Emir is a fairly common title for Islamic rulers of various levels. In one or another historical era, the popularity of this title could change significantly, and the area of its distribution could narrow or expand. In addition, this word got into different languages, serving as a substrate for the emergence of new words.
Title history
The rulers of some modern monarchies still bear the title of emir, but the history of this term goes back many centuries. Since the term itself is inextricably linked with the Islamic tradition, its history goes back to the time of the founding of Islam and the first rulers of Islamic states in the Vll century.
It is worth noting that as a title of ruler, the word emir is subordinate to the caliph, whose status is indisputably higher in the Islamic world. The first emirates subordinate to the Arab Caliphate appeared already in the Vll century in Europe. The earliest mention of a state with the status of an emirate was the Albanian emirate, controlled by the caliphate.
In the era after the fall of the Caliphate, the title of emir is, first of all, the leader of the faithful Muslims. Howeversome rulers of modern Islamic states preferred this title as their main one.
Medieval Emirates
The first emirates began to appear in the Vll-Vlll centuries, spreading across Europe, the Caucasus and Africa along with the Arab conquerors, who planted a new faith with fire and sabers.
Emir was first used as a title of ruler in Albania, which was conquered by the Arabs. In the next few centuries, the Derbent and Tbilisi emirates, Bari and Sicily were created, and a state controlled by the caliphate was created on the island of Crete.
The history of the use of the title clearly indicates that it was always below the level of the caliph and put its bearer in a controlled position. However, you can also find examples of fairly strong emirates, which, although they were subject to the caliph, still had quite extensive power and influence.
The Emirate of Granada, founded in 1242, can be called the most striking example of an emir's state that managed to achieve broad autonomy from the Arab caliph. The emirate occupied an extremely advantageous position in the mountainous area in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, thanks to which it was able to exist for 264 years, after which it was conquered by the Kingdom of Castile. This emirate appeared as a result of the turmoil that engulfed the Arab power of the Almohads, and ceased to exist in 1492 as a result of the reconquest, which the Spaniards carried out for several centuries.
Emirates within the Russian Empire
In the 15th century, the Russian Empire began to include the lands of the Caucasus, which had once been ruled by Arab rulers, and therefore titles popular in the caliphate were extended to them.
Actually, for the Caucasian peoples, the title of Emir is a rather exotic concept, since only one ruler bore it. Such a ruler was the Dagestan leader Tuchelav ibn Alibek. In addition, the Derbent Emirate was once located in the Eastern Caucasus, which ceased to exist in the Xlll century.
Another important milestone in the history of the emirates controlled by Russia was the conquest of Central Asia by Russian troops in the middle of the XlX century. In 1868, after suffering a defeat, the Emir of Bukhara was forced to recognize vassal dependence on the Russian Empire, while maintaining a certain amount of autonomy in internal affairs and matters of faith.
Modern Emirates
The most famous state whose rulers bear the title of Emir is the United Arab Emirates. This state, like other countries of the Middle East, was created on the territory of the former Ottoman Empire, which was the last caliphate in history. The UAE consists of seven autonomous emirates, and the head of a single state is a president elected from among the emirs.
Another illustrative example of the use of the title Emir is the administrative division of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose heads of regions and princes bear the corresponding title. CostsIt should be noted that the wives of emirs do not have an independent title. Many Islamic rulers have multiple wives.
However, there are also fully sovereign states, the heads of which bear the title of Emir - these are Qatar and Kuwait. Both countries are located in Southwest Asia and were formed as a result of the liquidation of the Ottoman Empire.
