The exact meaning depends on context: • Khan of the nation. The earliest mention of a similar title in this meaning, namely "Illig Qaghan", refers to
Bumin Qaghan and dates to 552 CE. (In fact,
Nikolai Gumilyov transcribes Bumin's title as "ilkhan".) • More recently, the tribal chief that heads both branches of the
Bakhtiari people, under whom several
khans operate (20th century CE). In the context of the
Hulaguid dynasty, commonly known as the
Ilkhanate, the title
Ilkhan was borne by the descendants of Hulagu and later other
Borjigin princes in
Persia, starting from c. 1259–1265. Two interpretations have been proposed: • 'submissive', 'peaceable', 'obedient', or 'subservient' khan, or 'polity prince'. Possibly equivalent to Chinese , and to Islamic
sultan. Here the lesser "khanship" intended to indicate the initial deference of Hulagu to
Möngke Khan and his successor Great Khans of the
Mongol Empire. • Sovereign khan. From
ilig khan. It was possibly equivalent to Chinese ('Emperor with a genuine mandate'). It was to be construed as a power over regional affairs, not in opposition to the Great Khan, yet not conferred by him. The title of
Il Khan was used consistently only in the first half of the dynasty, and after the reign of
Geikhatu it was rarely used, with the titles
Padishah or
Sultan being used instead. ==In fiction==