Noyan

For other uses, see Noyan (disambiguation).

Noyan was a Central Asian title of authority of Turkic origin which was used to refer to military commanders of noble ancestry in the Central Asian Turkic Khanates. In modern times it is used as a given name or surname in Turkey and throughout Central Asia meaning “the commander-in-chief”, “the lord”, “the protector” .

Mongol Empire & Present-day Mongolia

The variant Noyon was also used as a title of authority in the Mongol Empire and later periods.

Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren, also called "Good Noyan Khan Namnansuren" in the Mongolian language

Initially, it was a term for a military commander in the army of Genghis Khan: the term "Noyon" applied to commanders of Tumens and Mingghans, military units of 10,000 and 1,000 soldiers respectively. During conquests, Noyons used to receive territories for administration and they effectively became aristocracy, into the 20th century. Noyons were above the ordinary Mongols in social rank but below the descendants of Genghis Khan. They were sometimes called emir or bey in the Ulus of Jochi, the Ilkhanate and the Chagatai Khanate while the Yuan records gave the equivalent as guanren, since their main task was waging warfare.

Usually notable persons are referred to followed "Noyon", similarly to the usage of the title "Khan" or "Bey", e.g., Jebe Noyon, Chormaqan Noyon and Baiju Noyon.

The Qing Dynasty, which ruled Mongolia from 1694 to 1911, entrusted rule in Mongolia to the descendants of Genghis Khan, who were also called Noyon. The term Noyon in this epoch acquired the connotation of nobleman, since Mongolia was mostly at peace. After 1921 the word Darga (boss) replaced the aristocratic Noyon as the term for officials.

In modern Mongolic the word is used as a form of address similar to "Mister" or "Monsieur".