Nökör
Type of Mongolian soldier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term nökör (Mongolian: нөхөр comrade, companion, friend)[1][2] was applied in the time of Genghis Khan to soldiers who abandoned their family ties and devoted themselves exclusively to their leader.[3] The nature of their bond to the leader was of friendship or individual pledges, rather than hereditary obligations.[4] They were valiant and loyal fighters.[5] Many of the most prominent generals of Genghis Khan were nökhör.[3]
Today the term is used more loosely.[3] Derivatives of the term are found in several languages, including Azerbaijani (nökər), Armenian (նոքար nokʽar), Persian (نوکر nokar), Hindustani (نَوکَر/नौकर naukar), Bengali (নওকর nôukôr) and Hungarian (nyögér).[6]
