Khan of Crimea

The Khan of Crimea was a ruler of the Crimean Tatars, a Turkic-speaking Muslim people, who governed the Crimean Peninsula from the 15th to 18th centuries. Initially part of the Crimean Khanate, the khan was an autonomous political leader under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire, managing local affairs, military defense, and trade. The title signifies both political authority and cultural identity, with the khans playing a significant role in regional diplomacy and conflicts, especially between the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and other neighboring states. The khanate's decline led to Russian control in the late 18th century.