Khan

Clan Rank Insignias
(Jade Falcon as example)
JadeFalcon-TBKhan.png Khan
JadeFalcon-TBKhan.png saKhan
JadeFalcon-TBGalaxyCommander.png Galaxy Commander
JadeFalcon-TBStarColonel.png Star Colonel
JadeFalcon-TBStarCaptain.png Star Captain
JadeFalcon-TBStarCommander.png Star Commander
JadeFalcon-TBPointCommander.png Point Commander

Khan (also known as kaKhan) is a high rank in Clan society, designating the leader of a Clan.

When the Clan requires military action above the small scale skirmishes that are Trials of Possession, the Clan Council becomes a kurultai (War Council) and it elects from within a council member to become a Khan. The Khan (though having much more influence) can't interfere with Clan laws/society; that is still in the hands of the Council. He/she is, however, commander of the entire Clan's military assets, including the touman, and becomes the top of the military hierarchy that doesn’t exist without a Khan.

The first act of the Khan is to select a saKhan (junior Khan) from amongst the Clan Council members. The saKhan’s duties aren’t specifically defined. He/she is the second in command, performing any duties the Khan requires (like bidding or leading a campaign) but can’t do him/herself and enjoys a heightened status within Clan society. The official term for the senior Khan of a clan is kaKhan, though this is rarely used (Khan with no prefix usually means the senior Khan).

One noteworthy (but obscure) feature that the Khan can do is split their assets to form a new Clan.[1] Notable examples include: the creation of Clan Jade Wolf (later reborn into the Crusader Clan Wolf under Vlad's leadership) after the defeat of the original Clan Wolf, the Warden portion of Clan Wolf into the Exiled Wolves after the Refusal War, Clan Stone Lion from former Hell’s Horses assets claimed by Clan Star Adder after the Wars of Reaving[2] and the Fidelis assets which were claimed by Clan Wolf and reformed as Clan Smoke Jaguar after the Dark Age Era.

Clan Blood Spirit[edit]

Clan Blood Spirit Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan Blood-Spirits-Khan.png

Clan Cloud Cobra[edit]

Clan Cloud Cobra Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan Cloud-Cobra-Khan.png

Clan Coyote[edit]

Clan Coyote Military Rank Insignia[3]
Rank Insignia
Khan Coyote-Khan.png

Clan Diamond Shark[edit]

Clan Diamond Shark Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan DiamondShark-Khan.png

Clan Fire Mandrill[edit]

Clan Fire Mandrill Rank Insignia by service branch[4]
Rank MechWarrior Aerospace fighter Elemental
Khan FireMandrill-Khan-MW.png FireMandrill-Khan-ASF.png FireMandrill-Khan-Elemental.png

Clan Ghost Bear[edit]

Clan Ghost Bear Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan GhostBear-Khan.png

Clan Goliath Scorpion[edit]

Clan Goliath Scorpion Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan GoliathScorpion-Khan.png

Clan Hell's Horses[edit]

Clan Hell's Horses Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan HellsHorses-Khan.png

Clan Ice Hellion[edit]

Clan Ice Hellion Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan IceHellion-Khan.png

Clan Jade Falcon[edit]

Clan Jade Falcon Officer Rank Insignia[5]
Rank Trueborn Freeborn
Khan JadeFalcon-TBKhan.png JadeFalcon-FBKhan.png[6]

Clan Nova Cat (SLDF)[edit]

Clan Nova Cat Military Rank Insignia[7]
Rank Insignia
Khan NovaCat-Khan.png

Clan Smoke Jaguar[edit]

Clan Smoke Jaguar Military Rank Insignia[8]
Rank Insignia
Khan SmokeJaguar-Khan.png

Clan Snow Raven[edit]

Clan Snow Raven Rank Insignia by service branch[9]
Rank MechWarrior Aerospace fighter Elemental Naval crew Armor Infantry Support
Khan SnowRaven-Khan-MW.png SnowRaven-Khan-ASF.png SnowRaven-Khan-Elemental.png SnowRaven-Khan-Naval.png SnowRaven-Khan-Armor.png SnowRaven-Khan-Infantry.png SnowRaven-Khan-Support.png

Clan Star Adder[edit]

Clan Star Adder Rank Insignia by service branch[10]
Rank MechWarrior Aerospace fighter Elemental Naval crew
Khan Star-Adder-Khan-MW.png Star-Adder-Khan-ASF.png Star-Adder-Khan-Elemental.png Star-Adder-Khan-Naval.png

Clan Steel Viper[edit]

Clan Steel Viper Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan SteelViper-Khan.png

Clan Wolf/Clan Wolf-in-Exile[edit]

Clan Wolf/Clan Wolf-in-Exile Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Khan Wolf-Khan.png

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Warriors of Kerensky, p. 56, "Clan Government"
  2. The Wars of Reaving, pp. 146-149
  3. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 48
  4. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 45
  5. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 97
  6. Theoretical rank insignia. No freeborn has ever held this rank in Jade Falcon touman.
  7. Field Manual: Comstar, p. 112
  8. MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game, Second Edition, Color plate section
  9. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 127
  10. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 120

Bibliography[edit]