Emirate

This article is about the political term "emirate". For other uses, seeEmirates (disambiguation).

"Imarat" redirects here. For places in Iran, seeImarat, Iran (disambiguation).

"Islamic emirate" redirects here. For other uses, seeIslamic emirate (disambiguation).

Anemirateis a territory ruled by anemir,a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in theMuslim world.From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than acaliphate.It can be considered equivalent to aprincipalityin non-Muslim contexts.

Currently in the world, there are two emirates that are independent states (KuwaitandQatar), one state ruled by an unrecognised emirate (Afghanistan), and a state that consists of a federation of seven emirates (theUnited Arab Emirates). A great number of previously independent emirates around the world are now part of larger states, as can be seen inNigeria.

Etymology

Etymologically,emirateoramirate(Arabic:إمارةimārah,plural:إماراتimārāt)is the quality, dignity, office, or territorial competence of anyemir(prince, commander, governor, etc.). In English, the term is pronounced/ˈɛmərət,-ɪər-,-ɪt,-eɪt/or/ɛˈmɪərət,-ɪt,-eɪt,iˈ-/in British English and/ˈɛmərət/or/ɪˈmɪərət/in American English.

Types

Monarchies

TheUnited Arab Emiratesis a federal state that comprises seven federal emirates, each administered by ahereditaryemir, these seven forming theelectoral collegefor the federation's president and prime minister.

As most emirates have either disappeared, been integrated in a larger modern state, or changed their rulers' styles, e.g. tomalik(Arabic for "king" ) orsultan,such true emirate-states have become rare.

Provinces

Furthermore, inArabicthe term can be generalized to mean any province of a country that is administered by a member of the ruling class, especially of a member (usually styledemir) of the royal family, as inSaudi Arabiangovernorates.

List of present emirates

Location of Afghanistan (grey), Kuwait (red), Qatar (green), and the emirates of the United Arab Emirates

Current emirates with political autonomy are listed below:

Arabian Peninsula

• State of Kuwait(since 14 May 1961)
• State of Qatar(since 3 December 1971)
• United Arab Emirates(since 2 December 1971):
  • Abu Dhabi
  • Ajman
  • Dubai
  • Fujairah
  • Ras al-Khaimah
  • Sharjah
  • Umm al-Quwain

Central Asia

• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan(since 15 August 2021; unrecognized)

List of former and integrated emirates

These are the emirates that have either ceased to exist, are not recognized and hold no real power, or were integrated into another country and preserved as "traditional states". They are arranged by location and in order of the date of the first leader styled "emir."

Africa

North Africa

• Emirate of Nekor,Rifregion of modernMorocco710–1019
• Emirate of Ifriqiya,AghlabidIfriqiyawithin modernTunisia,Algeria,Sicily,Morocco,andLibya800–909
• Emirate of Tunis,HafsidIfriqiyawithin modernTunisia,Algeria,andLibya1229–1574
• Zab Emirate,modernAlgeriacirca 1400 (short-lived)
• Emirate of Trarza,modern southwestMauritania1640s–1910s
• Emirate of Cyrenaica,modern easternLibya1949–1951 (became theKingdom of Libya)

• 
  Ifriqiya under the Hafsids
• 
  Trarza (upper left)
• 
  Cyrenaica in Libya

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ethiopia

• Emirate ofHarar,easternEthiopia1647–1887

Ghana

• Zabarma Emirate,northeasternGhana1860s–1897

Niger

• Emirate of Say,southwesternNiger19th century– (integrated)

Nigeria

Muhammadu Sanusi II,14thEmir of Kano,on his throne

• Fika Emirate,northeastern Nigeria 15th century– (integrated)
• GwanduEmirate, northwestern Nigeria 15th century to 2005 (integrated and then deposed)
• Kebbi Emirate,northwestern Nigeria 1516– (integrated)
• Borgu Emirate,westcentral Nigeria, formed from Bussa Emirate 1730–1954 and Kaiama Emirate 1912–54, unified 1954– (integrated)
• GumelEmirate, northcentral Nigeria 1749– (integrated)
• Yauri Emirate,northwestern Nigeria 1799– (integrated)
• Gombe Emirate,northeast Nigeria 1804– (integrated)
• Kano Emirate,northcentral Nigeria 1805– (integrated)
• Bauchi Emirate,northeast Nigeria 1805– (integrated)
• Daura Emirate,northcentral Nigeria off and on 1805– (integrated)
• Katsina Emirate,northcentral Nigeria 1806– (integrated)
• KatagumEmirate, northcentral Nigeria 1807– (integrated)
• Zaria Emirate,northcentral Nigeria 1808– (integrated)
• Potiskum Emirate,northeastern Nigeria 1809– (integrated)
• Adamawa Emirate,eastern Nigeria and formerly into westernCameroon1809– (integrated where preserved)
• Ilorin Emirate,southwestern Nigeria 1817– (integrated)
• Muri Emirate,eastcentral Nigeria 1817– (integrated)
• Kazaure Emirate,northcentral Nigeria 1819– (integrated)
• Lapai Emirate,central Nigeria 1825– (integrated)
• Suleja Emirate,central Nigeria 1828– (integrated)
• Agaie Emirate,westcentral Nigeria 1832– (integrated)
• Bida Emirate,westcentral Nigeria 1856– (integrated)
• Kontagora Emirate,northcentral Nigeria 1858– (integrated)
• Borno Emirate,northeastern Nigeria 1900– (integrated)
• Dikwa Emirate,northeast Nigeria 1901– (integrated)
• Biu Emirate,northeast Nigeria 1920– (integrated)

Asia

Arabia

• Emirate of Mecca,Western Arabia 967–1916
• Uyunid Emirate,the modernArabian Peninsula1076–1253
• Jabrids Emirate,Eastern and center Arabia 1417–1524
• Emirate of Al-Uyaynahcentral Arabia 1446–1760
• Bani Khalid Emirate,Eastern Arabia 1669–1796
• Emirate of Beihan,modern southernYemen1680–1967
• Emirate of Diriyah,mainly in modernSaudi Arabiaand theUAE1727–1818
• Emirate of Nejd,center and easternArabia1818–91
• Emirate of Dhala,modern southernYemenearly 19th century to 1967
• Emirate of Jabal Shammar,northcentral Arabia 1836–1921
• Emirate of Nejd and Hasa,central Arabia 1902–21
• Idrisid Emirate of Asir,Jizanin modern southwesternSaudi Arabia1906–34
• Emirate of Bahrain,1971–2002 (before it was under ahakim;after under amalik)
• Emirates of Saudi Arabia,the thirteen provinces ofSaudi Arabia

• 
  Beihan and Dhala in South Arabia
• 
  Diriyah
• 
  Nejd
• 
  Jabal Shammar
• 
  Asir at its height
• 
  Bahrain
• 
  Saudi Arabian emirate divisions

Central Asia

• Emirate of Bukhara,modernUzbekistan1785–1920
• Khotan Emirate,1933 northwest China, merged intoFirst East Turkestan Republic

• 
  Bukhara
• 
  Khotan in modern China

South Asia

• Emirate of Afghanistan,Afghanistan1823–1929
• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001),first period ofTalibanrule inAfghanistan(overthrown)
• Islamic Emirate of Kunar,southern Afghanistan 1991–1991
• Emirate of Multan
• Habbarid Emirate

• 
  Emirate of Afghanistan

Near East

• Emirate ofMosul(seelist of emirs for more), modernIraq905–1096, 1127–1222, 1254–1383, 1758–1918
• Emirate of Melitene,modern central Turkey mid-ninth century to 934
• Emirate of Amida,modernEastern Turkey983–1085
• Karaman Emirate,south-centralAnatolia1250–1487
• Emirate of Aydin,state composed ofOghuz Turksin modern Turkey from the early 14th century to 1390
• Emirate of Dulkadir,modernTurkey1337–1522
• Emirate of Erzincan,14–15th centuries
• Emirate of Ramazan,modernTurkey1352–1608
• Emirate of Mount Lebanon,modernLebanon1516–1842
• Timurid Emirates,Timur's empire and the minor emirates left behind after the fall of theTimurid dynastyin theMiddle East,1526-c.1550
• Soran Emirate,modern northern Iraq 1816–35
• Az Zubayr,town inBasra Governorate,Iraq during 16th century
• Emirate of Transjordan,modernJordan1921–46
• Islamic Emirate of Byara,modernKurdistan Region,Iraq,2001–2003

• 
  Ottoman emirate in 1300, labeled 'Osman'
• 
  Timurid Emirate under the leadership ofTimur
• 
  Transjordan

Europe

Caucasus

• The Emirate of Armenia,Caucasus637–884
• Emirate of Darband,Dagestan869–1075
• Emirate of Tbilisi,modernGeorgia736–1080, nominally to 1122
• North Caucasian Emirate,ChechnyaandDagestanin theCaucasus1919–1920
• Caucasus Emirate,Caucasus2007–2017 (unrecognized)

• 
  Darband, Azerbaijan
• 
  Armenia

Iberia

• Emirate of Córdoba,modern Spain and Portugal 756–929 (title changed tocaliphin 929)
• Emirate of Badajoz,modern Portugal and western Spain 1009–1151
• Emirate of Almería,region ofAlmeríaandCartagenain modern Spain off and on 1013–1091
• Emirate of Jerez,towns ofJerez de la FronteraandArcos de la Fronterain modern southern Spain 1145–1147
• Emirate of Granada,modern southern Spain 1228–1492

• 
  Córdoba
• 
  Badajoz
• 
  Granada

Mediterranean region

• Emirate of Crete,Crete,modern Greece, 824 or 827/828 to 961
• Emirate of Bari,city ofBariin southern Italy 847–871
• Emirate of Malta,870–1091
• Emirate of Sicily,Sicily965–1072
• Emirate of Qatansáar,city ofCatanzaroin southern Italy 903-1050

• 
  Crete within modern Greece
• 
  Sicily (at bottom)

See also

• Caliphate
• Khanate