Noyan (pl. noyad), or Toyon, was a Central Asian title of authority which was used to refer to civil-military leaders of noble ancestry in the Central Asian Khanates with origins in Noyon, which was used as a title of authority in the Chagatai Khanate of the Mongol Empire. In modern times, Noyan is used as a given name or surname in Asia meaning "the lord", "the prince", "the protector", "the commander-in-chief".
Pre-Genghisid period
Initially, Noyan was a title for chieftains of Mongolian nomad communities.
Mongol Empire and successor states
Under
Genghis Khan the term "
Noyon" applied to leaders of
Tumens and
, civil and military units of 10,000 and 1,000 households respectively, each of them with one recruitable soldier. In times of peace the
Noyons ruled as lords over these households and governed the use of the pasture lands. In times of war they led the warriors of their Tumens and Mingghans.
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 historical records of the
Yuan dynasty of China gave the equivalent as
guanren (官人).
Usually, "Noyon" followed the name of a person similar to the usage of the title "Khan" or "Bey".
Qing dynasty
The
Qing dynasty of China, 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.
[C.P.Atwood-Encyclopedia of Mongolia, p.412]
Modern Mongolia
In modern Mongolian, the word is used as a form of address similar to "Mister" or "
Monsieur".
Religious context
In the mongolian shamanism and folk religion the Noyad are a class of local spirits. They are regarded as descendants of gods or clan elders.
Noyon is also used as an honorary title in mongolian buddhism for the incarnation line of the Noyon Khutagt.
Notable Noyons
Other meanings
Noyan (Bengali name): A common Bangladeshi variant of the name Nayan, meaning "eyes"
. The name is of Sanskrit origin (Nayana / नयन). It represents, among other things, wisdom, deep insight and understanding
. Another common spelling in Bangladesh is Noyon.
Notes
