khaan

Khaan is a transliteration variant of the title khagan, used in several Turkic and Mongolic languages to denote a supreme ruler or emperor. The term derives from Turkic qağan and is closely related to the word Khan, though khagan traditionally signifies a higher, sovereign authority over a broad empire or confederation. In English-language sources, khagan is more common, while Khaan appears in certain transliterations and in popular media.

Historically, the title khagan was used by powerful nomadic and steppe polities across Central Asia. It designated the supreme ruler of vast, multi-tribal confederations and later of large empires. Notable bearers include the rulers associated with the Xiongnu, the Göktürk Khaganate, and the Mongol Empire. The Mongol era featured several prominent khagans, such as Chinggis Khan (Chinggis Khaan), Ögedei Khagan, and Kublai Khagan, who governed the unified Mongol state or its successor realms. The position was sometimes hereditary within dynasties and at other times established by selection or election among leading nobles.

In modern usage, Khaan appears mainly in historical writing, re-creations, and popular culture to evoke Mongol or Central Asian imperial imagery. It is less common as a conventional title today than Khan, which is widely used as a surname, given name, or generic honorific in many regions. The distinction between Khan and Khagan (and their transliterations) reflects differences in rank and the scope of authority within historical empires.

See also: Khan, Khaganate.