Pasha

or Bashaw (from the Persian padishah , “powerful ruler”). A title applied in the Ottoman empire to governors of provinces, or military and naval commanders of high rank. The distinctive badge of a pasha is a horse-tail, waving from the end of a staff crowned with a gilt ball; in war, this badge is always carried before him when he goes abroad, and is at other times planted in front of his tent. There are three grades of pashas, which are distinguished by the number of horse-tails on their standards; those of the highest rank are pashas of three tails, and include, in general, the highest functionaries, civil and military. All pashas of this cla have the title of vizier. The pashas of two tails are the governors of provinces, who are generally called by the simple title “pasha.” The pashas of one tail, the lowest rank of pashas, are provincial governors. See Horse-tail .