ikhan

The term "ikhan" or "Ilkhan" refers to a historical administrative division within the Mongol Empire, specifically a large territorial division ruled by a descendant of Genghis Khan. These divisions, often referred to as khanates, were established after Genghis Khan's death as a way to govern his vast empire. The most prominent of these was the Ilkhanate, centered in Persia, which existed from the 13th to the 14th centuries. Other significant ilkhans ruled over territories that would become the Golden Horde, the Chagatai Khanate, and the Yuan Dynasty in China.

The rulers of these ilkhanates held significant autonomy, although they were theoretically bound by their allegiance to the Great Khan. Over time, these divisions often became independent states, developing their own distinct cultures, administrative systems, and political trajectories. The Ilkhanate in Persia, for instance, played a crucial role in the region's history, influencing its art, architecture, and religious landscape, particularly under rulers like Hulegu Khan. The system of ilkhans ultimately contributed to the fragmentation of the unified Mongol Empire into separate, often competing, successor states.