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{{Short description|Ancient Central Asian title}}
{{About|the ancient Central Asian title|other uses|Tarkan (disambiguation){{!}}Tarkan|and|Darkhan (disambiguation){{!}}Darkhan}}
{{special characters}}
'''Tarkhan''' ({{langx|otk|𐱃𐰺𐰴𐰣|Tarqan}},<ref name="Turkic1">{{Citation | place = [[Korea|KR]] | date = Oct 2005 | url = http://www.iacd.or.kr/pdf/journal/05/5-10.pdf | title = A Study of the Ancient Turkic "TARQAN" | first = Han-Woo | last = Choi | publisher = Handong University | access-date = 2010-11-28 | archive-date = 2021-03-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210311120254/http://www.iacd.or.kr/pdf/journal/05/5-10.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> {{langx|mn|{{mongolUnicode|ᠳᠠᠷᠬᠠᠨ}}}} {{Transliteration|mn|Darqan}} or {{Transliteration|mn|Darkhan}};<ref>{{Citation | first = Leland Liu | last = Rogers | title = The Golden Summary of Cinggis Qayan: Cinggis Qayan-u Altan Tobci | page = 80}}</ref><ref name="Genghis Khan p.82">{{Citation | first = Paul | last = Ratchnevsky | title = Genghis Khan: his life and legacy | page = 82}}</ref> {{langx|fa|ترخان}}; {{lang-zh|c=達干/達爾罕/答剌罕}}; {{langx |ar|ترخان}}; {{langx|pnb|{{nq|ترکھاݨ}}}}; alternative spellings ''Tarkan'', ''Tarkhaan'', ''Tarqan'', ''Tarchan'', ''Turxan'', ''Tarcan'', ''Turgan, Tárkány, Tarján, Tarxan'') is an ancient [[Central Asian]] title used by various [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]], [[Hungarians|Hungarian]], [[Mongols|Mongolic]], and [[Iranian peoples]]. Its use was common among the successors of the [[Mongol Empire]] and [[First Turkic Khaganate|Turkic Khaganate]].

==Etymology==
{{Cleanup lang|section|date=November 2021}}
The origin of the word is not known. Various historians identify the word as either [[Eastern Iranian languages|East Iranian]] ([[Sogdian language|Sogdian]] or [[Saka language|Khotanese Saka]])<ref name="Qarib">{{Citation | last = Qarīb | first = Badr-az-Zamān | year = 1995 | title = Sogdian dictionary: Sogdian – Persian – English | place = Tehran | publisher = Farhangan}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Doerfer | first = Gerhard | author-link = Gerhard Doerfer | year = 1993 | title = Chaladschica extragottingensia | journal = Central Asiatic Journal | volume = 37 | number = 1–2  | page = 43}}</ref><ref name="Ossetic">{{Citation | first = Agustí | last = Alemany | title = Sources on the Alans | publisher = Brill | year = 2000 | page = 328 | quote = Abaev considers this word (lacking in a Turco-Mongolian etymology), as well Old Hungarian tarchan “olim judex”, borrowing from Scythians (Alans) *tarxan “judge” -> Ossetian. Taerxon “argument, trial”; cf. the Ossete idioms taerxon kaenyn “to judge” (+ kænyn “to do”) and tærxon læg “judge” (+l æg man).  Iron ævzag}}</ref> or [[Turkic languages|Turkic]].<ref name="Turkic1" /><ref>Róna-Tas, András; "[https://books.google.com/books?id=tQi4AAAAIAAJ&q=Tarkhan Hungarians and Europe in the early Middle Ages]", Central European University Press, p 228, 1999, {{ISBN|9639116483}}</ref><ref name="Turkic2">{{Citation | last = Frye | first = Richard N | title = Tarxun-Turxun and Central Asian History | journal = Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies | date = 1951 | volume = 14 | number = 1/2 | pages = 105–29| doi = 10.2307/2718297 | jstor = 2718297 }}</ref>

Although [[Richard N. Frye]] reports that the word "was probably foreign to Sogdian", [[Gerhard Doerfer]] points out that even in Turkic languages, its [[plural]] is not Turkic (sing. ''tarxan'' → plur. ''tarx'''at'''''), suggesting a non-Turkic origin.<ref name="Doerfer">{{Citation | first = Gerhard | last = Doerfer | title = Mongolo-Tungusica | editor-first = O | editor-last = Harrassowitz | year = 1985 | publisher = University of Virginia}}</ref> L. Ligeti comes to the same conclusion, saying that "''tarxan'' and ''tegin'' [prince] form the wholly un-Turkic plurals ''tarxat'' and ''tegit''" and that the word was unknown to medieval western Turkic languages, such as [[Bulgar language|Bulgar]].<ref>{{Citation | first = L | last = Ligeti | title = Researches in Altaic languages | editor-first = A | editor-last = Kiadó | year = 1975 | publisher = University of Michigan | page = 48}}</ref> Taking this into consideration, the word may be derived from medieval Mongolian {{Transliteration|xng|darqat}} (plural suffix ''-at''), itself perhaps derived from the earlier Sogdian word ''*''{{Transliteration|sog|tarxant}} ('free of taxes').<ref name = "Doerfer" /> A. Alemany gives the additional elaboration that the possibly related East Iranian Scytho-Sarmatian (and [[Alans|Alanic]]) word ''*''{{Transliteration|xsc|tarxan}} still survives in [[Ossetian language|Ossetic]] {{Transliteration|os|tærxon}} ('argument, trial') and {{Transliteration|os|tærxon kænyn}} ('to judge').<ref name="Ossetic" /> [[Harold Walter Bailey]] also proposes an Iranian ([[Saka language|Khotanese Saka]]) root for the word,<ref>{{Citation | last = Bailey | first = Harold W | year = 1985 | url = https://archive.org/details/EtymologyOfXiongnuNamesByTheLateH.w.Bailey | title = Indo-Scythian Studies: being Khotanese Texts | volume = VII | publisher = Cambridge Univ. Press}}</ref> L. Rogers and [[Edwin G. Pulleyblank]] argue that the Mongolian word may have actually originated among the [[Xiongnu]], as a pronunciation of the word recorded in [[Old Chinese]] as ''[[chanyu]]'', which Pulleyblank argues may have originally represented a Chinese approximation of ''dān-ĥwāĥ'' for ''*darxan''.<ref name="Universität Bonn.">Universität Bonn. Seminar für Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft Zentralasiens: Zentralasiatische Studien, Vol. 24–26, p.21</ref>

==History==
As a title, Tarkhan was used among the [[Sogdia]]n,<ref name="Qarib"/> [[Saka]], [[Hephthalites|Hephthalite]], [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]], and [[proto-Mongols|proto-Mongol]] peoples of [[Central Asia]] and by other [[Eurasian nomads]]. It was a high rank in the army of [[Timur]]. Tarkhans commanded military contingents (roughly of regimental size under the Turkic [[Khazars]]) and were, roughly speaking, [[general officer|generals]]. They could also be assigned as military governors of conquered regions.

The [[Göktürks]] probably adopted the title darqan from the [[Rouran Khaganate|Rourans]] or [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]].<ref>{{Citation | author= Pelliot | title = Neuf Notes | language = French |trans-title=Nine notes | page = 250}}</ref> ''Oğul Tarqan'' (𐰆𐰍𐰞𐱃𐰺𐰴𐰣) and other ''tarqat'' (𐱃𐰺𐰴𐱃) were mentioned in the [[Orkhon inscriptions|Orkhon inscription]] of [[Kul Tigin]] (d. c. 731 CE).<ref>[https://bitig.kz/?lang=e&mod=1&tid=1&oid=15&m=1 "Kül Tigin inscription"], 2nd side: line 11, 3rd side: line 1. published and translated by ''Türik Bitig''</ref> They were given high honors such as entering the [[yurt]] of the [[khagan]] without any prior appointment and shown unusual ninefold pardon to the ninth generation from any crime they committed.<ref>{{Citation | last = Eberhard | title = Conquerors and Rulers | page = 98}}</ref> Although the etymology of the word is unknown, it is attested under the [[Khitan people]], whose [[Liao dynasty]] ruled most of Mongolia and [[North China]] from 916 to 1125.<ref>{{Citation | last = Wittfogel  | title = Liao dynasty | page = 433|display-authors=etal}}</ref> G. Clauson argued that Tarqan in Ancient Turkic was considered to be the supreme title and was not even, like [[Tegin]] and [[Shad (prince)|Shad]], peculiar to the royal family, but that it was still a high title, carrying administrative responsibility.<ref>G. Clauson, (1972) 539</ref>

The title has had different meanings in different times. In [[Uyghur Khaganate|Uyghurs]], it meant 'deputy, minister'. To [[Oghuz Turks]], it meant 'head constable'.<ref>Tekin (1983) 836)</ref><ref>Aydın (2016), p. 19-20</ref>

Like many titles, Tarkhan also occurs as a personal name, independent of a person's rank, which makes some historical references confusing.  For example, [[Arabic language|Arabic]] texts refer to a "Tarkhan, king of the Khazars" as reigning in the mid ninth century. Whether this is a confused reference to a military official or the name of an individual Khazar [[khagan]] remains unclear. The name is occasionally used today in Turkish and Arabic speaking countries. It is used as family name in Hungary today.

In the [[Mongol Empire]], the darkhans were exempted from taxation, socage and requisitioning. [[Genghis Khan]] made those who helped his rise darkhans in 1206. The families of the darkhans played crucial roles later when the succession crisis occurred in [[Yuan dynasty]] and [[Ilkhanate]]. [[Abaqa Khan]] (1234–82) made an [[Indian people|Indian]] Darkhan after he had led his mother and her team all the way from Central Asia to Persia safely. A wealthy merchant of Persia was made a Darkhan by [[Ghazan]] (1271–1304) for his service during the early defeat of the Ilkhan. In Russia, the Khans of the [[Golden Horde]] assigned important tasks to the Darkhan. A [[jarlig]] of [[Temür Qutlugh]] (ca. 1370–1399) authorized rights of the tarkhan of Crimea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reff.net.ua/26327-YArlyki_hanov_Zolotoiy_Ordy_kak_istochnik_prava_i_kak_istochnik_po_istorii_prava.html|title = Ярлики ханів Золотої Орди як джерело права і як джерело з історії права}}</ref>

After suppressing the rebellion of the right three tumens in Mongolia, [[Dayan Khan]] exempted his soldiers, who participated the battle of Dalan-Terqin, from imposts and made them Darkhan in 1513. Even after the collapse of [[Northern Yuan dynasty]] with the death of [[Ligdan Khan]] in 1635, the title of darkhan continued to be bestowed on religious dignitaries, sometimes on persons of low birth. For example, in 1665, [[Erinchin Lobsang Tayiji]], the [[Altan Khan of the Khalkha]], bestowed the title on a Russian interpreter and requested the [[Tsar#Russia|Tsar of Russia]] to exempt the interpreter from all tax obligations.<ref name="Genghis Khan p.82" />

A tarkhan of the [[Arghun dynasty]], Muhammad 'Isa Tarkhan, established the [[Tarkhan dynasty]], which ruled [[Sindh]] from 1554 to 1591.

All craftsmen held the status of darkhan and were immune to occasional requisitions levied incessantly by passing imperial envoys.<ref>{{Citation | first = Christopher | last = Atwood | title = Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire | page = 25}}</ref> From then on, the word referred to craftsmen or [[blacksmith]]s<ref>{{Citation | first = Paul | last = Ratchnevsky | title = Genghis Khan: his life and legacy | page = 243}}</ref> in the [[Mongolian language]] now and is still used in Mongolia as privilege.<ref>{{Citation | first = Michael | last = Kohn | title = Mongolia | page = 126}}</ref> People who served the [[Orda (organization)|Khagan's orda]] were granted the title of darkhan and their descendants are known as the ''darkhad'' in [[Ordos City]], [[Inner Mongolia]].

One of the seven [[Magyar tribes|Magyar (Hungarian) tribes]] was called Tarjan ({{Lang|grc|Ταριάνου}}) according to [[Constantine VII|Constantin VII]]'s [[De Administrando Imperio]], and it is a common geographical name used in many villages and city names.

==Notable people==
* [[Tonyukuk]], General commander of [[Second Turkic Khaganate]]
* [[Kül Tigin]], a [[tegin]] of [[Second Turkic Khaganate]], was named tarkhan posthumously
* [[Kül-chor]], [[Türgesh]] Kaghan
* [[Tun Baga Tarkhan]], fourth [[Khagan]] of [[Uyghur Khaganate]]
* [[Chorpan Tarkhan]], [[Khazars|Khazar]] commander
* [[Mirza Ghazi Beg]], Ruler of [[Tarkhan dynasty]], [[Sindh]]
* [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]], Ruler of [[Ramgarhia Misl]], [[Punjab]]

==In popular culture==
* In [[C. S. Lewis]]' ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' series of novels, the apparent spelling variation ''Tarkaan'' is the title of a [[Calormen]] nobleman, ''tarkheena'' that of a noble woman.
* In ''[[Age of Empires II: The Conquerors]]'', the ''tarkan'' is the Huns' unique unit with the appearance of a horseman with a torch and scourge in place of sword. Their strength is destroying buildings.
* Tarkan in the [[Tarkan (comics)|comic Tarkan]] is a fictional Hun warrior created by Turkish cartoonist Sezgin Burak.
* ''Tarkan: Golden medallion'', Turkish film, 1973.
* "Tarkhan" is a military title used by recruitable allies in the 2021 action-strategy video game [[HighFleet]]
* The Bulgaria civilization in 2025's ''[[Civilization VII]]'' features the Tarkhan as a unique civilian unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://civilization.2k.com/civ-vii/game-guide/civilizations/bulgaria/|title=BULGARIA - EXPLORATION AGE CIVILIZATION|publisher=[[2K Games]]|website=civilization.2k.com|access-date=August 25, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Astrakhan]], a city in [[Russia]] named after a Tarkhan
* [[Tamantarkhan]], a [[Khazar]] fortress in present-day [[Taman, Russia]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ai-press.com/Solclranks.html Terminology in Russian history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227185749/http://ai-press.com/Solclranks.html |date=2016-12-27 }}

{{Mongol Empire}}
{{Post-imperial Mongolia}}

[[Category:Turkish words and phrases]]
[[Category:Turkic culture]]
[[Category:Khazar titles]]
[[Category:Military ranks]]
[[Category:Sogdian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Mongol Empire]]
[[Category:Bulgarian noble titles]]
[[Category:Titles of the Göktürks]]
[[Category:Mongolian words and phrases]]