Khan

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Subservient Khans

Military ranks

The title khan was also used as a military officer rank in certain armies, especially following the decimal organisation (already known from Achaemenid Persia) of Genghis Khan's conquering 'hords' (actually under the strictest discipline). In some muslim-states in India, especially the Delhi sultanate (which aborbed all under the Mughal dynasty), a Khan was a high-ranking imperial general, commanding at least a lac (i.e. 100.000) horseman, being placed over 10 Maliks, each of which commanded Amirs (so 100 under a Khan), who each command 10 Sipah salars (so 1000 per Khan), each commanding 10 Sar-i-khails (so 10.000 per Khan) who each commanded 10 ordinary horsemen - thus it was described in person by Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud bughra khan advising his son Muizuddin Kaiqobad (sultan of Delhi, 1287-1290).

Related Topics:
Genghis Khan - Mughal - Malik - Amir - Sipah salar - Sar-i-khail - Nasiruddin Mahmud bughra khan - Muizuddin Kaiqobad

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Honorary titles

The titles Khan and Khan Bahadur (one rank higher) were also bestowed in India by the Great mughal, and later by the British Raj, as an honor akin to the ranks of nobility, often for loyalty to the crown.

Related Topics:
Khan Bahadur - Great mughal - British Raj

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• It seems unclear whether the series of titles knwon from the Bengal sultanate, including Khan, Khan ul Muazzam, Khan-ul-Azam, Khan-ul-Azam-ul-Muazzam etc and Khaqan, Khaqan-ul-Muazzam, Khaqan-ul-Azam, Khaqan-ul-Azam-ul-Muazzam etc, are merely honorific or perhaps relate to a military hierarchy