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Emir

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Emir (fem: emira[1][2][3]) or amir[4][5][6] was a title used for positions of authority across several different cultures.[4][7][8][9] The state and territories ruled by an emir, as well as their office, were sometimes referred to as an emirate[10][11] or amirate.[12]

Faerûnian Titles[]

In the desert of Anauroch, the title of "emir" was used by the Bedine to refer to a provisionary position used in times of crisis. An emir was the leader of a union of several tribes, acting as an army against outside threats, such as asabi, lamias, and the Zhentarim.[9]

In west Faerûn's nation of Calimshan, use of the title "emir" began in the Second Age of Calimshan under the Tavihran Dynasty,[13] used to refer to those who governed the territories north of Coramshan on behalf of the syl-pasha of Calimport[14] and later the qysar.[15] This included the Purple Hills and the land of Tethyr.[13] During the Third Age of Calimshan, this expanded to include the eastern kingdom of Mir, the northern kingdom of Iltkazar, and the lands further north that were simply known as the Calishar Emirates.[13][14] This vast expanse of frontier territories included Amin, Meiritin, Minsorran, Valashar, and the Ralamnish Ridings, reaching as far north as the Greenfields.[14] Also during this time, in −1700 DR,[14][16] the seat of Emir of Tethyr was created by the Cajaan Dynasty,[13] establishing it as a traditional post for the syl-pasha's lesser sons.[14][16]

These emirs governed largely as they pleased, so as long as their subjects obeyed the qysar's dictates, paid their taxes, and supplied troops for the imperial armies as needed.[15] Sometime around the Shoon Imperium,[17][18][19] the title of emir was supplanted by "satrap",[20][note 1] being bestowed upon the provincial rulers of the Tashalar, Thindol, the cities of Lapaliiya, and the major settlements in the vast plains of Shaar, as far east as the Landrise.[17][19]

Genie Titles[]

Among the genie races, emir was one of many common titles held by noble djinn[5][21][22][23] and noble efreet,[5][24][25] who served the Great Caliph of the Djinn[21][23][26] or Sultan of the Efreet, respectively.[5][24][25][27][28] They often commanded the mighty warmonger genies.[5]

Among the djinn, emirs could be addressed at court by the additional titles of "the Imponderable" or "Worthy of the Heavens."[29]

Emirs were a rank above beys in efreet society. The best of beys, or "Lord of the Black Flames", would be promoted to the station of emir if they did well on a field of battle.[29] Both stations were responsible for a thurgur, or military area, distant colonies across the vast Elemental Plane of Fire that could contain one to four fortresses.[30] And whenever the Sultan of the Efreet visited the Prime Material plane, a single emir had to accompany his military escort.[31] The efreet emirs viewed these two services to the Sultan as a necessary burden for the good of their whole race. However, they kept their thurgur strictly functional and spartanly military, affording the people under their command few comforts.[30]

On the Prime Material plane, jann tribes were commonly ruled by amirs,[26] such as the Jann of the Haunted Lands,[6][32] the Jann of the High Desert,[6][33] and the Lost City of Ubar.[34] Whether they ruled a city or a mere wandering tribe, jann culture dictated that an amir always lived in "Resplendent Magnificence."[35]

Additionally, the Great Padisha of the Marid was sometimes referred to as "Emir of All Currents".[5][36][37][38][39] Marids of all sorts laid claim to titles such as "emir", though as they had no set order to their various self-professed rankings marid society was plagued by a hodgepodge of conflicting hierarchies, precedents, and honorifics that were not officially recognized by true noble marids.[26]

Taangan Titles[]

In the Hordelands, prior to the 15th century DR, the title "emir" could be found in use in the nations of Murghôm[40][41] and Semphar.[42][43]

In both nations the title was used to refer to those appointed to act as a governor of a city or village.[44][41] In the 14th century DR, the emir of Delbyl was served by sheriffs known as maliks (chiefs), who in turn commanded the civil watch.[40] Emir Abi Talid in Semphar's Iliphanar was granted a far larger number of troops, a garrison of 500, as well as his own spy network in order to protect the Silk Road from bandits.[43] Whilst Abui Fiydah, Emir of Estanil, was granted little authority, unable to defy the will of the Semphari town's Council of Loggers.[42] And Murghôm's Tarman the Old, Emir of Phannaskul, was a demented man of old age who did little for the city and allowed the merchants to run amuck.[41] From these examples one could conclude that the powers of the emir varied on a case by case basis.[41][44]

The emirs of Murghôm were appointed to their posts by the Bey of Murghôm,[40] whilst those of Semphar were appointed by the nation's Caliph.[42]

Zakharan Titles[]

In the vast lands of Zakhara, "emir" was a common monarchical title used for either the reigning monarch of a sovereign principality,[4][7] or something roughly analogous to a "prince" or "princess".[7] It was also a title commonly assumed by Zakharan paladins of some prestige,[4][45] roughly translating to "lord", though this only occurred whenever there were no other available landed titles.[45]

Zakhara's use of emir as a monarchical title dated back long before the discovery of the Law of the Loregiver and the founding of the Enlightened Throne.[46][47] Under the Enlightened Throne they were a step below the Grand Caliph, granted parcels of land by him to rule over some of its many city-states and small empires.[48] Emirs had the power to provide grants to still lesser magistrates,[49] such as qadis,[50] or to individual farmers.[49] Where they ranked socially and politically amongst the plethora of other lesser rules in Zakhara, like the khedives or padishahs, was a matter of debate and personal opinion.[51]

Some of the emirates of Zakhara included Dihliz,[2] Muluk of the Free Cities,[46] as well as Jumlat[52] and Qudra of the Pearl Cities.[46][53][54] The emirs of Dihliz were always appointed by the Grand Caliph, at the recommendation of the padishah of Afyal.[3][55] The emirs of Jumlat were some sort of ruling council,[52][note 2] beneath the rule of its sultan.[56] The emirs of Qudra were uniquely elected by mamluks among the city-state's mamluk societies,[46][57] a tradition that began after they had overthrown its evil emir and selected one of their bravest leaders to take charge.[46]

Among the cities of the Pantheist League, emir was a unique title, held by only one individual. This emir was the dominant force on all matters religious and secular for the Pantheists, being the head of the League Conclave, his authority rivaled only by that of the Grand Caliph. He and his fellow moralists held court at the capital city of I'tiraf.[58]

Trivia[]

  • Crimmor, a city in Amn's region of Zehoarastria, had a tavern by the name of Emir's Court,[59][60] harkening back to its past as an emir-ruled territory under the Calimshan Empire.[14]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ It is not stated directly within the text of Empires of the Shining Sea that the title satrap supplanted emir, though it can be inferred by the latter being completely absent from the book's list of Calishite titles, whereas satrap is present with the defined relative rank of "provincial governor".
  2. ↑ Cloaks and Shadows does not specify what role emirs play in the city of Jumlat, only mentioning in comparison to the way of life in Mulmaster. As Mulmaster was ruled by the Council of Blades, it can inferred that a similar structure was present in Jumlat. However, prior lore established Jumlat as being ruled by a sultan.

External links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 105. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Steve Kurtz (1994). Al-Qadim: Ruined Kingdoms: Campaign Guide. (TSR, Inc), p. 16. ISBN 1-56076-815-0.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 David Cook (October 1992). “Home Port: Wherein the Tale Begins”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 978-1560763314.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 34. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 156. ISBN 978-1560763581.
  8. ↑ Jim Parks (September 1996). “Campaign Classics: Scions of the Desert”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #233 (TSR, Inc.), p. 41.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood (November 1991). Anauroch. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 13. ISBN 1-56076-126-1.
  10. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 78. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  11. ↑ Nicky Rea (1994). Corsairs of the Great Sea (Campaign Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 978-1560768678.
  12. ↑ Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 126. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 135. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 40. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
  18. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 153. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 69. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  20. ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 21. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  22. ↑ Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 70. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 128. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 75. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Monster Sheets). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 978-1560763291.
  27. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  28. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 40. ISBN 0880383992.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 37. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  31. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 7. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  32. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 44. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  33. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 39. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  34. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  35. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 38. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  36. ↑ Tim Beach, Tom Prusa and Steve Kurtz (1993). “Gem of Zakhara”. City of Delights (TSR, Inc), p. 6. ISBN 1-56076-589-5.
  37. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 8, 30. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  38. ↑ Monte Cook and William W. Connors (December 7, 1998). The Inner Planes. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-0736-3.
  39. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 79. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 92. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), pp. 45–46. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), pp. 61–62. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), pp. 38–39, 45–46, 61–62. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Fortunes and Fates). (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 76. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  47. ↑ Steve Kurtz (1993). A Dozen and One Adventures (Campaign Book). (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 1-56076-622-0.
  48. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), pp. 14–15, 18, 25. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 15. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  50. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  51. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Will Doyle (2015-07-01). Cloaks and Shadows (DDEX2-10) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Elemental Evil (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14.
  53. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 978-1560763581.
  54. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  55. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 106. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  56. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 89. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  57. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 27. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  58. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 99. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  59. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  60. ↑ ProFantasy Software Ltd. (1999). Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. TSR, Inc. File: 3960 Crimmor.FCW
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