Shah
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- For other uses, see Shah (disambiguation).
Shah (in Persian: شاه), from the Old Persian word khshathra-pava "king", popularly referred to as "satrap" by the Greeks, is the Persian term for a monarch and used by the former rulers of Persia (present-day Iran) as well as the rulers of the Persian Empire. The title roughly translates as Emperor in English as the monarch of Persia was technically the Emperor of the Persian Empire (later the Empire of Iran as Iran was officially known until 1935).
The last Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi officially adopted the title شاهنشاه Shâhanshâh "Emperor" (literally "King of Kings") during his coronation. He also styled his wife شاهبانو Shahbânu "Empress" - previously, the ruler's consort was known as ملکه Maleke "Queen", (a borrowing from the Arabic term Malika, meaning Queen). The title Shâhanshâh was also used by the Ottomans for a great hero or Emperor.
The English words check, checkmate (with the semitic root "mata" - to die) and chess are all derived from Shah.
Shahanshah
Shananshah (Persian: شاهنشاه) (sometimes written Shahenshah, Shan-an-shah, or Shan-en-shah) was a title used by various kings of the Persian Empire/Iran. It literally means "Shah of Shahs", or "King of Kings" and is synonymous with Emperor. The first Persian Shahanshah was Cyrus the Great, the last one Mohammad Reza Shah.
See also
da:Shah de:Schah ko:샤 la:Sachus nl:Sjah ja:シャー no:Sjah pt:Xá sl:Šah (vladar) sv:Shah