amīr al-umarāʾ

The title amīr al-umarāʾ (commander in chief) was held in the 10th century by the commander of the caliph's armies at Baghdad. The term emir itself, meaning \"commander\" or \"prince,\" was used in the Muslim Middle East for a military commander, governor, or high military official.1

Under the Umayyads, emirs had administrative and financial powers, which were somewhat reduced by the Abbasids. In some instances, emirs ruled their provinces with virtual independence, showing only token allegiance to the caliph. The title amīr al-muʾminīn (commander of the faithful) was first assumed by the second caliph, ʿUmar, and was used by all his successors until the caliphate's abolition in 1924. The title emir was also adopted by rulers of independent states in Central Asia, such as those in Bukhara and Afghanistan.12