Kalga (title)

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Kalga (Ukrainian: Калга Russian: Калга Crimean Tatar: qalğa, قالغا‎ Arabic: كالغا Turkish: kalgay Georgian: კალგა) was the highest ranked official after the khan in the hierarchy of the Crimean Khanate.^[1]

The title of kalga was introduced ^[2] in 1486 by Meñli I Giray for his son Mehmed Geray in order to establish a firm order of succession to the throne. Prior to that, power in the Golden Horde was inherited by a senior member of the khan's family, which led to endless strife. This may have been Mengli's intention, but in later reigns the khanship usually went to one of the khan's relatives without much regard to who had been kalga. The khan, kalga and nureddin were always members of the Giray clan. From an early date the khans were confirmed by the Ottoman Sultan. From the seventeenth century khans were increasingly installed and removed by the Turks.

The successor to the Crimean Khan or a trusted member of the Khan's family was appointed to the position of kalga. ^{[citation needed]} In the event of the death of khan, the kalga ruled the country until the appointment of a new monarch. He was also the commander in chief of the army if the khan did not go to war personally. The kalga had a residence in Simferopol, known as Ak-Mosque at the time, and ruled the city of Bilohirsk, known as Karasubazar at the time, and its environs.