The Khalkha (/ˈkælkə,ˈkɑːlkə/; Mongolian: Халхᠬᠠᠯᠬᠠ[ˈχa̠ɬχ]) have been the largest subgroup of the Mongols in modern Mongolia since the 15th century. The Khalkha, together with Chahars, Ordos and Tumed, were directly ruled by Borjigin khans until the 20th century. In contrast, the Oirats were ruled by Dzungar nobles and the Khorchins were ruled by Qasar's descendants.
The two original major Khalkha groups were ruled by the direct male line descendants of Dayan Khan. The Baarin, Khongirad, Jaruud, Bayaud and the O'zeed (Ujeed) became the subjects of Dayan Khan's fifth son Achibolod. They formed the Southern Five Halhs.
The Dzungar Khanate (Mongolian: ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨᠭᠠᠷᠣᠯᠣᠰЗүүнгар Улс), also known as the Zunghar Khanate or Junggar Khanate, was a nomadickhanate of Oirat Mongol origin. At its greatest extent, it covered an area from southern Siberia in the north to present-day Kyrgyzstan in the south, and from present-day west of Mongolia and the Great Wall of China in the east to present-day Kazakhstan in the west. The core of the Dzungar Khanate is today part of northern Xinjiang, also called Dzungaria.
