Chanyu

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Chányú (Archaic Chinese: dar wa^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}; Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: }; sometimes written Shanyu) was the title used by the rulers of the Xiongnu during the Han Dynasty 206 BC - 220. The literal translation is probably something like "the greatest" in the Xiongnu language. As yet there is no known classification for the Xiongnu language and most of what is known consists of words preserved by Chinese historians. It was roughly equivalent to the Chinese "Son of Heaven". Like most nomadic groups, the succession was hereditary in theory. In practice it often happened otherwise with the strongest close male relative taking power in a process the late Joseph Fletcher called blood tanistry.

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