As with various other laudatory titles of Semitic origin, such as "King of Kings", Sultan of Sultans can express a claim of imperial rank up to and including universal legitimate sovereignty.
Although the notion and title of an emperor is largely alien to Islamic tradition[further explanation needed][citation needed], the Ottoman dynasty, which employed the title of "Sultan of Sultans" in its official full style, had perhaps the best claim to usage due to its territorial extent and great length[citation needed].
The Ottomans also adopted the traditional Byzantine imperial title Caesar for their own ruler (the Padishah).
Examples of that are Rukunuddin Kaikaus and Saifuddin Hamza Shah.
These assertions were tied to the conflict between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam.