The New International Encyclopædia/Reis Effendi

REIS EFFENDI, ra'is ef-fen'di (Turk., presiding official). A title formerly given to an officer of State in the Ottoman Empire. He was the Chancellor of the Empire, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. His duties in the first-mentioned capacity was to confer with the Grand Vizier regarding the orders and instructions to be sent to the different provinces and regarding the proper decision on any subject affecting the Empire, whether internal or external; and in the latter capacity he had the sole and exclusive charge of the relations of the Porte with foreign courts.