Shah





Shah (from the Avestan word khshatra, meaning "king") is the Persian and
Sanskrit 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 1979).

The last Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi officially adopted the title
Shahanshah - literary King of Kings or Emperor during his coronation. He
also styled his wife Shahbanou or Empress (previously the wife of the
Iranian monarch was known as Malika or Queen).

The title was also used by Ottoman Turks to entitle a great hero or Emperor.
Probably related to Russian Tsar. The English words check, checkmate and
chess are all derived from Shah.