Ottoman honorifics were not constant in meaning throughout the span of the empire; the definitions given below were, broadly, current until the late eighteenth century – if not beyond – but the list cannot hope to be exhaustive.
Most high-ranking Ottoman officials were accorded nicknames: some of these referred to a pronounced physical characteristic; others derived from the individual’s reputation; yet others were an indication of place of origin (most of the latter end in -lı/li or -lu/lü). It is clear from contemporary sources that some of these nicknames were bestowed while the individual was still alive, but others were awarded subsequently. An example of the latter is Sultan Süleyman I’s soubriquet ‘Lawgiver’, which did not enter common usage until after his death.
Agha: used for the commanders of the sultan’s regiments, notably the commander-in-chief of the janissaries, and also for the chief black eunuch – the head of the sultan’s private household – among others
Bailo: used by the Venetians for an envoy or ambassador, particularly Venice’s representative at the sultan’s court
Bey: military commander; ruler of emirate; later, senior civil functionary
Çelebi: respectful title informally given to men of letters
Despot: used by Byzantine and other Christian princes in the Balkans
Efendi: respectful title similar in meaning to Çelebi; also used for religious functionaries; in the nineteenth century used as equivalent to ‘Monsieur’
Emir: Muslim tribal or princely ruler of a small state (emirate)
Hetman: title used by the Cossack chief or leader; Polish military commander
Hoca: used for religious functionaries
Kadi: judge and notary
Khan: used by Tatar rulers, of the Crimea in particular
Mirza: title of Iranian princes
Pasha: highest title accorded to military commanders or statesmen
Reis: title of naval commanders
Sultan: ruler with supreme authority; also used for princes and senior females of the Ottoman house
Vezir: title of the sultan’s ministers, with both military and political authority; the grand vezir was the most senior of these
Voyvode: used by the the rulers of Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia