What title did the supreme ruler of the Mongol Empire hold?

The supreme ruler of the Mongol Empire was known by the title Great Khan.

In Mongolian and related Central Asian usage, the more precise title is khagan or khaan, meaning a great or supreme ruler. English-language histories commonly translate this as Great Khan, making the stored answer the standard answer to this quiz question.

The title became especially important after Genghis Khan’s death. As his sons and other descendants governed separate territories, the ordinary title khan could refer to several regional rulers. Ögedei, elected in 1229, was the first successor formally associated with the higher khagan title.

The Great Khan’s authority was strongest when the empire remained politically unified, but rival branches later ruled the Golden Horde, Chagatai Khanate, Ilkhanate, and Yuan dynasty. Kublai Khan, who founded China’s Yuan dynasty, continued to claim the role of Great Khan, although the western khanates increasingly operated independently.