Institution

Khagan

Also known as Qaghan, qaghan

Khagan, also qaghan, was the title of the supreme ruler among the Turkic and Mongol peoples, meaning khan of khans. It was used by the rulers of the Gokturk Empire and the Khazar Khaganate. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was hailed by steppe peoples as Heavenly Khagan.

Mentioned in 7 profiles

Gokturk EmpireFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Decline Khazar KhaganateFoundation, Governance, Impact Tang DynastyFoundation Rouran KhaganateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, Decline, Summary Kara-Khanid KhanateFoundation Liao dynastyFoundation Avar KhaganateFoundation, Military, Governance, Decline, Summary

Mentioned in 13 state histories

Tuyuhun Rouran Khaganate Avar Khaganate Eastern Turkic Khaganate Western Turkic Khaganate Xueyantuo Second Turkic Khaganate Kimek Khanate Karluk Yabgu Rus' Khaganate Kara-Khanid Khanate Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganateand 1 more

See also

Cite this entry

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Khagan. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/khagan
MLA: “Khagan.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/khagan. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Khagan.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/khagan.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Khagan’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/khagan (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻