Hazinedar or Haznadar[1] (from Persian: خزینه‌دار, lit. 'treasurer'[note 1]) is a title in Ottoman Empire hierarchy. Depending on the suffix or prefix it had different meanings. The English language translation of the word is a treasurer.[2]

Treasurer

Hazinedar Agha

The chief hazinedar headed the personnel of the sultan's treasury.[3] Hazinedars subordinated to the chief hazinedar had a title of hazinedar kalfa. Kalfa is Turkish for 'apprentice'. Hazinedar agha was the title of the chief eunuch treasurer.[4]

Lord (housemistress) of the sultan's palace and harem

The high hazinedar or first hazinedar or hazinedar usta was a title for the housemistress of the sultan's palace, the most influential person after the prince. There were other hazinedars in the Ottoman hierarchy (the second, third...) who were subordinated to the first hazinedar, hence referred to as usta ('superintendent').[5] Only the first hazinedar could approach the sultan and other nobility, while the second, third and other hazinedars served the first hazenidar.[6]

Note

  1. ^ Etymologically, a compound word originated from the Arabic noun خزینة, lit. 'treasure', and Persian verbal suffixoid -دار, lit. 'holder, owner', i.e. indicating ownership. More etymological info on: Wikt: خزينة, Wikt: دار, and Wikt: -dar. Also: Wikt: hazinedar.


References

  1. ^ Gilson, Erika Hitzigrath (1987). The Turkish grammar of Thomas Vaughan: Ottoman-Turkish at the end of the XVIIth century according to an English "Transkriptionstext". O. Harrassowitz. p. 167. ISBN 978-3-447-02759-5.
  2. ^ Rastrow, A.A. (1 December 2002). Rahnama Turkish-English-Persian Dictionary. Alhoda UK. p. 191. ISBN 978-964-6054-70-7.
  3. ^ Bulgarian historical review. Publishing House of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 1998. p. 57.
  4. ^ Vahit, Ahmet (1945). Türkçe-İngilizce sözlük: A Turkish-English dictionary. Kâğit ve Başim Ísleri. p. 465. hazinedar-aga, (formerly) chief eunuch treasurer; treasurer of a grandee.
  5. ^ The Concubine, the Princess, and the Teacher: Voices from the Ottoman Harem. University of Texas Press. 1 January 2010. pp. 176, 166. ISBN 978-0-292-78335-5.
  6. ^ Orientalnej, Uniwersytet Jagielloński. Instytut Filologii (2005). Turks and non-Turks: studies on the history of linguistic and cultural contacts. Institute of Oriental Philology Jagiellonian University. p. 524. ISBN 978-83-7188-891-5. The head of them had the title of hazinedar usta. Only hazinedar usta could sit near the Sultan and the other ones, the second hazinedar and the third hazinedar, served him.
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