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A Vizier (وزير) is an Arabic term for a high-ranking religious and political advisor, often to a king or sultan. During the days of the Ottoman Empire the Grand Vizier played the role
of a pseudo-prime minister in the Sultan's court and was the leader of
the Divan, the Imperial Council.
In some societies, unsuccessful viziers were commonly put to death. This was particularly common during much of Ottoman
history; for example, one of the most brutal sultans, Selim I, had seven viziers
executed during his eight-year rule.
In ancient Egypt the second important person after the pharaoh was the vizier as a general governor. Among the Huns, the vizier was the second in rank officer after the great king. Attila's vizier was Onegesius.
In contemporary literature, the "Grand Vizier" is a character stereotype and
is usually portrayed as a scheming backroom plotter and the clear power behind the throne of a usually bumbling or incompetent monarch. A well-known example of this
is the sinister character of Jafar in the Disney movie Aladdin who
plots to take over the entire Kingdom of Agraba under the nose of the nation's naïve sultan.
Throughout history the notion of the sinister Grand Vizier has often been evoked when a political leader appears to be
developing a cozy relationship with a spiritual advisor of questionable scruples or talents.
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