Mirza (/mrz/ or /mz/)[1][a] is a historical title of Persian origin, denoting the rank of a
high nobleman or Prince. It is usually defined in English as a royal or imperial Prince of the
Blood.
Today, Mirza is used as a name to identify patriarchal lineage to royal aristocracies of Eastern
Europe, Central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. Historically, it was used as a title by and
signified patriarchal lineage to the imperial families of the Turkish
Empire,Persia, Circassia, Shirvan, Mughals (aka Moguls) and Muslim Rajputs.[2] It was also a title
bestowed upon members of the highest aristocracies in Tatar states, such as
the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan.
Under Catherine the Great, empress of Russia, the Mirzas gained equal rights with the Russian
nobility due to their extreme wealth. In return, the Mirzas financed her Russo-Turkish war against
the Ottoman Empire.[3] Abdul Mirza was given the title Prince Yusupov, and his descendant
Prince Felix Yusupov married Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia, the only niece of
Tsar Nicholas II.
Contents
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1Etymology
2Persian Kingdom
3Nobility of Circassia
4Shirvanshahs
5Mughal Dynasty of India
o
5.1Imperial Family of Hindustan (India)
6Rajputs of North India
6.1Rajputs
6.2Jatts
7Imperial Families of Central India and Bengal
o
7.1Royal Family of Bengal
7.2Royal Family of Awadh
8Notable Mirzas
o
8.1Academics and literature
8.2Advocate
8.3Arts
8.4Government
8.5Military
8.6Nobility
8.7Sport
9See also
10Further reading
11Footnotes
12References
Etymology[edit]
The word Mrz is derived from the Persian term Amrzde which literally means "child of the
Amr" or "child of the ruler" in Persian.[4] Amrzd in turn consists of
the Arabic titleAmr (engl. Emir), meaning "commander" and "Prince", and the Persian suffix zd, meaning "birth" or "lineage". Due to vowel harmony in Turkic languages, the alternative
pronunciation Morza (plural morzalar; derived from the Persian word) is also used. The word
Mirza means royalty in almost every old version of Persian, Arab, Caucasian, Turkish and Indian
languages.
Variant spellings in English
include mirzya, miriza, mirize, mirze, morsey, mursay, murse, meirsa, mirzey, mursi, murze, mur
za, mirza, myrza, meerza.[