Lesser Khan

Rouran epoch Göktürk epoch Uyghur epoch Kirghiz epoch

Rouran First Göktürk Tang rule Second Göktürk Uyghur Kirghiz Huns Western Göktürk Türgesh Karluk Khazar

Rouran 400–554
First Göktürk 552–630
Tang rule 630–682
Second Göktürk 682–744
Uyghur 744–840
Kirghiz 840–924
Huns 370–469
Western Göktürk 552–659
Türgesh 699–766
Karluk 766–800
Khazar 650–969

The Göktürk khaganate carried more than one throne. Below the khan stood a second throne. The Chinese histories call the man on it the Lesser Khan, 小可汗.^[1] The arrangement let a khan bind a son or a brother into the succession without waiting for his death. It also let him put a wing of the realm under a man of his own house.

The second throne also gave a coup its target. Kapgan ruled twenty-four years and set his own son Inel on it. Within days of Kapgan’s death in 716, Kül Tegin had killed the Lesser Khan, Kapgan’s sons and his court, and put his own elder brother on the first throne.^[1]

Whether the office was fixed or granted case by case is not settled. The sources name the holders, not the rule.