Khagan facts for kids
Khagan or Qaghan is a very old and important title. It was used by rulers in Turkic, Mongolic, and some other languages. It means the same as an emperor, someone who rules a large khaganate (empire). The female version of this title is Khatun.
You can also think of Khagan as "Khan of Khans," which is like saying "King of Kings." In some places, like Bulgaria, the title became known as Khan. In modern Turkish, the title is Khaan or Kağan, where the 'g' sound is often very soft or silent.
The famous term Great Khan (or Grand Khan), especially for the Mongol Empire, comes from Yekhe Khagan. This means "Great Emperor" in Mongolian. After the division of the Mongol Empire, rulers of the Yuan dynasty and Northern Yuan still used the title Khagan.
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What Does Khagan Mean?
The exact origin of the word "Khagan" is not fully known. Some experts think it might have come from the Rouran language. One idea is that it came from an old Xiongnu title.
Another idea is that the word qaγan means "emperor" or "supreme ruler." It was then borrowed by many languages, especially Turkic and Mongolic languages.
Some scholars believe qaγan is a stronger version of qan (Khan). Others think both qan and its female form qatun (Khatun) came from Mongolic languages.
It's also possible that the word *qa-qan means "great-qan." The "qa-" part might mean "great" or "supreme." This could be linked to Yeniseian languages, which have words for "big" or "great."
It's hard to know the very first origin of the title. However, it seems likely that both qaγan and qan might have roots in the Xiong-nu and Yeniseian languages. Some even suggest it comes from an old Middle Iranian word meaning "self-ruler."
A Brief History of the Title
The title "Khagan" first appeared between 283 and 289 AD. This was when a Xianbei chief named Tuyuhun was trying to escape from his stepbrother. One of his generals called him kehan. Some sources say Tuyuhun might have used this title himself.
The Rouran Khaganate (330–555 AD) was the first group to officially use "Khagan" and "Khan" for their emperors. They replaced the older title of Chanyu. The Rourans are thought to be ancestors of the Mongols.
The Avar Khaganate (567–804 AD) also used this title. The Avars came into Europe and ruled the Carpathian region for over a century. Western people wrote the title as "Gaganus" or "Cagan."
Mongol Khagans
The book The Secret History of the Mongols explains the difference between Khagan and Khan. Only Genghis Khan and his direct ruling family were called Khagan. Other rulers were called Khan. In Mongolian, "Khagan" means "great/supreme ruler" or "emperor." Adding "Yekhe" (meaning "great") makes it "Yekhe Khagan," or "Great Emperor."
The Mongol Empire started to split apart after 1260. This happened during the Toluid Civil War and after Kublai Khan died in 1294. However, the title Ikh Khagan (Great Khan or Emperor) was still used by the emperors of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). These emperors also took the title of Emperor of China.
Even after the Yuan dynasty fell, the rulers of the Northern Yuan dynasty continued to use the title. The Yuan dynasty is sometimes called the Empire of the Great Khan. It existed alongside other independent Mongol-ruled khanates in the west.
The early khagans of the Mongol Empire were:
- Genghis Khan (ruled 1206–1227)
- Ögedei Khan (ruled 1229–1241)
- Güyük Khan (ruled 1246–1248)
- Möngke Khan (ruled 1251–1259)
After the Mongol Empire broke down, the Mongols faced political problems. Dayan Khan (1464–1517/1543) tried to bring back the emperor's power. But when he divided his empire among his sons, it led to less centralized rule. The last Khagan of the Chahars, Ligdan Khan, died in 1634 while fighting the Jurchen-led Later Jin dynasty.
Today, in Mongolian language, "Khaan" and "Khan" have different meanings. But in English language, we usually don't tell them apart. The title "Khaan" can also be used generally for any king or emperor.
Among Turkic Peoples
The title "Khagan" became strongly linked to the Ashina ruling family of the Göktürks. Later, their successors, like the Khazars, also used it. Smaller rulers were usually called "Khan."
"Khagan" and its Turkish form "Hakan" were also important titles for the Great Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. They used it to show their historical right to rule over many lands and seas. For example, the title included "Khan of Khans."
The shahs (kings) of the Safavid and Qajar in Iran also used "Khagan" as a second title.
Ottoman Empire
After the 14th century, Ottoman rulers used "shah" and "khan" as their main titles. Sultans like Mehmed the Conqueror and Suleiman the Magnificent used the title "Khagan of the two seas." This showed their power over both land and sea.
Chinese Khagans
Emperor Taizong of Tang was given the title Tian Kehan, or "heavenly Khagan." This happened after he defeated the Tujue (Göktürks). The Chinese emperors of the Tang dynasty were seen as khagans of the Turks from 665 to 705 AD. Later, some Turkic rulers even called Emperor Xuanzong of Tang "Tian Kehan."
The name "Chinese khagan" (Khāqān-i Chīn) was used in old Persian and Turkic writings. It referred to the ruler of China as a symbol of great power. During the Qing dynasty, which was led by the Manchu people, their Turkic Muslim subjects often called the Qing emperors the "Chinese khagan."
Among the Slavs
In the early 10th century, the Rus' people also used the title kagan. A Persian geographer wrote about this between 903 and 913 AD.
This tradition likely continued into the 11th century. For example, the metropolitan bishop of Kiev called grand prince Vladimir I of Kiev and grand prince Yaroslav the Wise by the title of kagan. A carving on the walls of Saint Sophia's Cathedral also gives this title to Yaroslav's son, Sviatoslav II of Kiev.
See also
In Spanish: Gran Kan para niños
- Mongolian nobility
- Khan (title)
- Beg Khan
- Kavkhan
- Khaganate
- Qapaghan Qaghan
- Tughra
