Khan (title)

Khan or Chan ([xaːŋ], in German often also [ka:n]; Arabic and Persian خان chān, DMG ḫān; Chinese 汗, pinyin hán; Mongolian ᠬᠠᠨ Хан; Turkic han; Manchurian ᡥᠠᠨ han), derived from "khagan" (Mongolian ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ qaġan, خاقان chaqan, DMG ḫāqān) is a ruler title used primarily by the Altaic-speaking, especially Mongolian equestrian nomads of Central Asia, and has numerous meanings, the core of which include "commander", "leader", "lord", and "ruler". Placed before the name, khan also denoted, for example, a wealthy man of elevated position, while nowadays the word is mostly used only as a courtesy title following the name and enhancing it.

History

The word was first used as gaghan by the proto-Mongol Rouran, who were known to the Chinese as Zhuan Zhuan and may be identical with the historical Avars. After the victory of the Kök Turks over the Rouran, the latter adopted the title (now as Khaqan), which was so long in use among the Mongols. In Mongolian, the "q" sound has fallen silent over the centuries, so that today we speak of the Kha'an. This title - made especially famous by the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan - was eventually minimized to Khan in various other languages. In some languages (e.g., Urdu), Khan also occurs as a surname (see, e.g., Abdul Kadir Khan). Pashtun kings in Afghanistan also had Khan as a title like Ahmad Khan Abdali, Zahir Khan but also princes like the Nasher Khan etc. Pashtuns sometimes have two khans like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Khan Wali Khan.

Due to the loss of Old Turkic sounds in New Turkic, Khan and Khagan respectively are also read and written as Hakan, Han, Kaan or Kağan in this language.

Term Derivation

The term khanate (also chanate) refers to a medieval feudal state of tribes whose leaders could trace themselves back to Chinggisid or Timurid ancestors. From the 18th century onwards, rulers of tribal confederations, in which several tribal leaders (beg) gather, also refer to themselves as khan and establish, for example, the khanate of Kokand.