Mongolian nobility
Encyclopedia
The Mongolian nobility
( yazgurtan; survaljtan) arose in the 10-12th centuries, became prominent in the 13th century, and essentially governed Mongolia
until the early 20th century.
The Mongolian
word for nobility, Yazgurtan, derives from the Mongol word yazgur, meaning the Root.
The above titles would be decorated with styles.
Besides the above ranking, the nobles were also divided into 2 types:
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
( yazgurtan; survaljtan) arose in the 10-12th centuries, became prominent in the 13th century, and essentially governed Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
until the early 20th century.
The Mongolian
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
word for nobility, Yazgurtan, derives from the Mongol word yazgur, meaning the Root.
Nobility titles
- Ihe Khaan (KhaganKhaganKhagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
) - Great Khaan, Emperor - Guo Wang - State Wang, the second title after the Great Khaan. Muhulai (Muqali) of Jalair was appointed the Guo Wang.
- JinongJinongJinong was a title of the Mongols. It was derived from Chinese Jinwang although some historians have suggested it originates from Qinwang...
- Prince Royal, nominated to succeed the Great Khaan. During Yuan Dynasty, the Jinong resided in Karakorum and administered MongoliaMongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
Proper
- TaijiTaiji (Mongol title)Taiji is the title of the nobility among the Mongols from the 16th century. The title originated from Chinese taizi and was first used for the proliferating aristocracy composed of sons and descendants of Batu-MÖngke Dayan Khan...
- Prince
Military ranks
- Tumetu-iin NoyanNoyanNoyan, noyon was a title of authority in the Mongol Empire and later periods...
- Lord of 10,000 warriors. There were 9 Tumens in 1206. By 1368 there were 40 Mongol Tumens and 4 Oirat Tumens - Minggan-u Noyan - Lord of 1,000 warriors
- Jagutu-iin Darga - Commander of 100 warriors
- Arban-u Darga - Commander of 10 warriors
- Cherbi - Head of the KheshigKheshigKheshig were the imperial guard for Mongol royalty in the Mongol Empire, particularly for the rulers like the Genghis Khan and his wife Borte. Their primary purpose was as a body guard for the emperors and rulers and to protect them during the day and night...
Female titles
- KhatunKhatunKhatun is a female title of nobility and alternative to male "khan" prominently used in the First Turkic Empire and in the subsequent Mongol Empire...
- queen and ladies - Gongzhu - princess, daughter of a noble family
- Behi - lady
Nobility titles
- Khaan (KhaganKhaganKhagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
) - ruler of the country. - Khan - by the mid-16th century, there would be a number of khans in Mongolia as local feudal lords claimed the title for themselves. Khaan and Khan were 2 different titles: Khaan (long "a") and Khan (short "a"). Khaan was the title of the ruler of the country, while the local feudal lords had the title Khan.
- Jinong - Prince Royal, nominated to succeed the Great Khaan. Resided in the Right Wings (modern Inner Mongolia). From the 15th century, the title became hereditary and not necessarily preserved to the nominee of the Khaan's heir
- Hongtaiji - a descendant of Genghis KhaanGenghis KhanGenghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
with a fief or a prince (Huang Taizi) - TaijiTaiji (Mongol title)Taiji is the title of the nobility among the Mongols from the 16th century. The title originated from Chinese taizi and was first used for the proliferating aristocracy composed of sons and descendants of Batu-MÖngke Dayan Khan...
- Descendants of Genghis Khan - Wang - a descendant of Hasar and other brothers of Genghis KhaanGenghis KhanGenghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
with a fief - Taishi - a noble of a non-BorjiginBorjiginBorjigin , also known as the Altan urug , were the imperial clan of Genghis Khan and his successors....
clan with a fief such as descendants of the Tumetu-iin Noyans or a non-Borjigin chieftain
Female titles
- Taihu - queen, spouse of the Khaan
- KhatunKhatunKhatun is a female title of nobility and alternative to male "khan" prominently used in the First Turkic Empire and in the subsequent Mongol Empire...
- queen and ladies - Gongzhu - princess, daughter of a noble family
- Behichi (Beiji) - lady, spouse of a prince
Non-gentry estates
- Sain humun - lit. good man, a rich person
- Dund humun - lit. middle man
- Magu humun - lit. bad man, a poor person
- Hitad humun - lit. Chinese man, a slave
Qing period and Boghda Khaan Mongolia
Nobility titles
- Khan (not KhaanKhaganKhagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
or KhaganKhaganKhagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
) - Lord of a hoshun. There were 4 Khans in Khalha: Tushietu Khan, Zasagtu Khan, Secen Khan and Sain Noyan Khan, and 2 Khans in Kobdo Region: Tögs Hülüg Dalai Khan and Ünen Zorigtu Khan. They were khan rather than khaan. Despite the association of the 4 aimagAimagAimag is a Mongolian and Turkic word for a tribe.It is also used as a term for country subdivisions in Mongolia and China, see aimag .The name of the Aimak people in central Afghanistan derives from the same root....
s with these titles, their power was restricted to their hoshuns only. They would communicate with the Manchu court just as any other Lord of a hoshun. - Chin Wang - Lord of a hoshun. Some Wangs were ranked as Hoshoi Chin Wang - "Chin Wang twice". Annual income 2500 lang silver and 40 silk roll. 60 serfs.
- Giyün Wang - Lord of a hoshun. Annual income 1200-2000 lang silver and 15-25 silk roll. 50 serfs.
- Beile - Lord of a hoshun. Annual income 600 lang silver and 13 silk roll. 40 serfs.
- Beise - Lord of a hoshun. Annual income 500 lang silver and 10 silk roll.
- Tushiye Gong - Lord of a hoshun. Annual income 300 lang silver and 9 silk roll.
- Tusalagchi Gong - Lord of a hoshun. Annual income 200 lang silver and 7 silk roll.
The above titles would be decorated with styles.
- Hohi Taiji - Untitled Gentry. There were 4 ranks:
- Terigun Zereg-un Taiji - Gentry of the 1st rank could also be granted a hereditary lordship over a hoshun. Annual income 100 lang silver and 4 silk roll.
- Ded Zereg-un Taiji - Gentry of the 2nd rank could also be granted a hereditary lordship over a hoshun. Annual income 90 lang silver and 3 silk roll.
- Gutagaar Zereg-un Taiji - Gentry of the 3rd rank. Annual income ... lang silver and ... silk roll.
- Dötugeer Zereg-un Taiji - Gentry of the 4th rank. Annual income 40 lang silver only. 4 serfs.
Besides the above ranking, the nobles were also divided into 2 types:
- Töröl Taiji (literally, "related nobles") - members of 'Altan Urug', who are descendants of Genghis Khaan.
- Khariyatu Taiji (literally, "subject nobles") - descendants of KhasarJöchi KhasarHasar was one of Genghis Khan's three full brothers. According to the Jami' al-Tawarikh, his given name was Jo'chi and he got the nickname Khasar after his distinguished bravery...
, BelguteiBelguteiBelgutei was the son of Yesugei and half-brother to Genghis Khan.He also became general to Genghis Khan.-Ancestry:...
and other brothers of Genghis Khaan, descendants of Tooril KhanWang KhanWang Khan, also Ong Khan, was the title given to the Kerait ruler Toghrul by the Jurchen Jin Dynasty of China. Like the rest of their tribe he may have been Nestorian Christian...
of Kereit, descendants of Tumetu-iin Noyans.
- Age - son born to a noble family.
- Tabunang - son-in-law of a noble family.
Non-gentry estates
- Soumon Albatu - state serf
- Hamjilga - serf of a nobleman
- Shabi - serf of a Hutuhtu, of an incarnation of a Buddhist deity
See also
- History of MongoliaHistory of MongoliaThe area of what is now Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Nirun, the Gökturks, and others. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. After the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty in 1368, the Mongols returned to their earlier patterns...
- List of Mongolian monarchs
- Timeline of Mongolian historyTimeline of Mongolian history-Qing Era:*1619-32: Ligden Khan, the last Mongol Great Khan, aims tocentralize imperial control over the various Mongol tribes, but alienates a number of Eastern Mongol tribes who go over to the Manchus....