the senior official responsible for administration, finance, and diplomacy, and its exact powers varied widely over time and place.

The word comes from Arabic wazir, meaning 'one who bears a burden' or 'guardian.' It was adopted into Persian as vazir and spread to Turkish as vezir, in Indian languages as wazir, and in European languages as vizier. The title acquired a symbolic and practical function across distinct polities.

In practice, viziers often headed the central administration, presiding over important councils, directing finances and the judiciary, and coordinating military affairs. They could act as regents for underage or incapacitated rulers and, in some regimes, wield de facto power equal to or greater than the ruler.

Historical examples include the Ottoman grand vizier, who led the government under the sultan; the Mughal wazirs in India; and the viziers of the Seljuk and Timurid realms. A famous medieval vizier is Nizam al-Mulk, whose policies shaped the Seljuk state. The role varied from prime minister to powerful administrator, sometimes ceremonial.

In modern times, the office is largely historical, with many states replacing it by constitutional cabinets or ministerial systems. The term survives mainly in historical writing or in fantasy literature and some modern titles modeled on the historical office.