Beylerbey
/ˌbeɪlərˈbeɪ/noun
A high-ranking Ottoman official who governed a major province or group of provinces.
Did you know?The beylerbeyi office became one of the Ottoman Empire’s highest provincial commands, with the best-known divisions centered on Rumelia in Europe and Anatolia in Asia.
Etymological Timeline
Early Turkic
Old Turkic
beg
“A lord, chieftain, or nobleman”
Medieval Turkic
Turkic
begler
“The plural of beg: lords or beys”
Medieval Anatolia
Turkish
beylerbeyi
“Bey of beys; a superior lord or governor over other beys”
14th Century
Ottoman Turkish
beylerbeyi
“A senior military-administrative governor commanding a major Ottoman province”
19th Century
English
beylerbey
“An Ottoman provincial governor-general or high official”
Modern English
English
beylerbey
“A historical title referring to an Ottoman governor-general”