Mian or Miyan is a royal title of the Indian subcontinent, also sometimes used as a surname. Begum or Beygum, is used to describe the wife of a Mian. It is used by several monarchs of Indian states. Under the Mughals the title indicated a King or Prince under the suzerainty of the Emperor, and hence it is roughly equivalent to Raja but could also take the higher meaning of Maharaja, in which sense it was used by the Kalhora rulers of Sindh. It was also conferred by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir upon the Rajput Rulers of the Hill States. The title is mentioned by the british as one of the principle titles used by "Mohammedan Princely States".