All years are according to the Common Era
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Accepted by Sunni Muslims as the first four pious and rightly guided rulers; most Shi'a Muslims believe that the first three were usurpers.
(During the latter period of Abbasid rule, Muslim rulers began using other titles, such as Sultan).
(Not universally accepted; actual authority confined to Spain and parts of Morocco)
(Not widely accepted)
(The Cairo Abbasids were largely ceremonial Caliphs under the patronage of the Mamluk Sultanate)
Originally the secular, conquering dynasty was just entitled Sultan, soon it started accumulating titles assumed from subjected peoples.
From 1908 onwards the Ottoman Sultan was considered the equivalent of a constitutional monarch without executive powers, with parliament consisting of chosen representatives.
The Office of the Caliphate was transferred to the Turkish Grand National Assembly which dissolved the office on March 3, 1924, in keeping with the policies of secularism that were adopted in the early years of the Republic of Turkey. The current pretender to the Imperial House of Osman is Prince Shehzade Ertugrul Osman Efendi Hazretleri, Prince of the Ottoman Empire and 43rd Head of the Imperial House of Osman.
A last attempt at restoring the caliphal office and style with ecumenical recognition was made by al-Husayn ibn `Ali al-Hashimi, King of al-Hijaz and Sharif of Mecca, who assumed both 11 March 1924 and held them until his passing the kingship to his son `Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Hashimi, who did not adopt the khalifal office and style.
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