atabeg

• atabey, atabek, atâbek
• (uncommon, Persian contexts): atabak

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish آتابك (atabeg) (modern Turkish atabey), first used by the Seljuks, from آتا (ata, “father”) and بك (beg, “prince”).

atabeg (plural atabegs)

1. (historical) A high medieval Turkish feudal title, originally charged with the caretaking and mentoring of the realm's crown prince.
   • 1780, The Modern Part of an Universal History, Vol. III, Ch. IV, §9, p. 128:

     It has been remarked, that this prince established Saad Ebn Zenki, who had been his governor, lieutenant-general of all his dominions, under the title of atâbek; which signifying Father of the Prince, and being given to the tutors of the Seljûkian princes, became afterwards a title of dignity.

   • 1986, P.M. Holt, The Age of the Cruades, page 75:

     The most powerful office which came to be held by Mamluks was that of atabeg... The function of the atabeg was to act as the tutor and guardian of a young Seljukid prince, and where his ward was the holder of an appanage, the atabeg was in effect a regent with plenary powers.

   • 2001, Kenneth Allin Luther, transl., The History of the Seljuq Turks from the Jamiʿ al-Tawārīkh, page 160:

     The Atabeg was watching for this opportunity.

   • 2006, Efraim Karsh, Islamic Imperialism: A History, page 75:

     In 1115 Tughtigin took a big step forward by joining a diverse war coalition comprising the atabeg of Aleppo, the powerful Turkish warlord Najm al-Din Ilghazi, and Roger of Salerno, the regent of Antioch.

• regent
• governor
• emir, amir

• atabegate

• tea bag, tea-bag, teabag