The first proper Japanese central government was established around 700 CE. Japan was ruled by the Emperor (Tennō) with bureaucratic support of the aristocracy. They gradually lost control of their armed servants, the samurai. The samurai is similar to "the old English cniht (knecht, knight), guards or attendants". By the mid-12th century the samurai class seized control. The samurai (bushi) ruled Japan with the shogun (将軍) as the overlord until the mid 19th century. The shogun was originally the Emperor's military deputy.