From Title to Identity

A Review on the Transformation of the Title “Il-Khan” into the “Ilkhanate”

Bibliographic Data

ID22096489
Authorsİlyas Kemaloğlu (0000-0002-8350-5834, Marmara University), Aykut Buğra Derin (0000-0002-1377-0093)
Year2026
Volume14
Issue2
Pages314
Publication date2026-07-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGolden Horde Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2308-152X • E-ISSN: 2313-6197
PublisherTatarstan Academy of Sciences (PUBLISHER • RU)
DOI10.22378/2313-6197.2026-14-2.314-324
OpenAlexW7166843795
LanguageEN
References cited8

Research Objective: The title il-khan/īl-khān/ایلخان appears in historical literature both as a state name describing the Mongol rulers of Iran (Ilkhanids / ایل خانان / Īlkhānān) and as a title used by members of the ruling dynasty. The compound word, formed by combining two Turkic nouns (-il and -han/-khan), has been interpreted in different semantic ways. Researchers believe this title can have two different meanings: either “a khan subordinate to the great khan/qa’an” or “an independent khan”, emphasizing regional sovereignty. In this study, taking into account the political atmosphere of the period, we will attempt to answer the question of how and in what sense the term was used in written sources and in coinage. To this end, a conceptual framework will first be established and the etymology of the title will be explained, followed by an examination of its emergence within its political context. In conclusion, this study will attempt to shed light on the process by which this title, which we will examine in several stages, transformed into a name defining the Mongols of Iran. Research Materials: In our research, primary sources such as letters from the Hulaguids (Hulagu’s Dynasty) containing records about the founding of the Ilkhanate and the term ilkhan, along with Persian, Arabic, Armenian, sources, and collections of coins from this period, were examined in coordination. In addition, research works such as dictionaries, articles, and books written by modern researchers on the title of il-khan have been frequently used. Research Results and Novelty: The term il-khan, used to refer to the members of the Hulaguids and the state they established in Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Anatolia, has been the subject of numerous modern studies from both etymological and conceptual perspectives. The general interpretation is that the title il-khan refers to “a khan who is obedient and subordinate to the great khan” or “the ruler of a region/people”. From our perspective, the two interpretations should not be mutually exclusive. Indeed, the Ilkhanate, established as a result of Hulagu’s westward campaign, presents a picture that politically combines both of these definitions. While this campaign was initially undertaken in accordance with Möngke Qa’an’s military priorities, it ultimately culminated in the emergence of an independent state under the leadership of Hulagu and his family. In other words, while Hulagu was sent to the region as ilkhan, meaning subordinate to the great khan, over time Hulagids became “ilkhan,” that is, the khans of the il (region/people) over which the Jochid Ulus also claimed sovereignty

Comparative historical research · Etymology · Noun · Politics · Proper noun · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Islamic Studies and History · Linguistics and Cultural Studies

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