Charaxes; Print; The rajah and pasha butterflies; also known as emperors in Africa and Australia; (genus Charaxes) make up the huge type genus of the brush-footed butterfly subfamily Charaxinae; or leafwing butterflies. They belong to the tribe Charaxini; which also includes the nawab butterflies (Polyura). Charaxes are tropical Old World butterflies; with by far the highest diversity in sub-Saharan Africa; a smaller number from South Asia to Melanesia and Australia; and a single species (C. jasius) in Europe. They are generally strong flyers and very popular among butterfly collectors.