the.com/grand vizier
The sultan's power-user: makes the decisions, takes the blame, keeps the throne spotless.
means The chief minister of an Islamic sovereign (classically the Ottoman Empire), holding the ruler's seal and running the actual machinery of government in his name.
from From Arabic 'wazir' — originally meaning something like 'helper' or 'one who bears a burden,' tied to a root about carrying weight — passed through Persian and Turkish administrative use before landing in English via French 'vizir/vizier.' 'Grand' was simply bolted on by European writers to mark the top-ranking vizier among many, the sultan's first minister, distinguishing him from lesser viziers running provinces or departments.
- origin
- from Arabic wazir, meaning one who bears the burden
- real power
- often ran the empire while the sultan ran the harem
- job hazard
- the Ottomans sometimes executed viziers by the dozen
- modern echo
- basically the original chief of staff, minus the severance