khatun

Khatun, also spelled khatun or qatun, is a title of noble rank in Turkic and Mongolic languages, used for women of high status, especially wives and mothers of khans, and occasionally for queens and regents. The term derives from a common Turkic word meaning “woman” or “lady” and has cognates in related languages; it spread through Central Asian steppe cultures and later appeared in medieval Persian and Turkish sources.

In the Mongol and Turkic worlds, Khatun was typically conferred on female relatives of a ruler and could imply authority within the court. In some periods, women bearing the title acted as regents or de facto rulers during the absence or minority of a khan. The best-known example is Töregene Khatun, who served as regent of the Mongol Empire in the mid-13th century, directing state affairs and imperial appointments. The title also appears in various other royal and noble households across the steppe, reflecting the important though often behind-the-scenes influence of royal women in nomadic and early imperial politics.

In later centuries, Khatun and its variants entered Persian and Turkic naming practices and is found in modern times as a feminine given name or surname in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the broader Turkic world. Spelling variations include Khatun, Qatun, Khatoon, or Katun, depending on language and transcription conventions.