The Mongolian nobility ( Mongolian: ; ''yazgurtan''; ''survaljtan'') arose between the 10th and 12th centuries, became prominent in the 13th century, and essentially governed

Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...

until the early 20th century. The Mongolian word for

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

, ''Yazgurtan'', derives from the Mongol word ''yazgur'', meaning "root".

Mongol Empire (1206–1368) and Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)

Nobility titles

* ''Khaan'' (''

Khagan Khagan or Qaghan (Middle Mongol:; or ''Khagan''; ) or zh, c=大汗, p=Dàhán; ''Khāqān'', alternatively spelled Kağan, Kagan, Khaghan, Kaghan, Khakan, Khakhan, Khaqan, Xagahn, Qaghan, Chagan, Қан, or Kha'an is a title of empire, im ...

'', ), the supreme ruler of the

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...

. * ''Noyon'' (), meaning "King of a State", a ruler of a vassal/tributary state under the Mongol Empire. * ''

Jinong Jinong () was a title of the Mongols. It was derived from Chinese ''Jinwang'' (, a title for crown prince, similar to Prince of Wales) although some historians have suggested it originates from ''Qinwang'' (). Whatever its relation with the Chine ...

'' (), meaning "Crown Prince", the heir apparent of the Great Khaan. During the

Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...

, the ''Jinong'' resided in Kharakhorum and administered ceremonial events. * ''Khan Khuu'' (), meaning "Prince". * '' Mirza'', a Persian term meaning "Prince".

Military Ranks

* ''Boyan'', the military general to the Khan, given an Ordu to command. * ''Orlok'', commander of an Ordu, a unit of 30,000 or more troops. * ''Tumetu-iin Noyan'', meaning "Commander of a '' Tümen''". A ''tümen'' was a military unit of 10,000 troops. There were initially only nine ''tümen''s in the Mongol Empire in 1206, but by 1368 there were 40 Mongol ''tümen''s and four Oirat ''tümen''s. * ''Mingghan-u Noyan'', meaning "Commander of a '' Mingghan''". A ''mingghan'' was a military unit of 1,000 troops. * ''Jagutu-iin Darga'', meaning "Commander of a ''Zuut''". A ''zuut'' was a military unit of 100 troops. * ''Arban-u Darga'', meaning "Commander of an ''Aravt''". An ''aravt'' was a military unit of 10 troops. * ''Nokud'', the basic troop unit of the Mongolian army, Mongol warriors themselves were, considered nokud, for example. * ''Kheshig'', an imperial guard unit, composed of nobility and nokuds. * ''Cherbi'', a title for a

Kheshig Kheshig ( Mongolian: ; also Khishig, Keshik, Khishigten; "mugay", "blessed") were the imperial guard and shock troops for Mongol royalty in the Mongol Empire, particularly for rulers like Genghis Khan and his wife Börte. Their primary purpose ...

commander. * ''Bahadur'', noble Mongol warriors, of whom were likely to be drafted into the Kheshig. * ''Yurtchi'', the quartermaster for an Ordu. A Yurtchi would have to manage, organise equipment, and other duties to keep the Ordu running smoothly. * '' Beg'', a Turkic term meaning "Chieftain".

Female titles

* ''

Khatun Khatun ( ) is a title of the female counterpart to a Khan (title), khan or a khagan of the Göktürks, Turkic Khaganates and in the subsequent Mongol Empire. Etymology and history Before the advent of Islam in Central Asia, Khatun was the title of ...

'' (; 可敦), meaning "Empress" or "Queen". * ''

Begum Begum (also begüm, bagum, begom, begam, baigum or beygum) is an honorific title from Central Asia, Central and South Asia, often used by leading women in society, including Royal family, royals, aristocrats, first lady, first ladies and prime ...

'' or ''Behi'' (别姬), referred to a noble lady, a Turkic term used to refer to the wife or daughter of a ''

bey Bey, also spelled as Baig, Bayg, Beigh, Beig, Bek, Baeg, Begh, or Beg, is a Turkic title for a chieftain, and a royal, aristocratic title traditionally applied to people with special lineages to the leaders or rulers of variously sized areas in ...

''. * ''Gonji'' (; 公主), referred to a princess or noble lady.

Northern Yuan dynasty (1368–1635)

Nobility titles

* ''Khaan'' (''

''), the supreme ruler of the Northern Yuan Empire. * ''Khan'', a title for a Mongol feudal lord. By the mid-16th century, there were a number of ''khan''s in Mongolia as local feudal lords started calling themselves ''khan''. Note that this ''khan'' is different from ''khaan''; ''khaan'' was reserved for the supreme ruler only. * ''Jinong'' (, the crown prince or heir apparent of the ''Khaan''. He resided in the

Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia, officially the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of China. Its border includes two-thirds of the length of China's China–Mongolia border, border with the country of Mongolia. ...

region. From the 15th century, the title became a hereditary one and was no longer reserved exclusively for the heir apparent of the ''Khaan''. * '' Khong Tayiji'' (;, originated from the Chinese term ''huangtaizi'' (皇太子; "Imperial Crown Prince"). It was used to refer to a descendant of

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

who had his own

fief A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal alle ...

. * '' Taiji'' (;), a title for a descendant of Genghis Khan. * ''Wang'', a title for a descendant of

Qasar Khasar (; , ), was one of the three full brothers of the legendary Genghis Khan. According to the '' Jami' al-Tawarikh'', his given name was ''Jochi'' and he got the nickname ''Khasar'' after his distinguished bravery. He was also called Khabht ...

or any of Genghis Khan's brothers who had his own fief. * ''Taishi'' (;

Grand Preceptor Grand Preceptor, also referred to as Grand Master, Section Cp2:192 C was the seniormost of the Three Ducal Ministers or Excellencies, the top three civil positions of the Zhou dynasty of ancient China. The other two were Grand Tutor and Grand P ...

), a title for a noble of non- Borjigit descent who had his own fief. Such nobles included the descendants of ''Tumetu-iin Noyan''s.

Female titles

* ''Taihu'', the ''Khaans consort. * ''

'', referred to a queen consort or noble lady of equivalent status. * ''Gonji'', referred to a princess or noble lady of equivalent status. * ''Behichi'' (''Beiji''), referred to a princess consort or noble lady of equivalent status.

Qing dynasty (1691–1911) and Bogd Khaganate (1911–1924)

Nobility titles

* ''Khan'' (Хан), referred to the lord of a '' hoshun''. Note that this title is of a lower status than the ''Khaan'' or ''

'' used in earlier times. Among the

Khalkha Mongols The Khalkha (; ) have been the largest subgroup of the Mongols in modern Mongolia since the 15th century. The Khalkha, together with Chahars, Ordos Mongols, Ordos and Tumed, were directly ruled by Borjigin khans until the 20th century. In cont ...

, there were four ''khan''s: Tushietu Khan, Zasagtu Khan, Secen Khan and Sain Noyan Khan. In the Kobdo region, there were two ''khan''s: Tögs Hülüg Dalai Khan and Ünen Zorigtu Khan. Despite the association of the four aimags with these titles, the ''khans power was restricted to only within his ''hoshun''. The ''khan'' would communicate with the Qing Emperor just as any other

Jasagh A jasagh (; ; ) was the head of a Mongol Banner (Inner Mongolia), banner or khoshun during the Qing dynasty and the Bogd Khanate of Mongolia, Bogd Khanate. The position was held by hereditary succession by certain Mongol princes, most of whom wer ...

(''hoshun'' lord). * ''Ashan-i hafan'' (男爵; equivalent of

baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...

), a special title awarded to foreigners (e.g. Alexander Zanzer I) during the reign of

Bogd Khan Bogd Khan (13 October 1869 – 20 May 1924) was the khan of the Bogd Khanate of Mongolia from 1911 to 1924, following the state's ''de facto'' independence from the Qing dynasty of China after the Xinhai Revolution. Born in Tibet, he was the ...

. The baron drew an annual income of 3,500

tael Tael ( ),"Tael" entry
at the

The following six titles were the same as those used by members of the Manchu nobility. (See

here Here may refer to: Music * ''Here'' (Adrian Belew album), 1994 * ''Here'' (Alicia Keys album), 2016 * ''Here'' (Cal Tjader album), 1979 * ''Here'' (Edward Sharpe album), 2012 * ''Here'' (Idina Menzel album), 2004 * ''Here'' (Merzbow album), ...

for details.) These titles were usually hereditary, and were decorated with styles to form a longer title (e.g. '' Khorchin Jasagh Darhan Chin-Wang'' 科爾沁扎薩克達爾罕親王) to indicate which ''hoshun'' the noble was from. * ''Chin Wang'' ( 親王), referred to the lord of a ''hoshun''. A ''chin wang'' drew an annual income of 2,600 taels of silver and 40 rolls of silk, and held 60 serfs. * ''Giyün Wang'' ( 郡王), referred to the lord of a ''hoshun''. A ''giyün wang'' drew an annual income of 1,200–2,000 taels of silver and 15–25 rolls of silk, and held 50 serfs. * ''Beile'' ( 貝勒), referred to the lord of a ''hoshun''. A ''beile'' drew an annual income of 600 taels of silver and 13 rolls of silk, and held 40 serfs. * ''Beis'' ( 貝子), referred to the lord of a ''hoshun''. A ''beis'' drew an annual income of 500 taels of silver and 10 rolls of silk. * ''Tushiye Gong'' ( 鎮國公), referred to the lord of a ''hoshun''. A ''tushiye gong'' drew an annual income of 300 taels of silver and nine rolls of silk. * ''Tusalagchi Gong'' ( 輔國公), referred to the lord of a ''hoshun''. A ''tusalagchi gong'' drew an annual income of 200 taels of silver and seven rolls of silk. * ''Hohi Taiji'' ( 台吉) referred to a Mongol noble who did not hold any of the above six titles. It was subdivided into four ranks: ** ''Terigun Zereg-un Taiji'' ( ), first-rank ''hohi taiji'' who was eligible for a hereditary lordship over a ''hoshun''. He drew an annual income of 100 taels of silver and four rolls of silk. ** ''Ded Zereg-un Taiji'' ( ), second-rank ''hohi taiji'' who was also eligible for a hereditary lordship over a ''hoshun''. He drew an annual income of 90 taels of silver and three rolls of silk. ** ''Gutugaar Zereg-un Taiji'' ( ), third-rank ''hohi taiji''. ** ''Dötugeer Zereg-un Taiji'' (), fourth-rank ''hohi taiji'' who drew an annual income of 40 taels of silver and held four serfs. BaatarVan1914on

Generic titles

Apart from the above ranks, the nobles were also divided into two types: * ''Töröl Taiji'' (literally "related nobles"), members of the 'Altan Urug' and descendants of Genghis Khan. * ''Khariyatu Taiji'' (literally "subject nobles"), descendants of

, Belgutei and Genghis Khan's brothers, or of Tooril Khan and ''Tumetu-iin Noyan''s. Other titles used to refer to Mongolian nobles include: * ''A-ge'' ( 阿哥), a son of a noble family. * ''Tabunang'' ( 塔布囊), a son-in-law of a noble family.

Non-noble titles

* ''Soumon Albatu'' (сумын албат), referred to a serf in general * ''Hamjilga'' (хамжлага), referred to a serf of a noble family * ''Shabi'' (шавь), referred to a servant of a ''hotogtu'' (; a title awarded by the

Dalai Lama The Dalai Lama (, ; ) is the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The term is part of the full title "Holiness Knowing Everything Vajradhara Dalai Lama" (圣识一切瓦齐尔达喇达赖喇嘛) given by Altan Khan, the first Shu ...

Panchen Lama The Panchen Lama () is a tulku of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Panchen Lama is one of the most important figures in the Gelug tradition, with its spiritual authority second only to the Dalai Lama. Along with the council of high la ...

)

References

{{Nobility by nation Social history of Mongolia Nobility in Asia

Mongol Empire (1206–1368) and Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)

Nobility titles

Military Ranks

Female titles

Northern Yuan dynasty (1368–1635)

Nobility titles

Female titles

Qing dynasty (1691–1911) and Bogd Khaganate (1911–1924)

Nobility titles

Generic titles

Non-noble titles

See also

References