VIZIR, or VEZIR, is the name of the ministers of the sultan of the Turkish empire, and is also given as a title of honour to several other high functionaries, civil as well as military. The word is of Arabic origin, and means literally "the bearer of a burden," as vezr designates "the action of bearing or carrying a burden." Some write teazir, or rads.; but this is nut correct. From vizor, a substantive which expresses the action of supporting a prince in the administration of his empire, is formed vizefret, the dignity or function of a vizir, which we generally call vizirat. There are two plurals of vizir : the Turkish plural, viztrler, which is the common ; and the Arabic plural, razerk, which occurs In imperial decrees, as for instance, in " vezeral " the illustrious grand vizirs." The post of a prime minister, who directs state affairs when the sovereign either will not or is prevented from doing it, is a very ancient institution in the East ; and the lieutenant of a king was called vizir by the Arabs long before this title was adopted by the Turks-Osumnlis. The first Turkish vizir was the celebrated 'ALI-ed-din, the son of Osman, founder of the Turkish empire, who was appointed to the post of prime minister by his brother, Sultan Urkhan, in eat 726 (A.D. 1326). Until the reign of Mahmond IL the grand vizir was almost the sole minister ; but his power was then much circumscribed. He is now only the bead of the ministry, and the other ministers have distinct departments and titles, as in European governments. At first there was only one vizir. But Titnur-Taah (Ironstone), a general of Mitrad I., having gained a great victory over the Turks-Seljuke of Caramanta in A.II. 783 (a.n. 1386), his master gave him the title of vizir, and the then vizir, 'Ali Pasha, was created "vizir 'azim,"—that is, the great or illustrious vizir. From this time the number of vizirs was gradually augmented Mohammed H. had seven: Miirad III., six ; Miirad IV., nine; but
from the time of Ahmed Ill. there were only seven vizirs who were real ministers. The title of vizir is likewise given to the'llegler-Beys, or governors, of Rumelia, Anatolia, and Damascus, to the four high judges, the grand equerry, the sirdar, or field-marshal, the chief muter of the forests, and to several other high functionaries ; and In former times it was given to the silihdar, or armbearcr of the sultan, and to the agha of the janissaries, two dignities which are now abolished. Sometimes, also, this title is conferred upon governors of Sanjaks, as was the case with the famous 'Ali Pasha of Janina, after his victories over the French in 1793. The title is now considered as ranking next below that of Mushir, or field-marshal. The insignia of a vizir are a splendid dress of velvet embroidered with gold, pearls, and precious stones, a turban with an ornament of diamonds, and a standard, to the top of which are attached three horsetails, and which is carried before them by an officer : hence the title of pasha of three tails, which is identical with vizir. The dress of the grand vizir is still more mag nificent than that of the common vizirs, from whom he is distinguished by several privileges : he receives the solemn visits of all the high functionaries, including the common vizirs; he commands the centre of the army in battle; and, except the sultan, be is the only person who is saluted with the " alki.sh," a kind of benediction pronounced by those who appear in the presence of the grand vizir. The words of the " alkish " are, " Allah ornerier were efendtimilze !" (God give a long life to our master !) (Hammer, Des Osmanischen Reiches Staatseerfassang, &c.; Gewhichtc des Osmanischen Rciches; Kieffer et Bianchi, Dictionnatre Tark-Ranrais, sub. voo. Vizir ' and Alkish.)