Mirza (/ˈmɜːrzə/or/mɪərˈzɑː/; Persian: میرزا)[1][a] is a name of Persian origin. It is used as a surname or prefix to identify patriarchal lineage. It is derived from the term Mirzadeh (میرزادہ).
InSufi, Hanafi and Shia islam, the title Mir / Mirza is used as an honorary title to refer to maternal descendants of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, i.e, children of a Sayyid mother and non-Sayyid father.
The original title MīrzāorMerzāh is derived from the Persian term Mīrzādeh which literally means child of the Mīrorchild of the ruler.[4]Mīrzādeh in turn consists of the Arabic title Amīr (English: Emir), meaning "commander" and the Persiansuffixzādeh, meaning "son of" or "lineage of".[4] Due to vowel harmonyinTurkic languages, the alternative pronunciation Morza (plural morzalar; derived from Persian) is also used.
Mirza first emerged during the 15th century as an appellative term for members of the Timurid dynasty, adopted in deference to their progenitor, the Central Asian conqueror Timur, who used Amir as his principal title.[5][6] During the early Timurid period, Mirza preceded a prince's given name, therefore adhering to the Persian fashion, though subsequently the Turkish style was adopted, with the title instead being placed after.[7] This was continued by later rulers such as the Aq Qoyunlus, Safavids, Ottomans and Mughals.[5]
Originally restricted to only kings and princes,[8] the title eventually spread among other social groups, though only the former could have it placed after their given name.[9] During the 16th century, the Safavids conferred it upon high-ranking viziers such as Mirza Shah Hossein and Mirza Ata-Allah Isfahani.[5] By the Qajar period, the title simply marked a person as a clerk or a literate man of consequence.[10] Writing in 1828, Frederic Shoberl records that "as a prefix to the name, it may be assumed by, or conferred on any person. It is right, however, to observe, that none but well-educated men, or such as follow respectable professions, or hold honourable posts, take the title of Mirza."[9]
The hereditary title of Mirza was adopted by the nobility class of the Circassians. Idar of Kabardia, also known as "Mirza Haydar Temruk Bey", was the great-grandson of Prince Inal – Sultan of Egypt the founder of the "Temruk dynasty" of the Kabardian princes, known in Russia as the "Cherkassky" a Circassian princely family.
Babur Mirza (born Mirza Zahiruddin), first emperor of Mughal Dynasty.[11]Meeting between Babur Mirza and Sultan Ali Mirza near Samarqand (The Met Museum of Art NYC / Cleveland Museum of Art).Akbar Mirza (born Mirza Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad), one of the most popular Mughal Emperors of India, known as "Akbar the Great".Mirzas of the Mughal imperial family, c. 1878.[12]
The title Mirza was borne by an imperial prince. It was adopted as part of ones name, implying relationship to the Mongol dynasties like the Mughal dynasty (the Imperial House of Timur).[13] In the traditional naming sequence of the Indian royal families, the title can be placed both before the name and after it, such as Prince Mirza Mughal or Prince Kamran Mirza. Prince Khusrau Mirza was the grandson of Emperor Babur (Babur Mirza), son of Emperor Jahangir and a brother of Emperor Shah Jahan. Emperor Akbar Shah II was known as Prince Mirza Akbar before his coronation. Emperor Babur took the imperial title of Badshah on 6 March 1508, before which he used the title Mirza.[14]
Originally being adversaries and opponents to the Mughal Emperors, the title Mirza was also adopted by the Muslim Rajputs of Northern India.[16] Many of the Rajput imperial families who were descendants of ancient Hindu warriors who strategically formed blood alliances with Mughal aristocracy. The Rajputs were rulers of princely states comprising vast territories of Northern India, including the Punjab Region, Kashmir and Rajasthan. Inter-marriage between Mughal aristocracy and Rajput aristocracy became very common and various factions of Rajput kingdoms embraced the Islamic faith, giving rise to the term "Muslim Rajputs".[17] Rajput rulers were also granted the title Mirza on account of being high-ranked commanders in the Mughal military.[18] The meaning of Mirza (Persian origin)[19] is identical to the meaning of Rajput (Sanskrit Origin).[20]
Mirza Khan of "Mirza & Sahiba", a tragic romance story, based on true events, which is enshrined in Punjabi literature and commonly told in the Punjab region. Mirza of "Mirza & Sahiba" was of Kharal Muslim Jat tribe.
Muhammad Munawwar Mirza, a prominent scholar, historian, writer and intellectual from Pakistan.
Mirza Ahmed Beg, one of the original Punjabi soldiers of the famed "Hodson's Horse" regiment of the British Indian Army, pictured in the historical 1858 photograph.[citation needed][circular reference] He was a descendant of Mirza Hakim Beg, after whom the Indian village Hakimpur, Gurdaspur District is named.
^Lord Lawrence and the Reconstruction of India Under The Crown by Sir Charles Aitcheson, K.C.S.I., M.A., LL.D., Rulers of India series, Clarendon Press 1897, V p117
