khans
Central Asian lords
Khans is the plural of khan, a title of rulers and leaders in Central Asian, Mongol, and Turkic societies.
Historically, khans held supreme authority over tribes, territories, or empires—Genghis Khan being the most famous example.
The title has also been used more broadly for local chieftains or nobles.
In modern usage, Khan survives primarily as a surname common in South Asia and the Middle East.
Mongol emperor's name
Turco-Mongol empire builder
- TurkicCentral Asian language family
- OttomanMember of Turkish dynasty
- MughalIndian Islamic imperial dynasty
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
empire · medieval · chronicle · trade · tribute · envoy · diplomacy
Leader of a tribe
- sovereignSupreme in power
- warlordMilitary ruler by force
- overlordSupreme feudal superior
- emperorMale ruler of empire
potentate · autocrat · conqueror · leader · commander · tribal · paramount · supreme
Following in order
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- heirOne who receives legacy
- reignSovereign's time in power
sovereignty · descent · ancestry · patrimony · Chagatai · Yuan · dynastic · imperial
Related family groups
- kinshipState of being related
- nomadicWithout fixed residence
- eldersSenior community members
- patriarchalMale-authority based
ancestry · heritage · customs · traditions · gatherings · encampment · confederation · allegiance
Genghis
Mongol emperor's name
- hordeDisorganized, overwhelming crowd
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
- yurtsPortable circular tent homes
ger · nomads · conquest · equestrian · archery · felt · shamanism
Tamerlane
Turco-Mongol empire builder
- TurkicCentral Asian language family
- OttomanMember of Turkish dynasty
- MughalIndian Islamic imperial dynasty
conquest · empire · medieval · chronicle · trade · tribute · envoy · diplomacy
chieftain
Leader of a tribe
emperor · potentate · autocrat · conqueror · leader · commander · tribal · paramount · supreme · title
succession
Following in order
reign · sovereignty · descent · ancestry · patrimony · Chagatai · Yuan · dynastic · imperial · throne
clans
Related family groups
patriarchal · ancestry · heritage · customs · traditions · gatherings · encampment · confederation · allegiance · fealty
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
- Asian historyancient China, China, empresses, shoguns, Chinese civilization
- MongoliaGobi Desert, Inner Mongolia, steppe, Mongols, nomads
- Central AsiaKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
- Eurasian HistoryOttoman Empire, Mongol Empire, Byzantine, Byzantium, Constantinople
- Ottoman travelConstantinople, Istanbul, Bosphorus, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia
khanselected officials
Leaders chosen by vote
elected representatives · presidents · prime ministers · representatives · congressmen
- Genghis KhanMongol Empire's founder
- Kublai Khan
- Khan AcademyFree online education nonprofit
- Ghengis KhanMongol empire's founder
- Chaka Khan
- Crimean KhanateTatar state in peninsula