The emir is a fairly common title of Islamic rulers of various levels. In a given historical era, the popularity of this title could change significantly, and the area of its distribution could narrow or expand. In addition, this word fell into different languages, serving as a substrate for the emergence of new words.
Title story
The rulers of some modern monarchies today bear the title of emir, but the history of this term goes back many centuries. Since the term itself is inextricably linked with Islamic tradition, its history goes back to the time of the founding of Islam and the first rulers of the Islamic state in the Vll century.
It is worth noting that, as a ruler, the word emir is subordinate to the caliph, whose status is undeniably 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 emirate status was the Albanian emirate, controlled by the caliphate.
In the era after the fall of the caliphate, the title emir is first and foremost the leader of Orthodox Muslims. However, some 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 throughout Europe, the Caucasus and Africa along with the Arab conquerors, who planted a new faith with fire and saber.
For the first time, the emir as the title of ruler began to be used in Albania, which was conquered by the Arabs. In the next few centuries, the Emirates of Derbent and Tbilisi, the Bari and Sicilian 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 he was always below the level of the caliph and put his carrier in a controlled position. However, one can also find examples of fairly strong emirates, which, although they were subject to the caliph, nevertheless possessed quite extensive power and influence.
The most striking example of the state of the emir, which managed to achieve wide autonomy from the Arab caliph, is the Emirate of Granada, founded in 1242. The emirate occupied an extremely advantageous position in the mountainous terrain in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, thanks to which it could last 264 years, after which it was conquered by the Kingdom of Castile. This emirate appeared as a result of the turmoil that swept the Arab power of Almohad, and ceased to exist in 1492 as a result of reconquest, which the Spaniards carried out for several centuries.
Emirates in the Russian Empire
In the XVlll century, the lands of the Caucasus, which were once under the rule of Arab rulers, began to be part of the Russian Empire , in connection with which the titles popular in the caliphate were extended to them.
Actually, for the Caucasian peoples the title emir is a rather exotic concept, since only one ruler wore it. Such a ruler was the Dagestan leader Tuchelav ibn Alibek. In addition, the Derbent Emirate, which ceased to exist in the Xlll century, was once located in the East Caucasus.
Another milestone in the history of the emirates controlled by Russia was the Russian conquest of Central Asia by the middle of the 19th century. In 1868, after the defeat suffered, the emir of Bukhara was forced to recognize vassal dependence on the Russian Empire, while retaining a certain share of autonomy in the internal affairs and affairs of the faith.
Modern Emirates
The most famous state, whose rulers are the emir, are the United Arab Emirates. This state, like other countries in the Middle East, was created on the territory of the former Ottoman Empire, which was the last caliphate in history. The UAE has seven autonomous emirates, and the head of a single state is the president, elected from among the emirs.
Another illustrative example of the use of the title of emir is the administrative division of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the heads of regions of which the princes bear the corresponding title. It is worth noting that the wives of the emirs do not have an independent title. Many rulers of Islamic states have several wives.
However, there are also completely sovereign states, whose heads bear the title of Emir - Qatar and Kuwait. Both countries are located in Southwest Asia and were formed as a result of the liquidation of the Ottoman Empire.