Batu Khan and the Golden Horde. Khan Batu: what was the most successful conqueror of the Russians

GOLDEN HORDE (ULUS JUCHI)

Mongol-Tatar feudal state(in eastern sources Ulus Jochi), founded in the early 40s of the 13th century by Batu Khan (1208-1255+), the grandson of Genghis Khan as a result of the aggressive campaigns of the Mongols. The Golden Horde included Western Siberia, Northern Khorezm, Volga Bulgaria, North Caucasus, Crimea, Desht-i-Kipchak (Kipchak steppe from the Irtysh to the Danube). The extreme southeastern limit of the Golden Horde was South Kazakhstan(now the city of Dzhambul), and in the extreme northeast - the cities of Tyumen and Isker (near the modern city of Tobolsk) in Western Siberia. From north to south, the Horde extended from the middle reaches of the Kama River to the city of Derbent. This entire gigantic territory was quite homogeneous in landscape terms - it was mainly steppe.

The Russian principalities were vassals of the Golden Horde, established as a result of the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus'. Russian princes came to the khan's headquarters for a label confirming their grand-ducal power, sometimes they lived here for a long time, not always of their own free will. Here they brought tribute, the so-called Horde exit, and rich gifts to the Horde nobles. Russian princes with their entourage, Russian merchants and numerous Russian artisans formed a vast colony in Sarai. Therefore, back in 1261, a special Sarai Orthodox bishopric was established. There was also an Orthodox church in Sarai.

The power of the khan was unlimited. Surrounded by the khan, in addition to members of his house (sons, brothers and nephews), there were large representatives of the Golden Horde nobility - begi (noyons). State Affairs led by beklyare-bek (prince over princes), individual industries- Viziers. Darugs were sent to cities and regions (uluses), whose main duty was to collect taxes and taxes. Along with the Darugs, military leaders - Baskaks - were appointed. State structure The hordes were of a paramilitary nature. The most important positions were occupied by members ruling dynasty, princes (oglans) who owned appanages in the Golden Horde and stood at the head of the army. The main command cadres of the army came from among the begs (noyons) and tarkhanov: temniks, thousand officers, centurions, as well as bakauls (officials who distributed military contents, booty, etc.).

The Horde was founded on very conveniently located lands: the route of ancient caravan trade lay here, and from here it was closer to other Mongol states. Merchants from distant Egypt, Central Asia, Caucasus, Crimea, Volga Bulgaria, Western Europe, India came to Sarai-Batu with their goods. The khans encouraged the development of trade and crafts. Cities were built on the banks of the Volga, Yaik (Ural), in Crimea and other territories.

The population of the Horde represented a wide variety of nationalities and beliefs. The Mongol conquerors did not constitute the majority of the population. They disappeared into the mass of conquered peoples, mainly of Turkic origin, primarily the Kipchaks. The most important thing was that the cultural zone on the Lower Volga turned out to be so close to the steppe that sedentary and nomadic farming could easily be combined here. The main population of the cities and steppe remained the Polovtsians. Feudal law was also in effect in the steppe - all the land belonged to the feudal lord, to whom ordinary nomads obeyed. All medieval cities, located in the lower reaches of the Volga and its channels, were eventually flooded with water, and residents had to leave them.

Historically, this gigantic half-state, half-nomad society did not last long. The state structure of the Golden Horde was the most primitive. The unity of the Horde was based on a system of brutal terror. The Golden Horde reached its greatest prosperity under Khan Uzbek (1313-1342). After Khan Uzbek, the Horde experienced a period feudal fragmentation. The fall of the Golden Horde, accelerated by the Battle of Kulikovo (1380) and the brutal campaign of Tamerlane in 1395, was as quick as its birth.

In the 15th century, the Golden Horde split into the Nogai Horde (early 15th century), Kazan (1438), Crimean (1443), Astrakhan (1459), Siberian (late 15th century), Greater Horde and other khanates.
Capitals of the Golden Horde

1. Saray-Batu (Old Saray) (Lower Volga, Akhtuba river, settlement near the village of Selitrennoye, Kharabalinsky district Astrakhan region, Russia). The city was founded by Batu Khan in 1254. Destroyed in 1395 by Tamerlane.
The settlement near the village of Selitrennoye, left over from the first capital of the Golden Horde - Sarai-Batu (city of Batu), is striking in its size. Spread over several hillocks, it stretches along the left bank of the Akhtuba for more than 15 km. The city grew very quickly. IN early XIV centuries, it was the capital - with continuous rows of houses, with mosques (of which 13 were cathedrals), with palaces, the walls of which sparkled with mosaic patterns, with reservoirs filled with clear water, with extensive markets and warehouses. The Khan's palace towered on the highest hill above the bank of Akhtuba. According to legend, the khan's palace was decorated with gold, so the entire state began to be called the Golden Horde. And even today, in the area of the village of Selitrennoye, you can find tiles with bright oriental patterns, coins of the 13th-14th centuries, fragments of ceramics, and clay water pipes. The city had its own ceramics, foundries, and jewelry workshops.

2. Saray-Berke (New Saray) (now the village of Tsarev, Leninsky district, Volgograd region, Russia). The city was built by Khan Berke in 1262. Since 1282 - the capital of the Golden Horde. Destroyed in 1396 by Tamerlane. In 1402, the capital was restored, but could no longer achieve its former splendor and splendor.

3. Saraichik (Small Sarai) (now the village of Saraichikovskoye, Makhambet district, Guryev region, Kazakhstan). The city developed in end of XIII V. as a trade and economic center of the Golden Horde on the trade route from the Volga region to Central Asia (Khorezm). In 1395 it was destroyed by Tamerlane. Restored in the 30-40s of the 15th century. From the second half of the 15th century. became the capital of the Nogai Horde. Completely destroyed by the Russians in 1580, on the eve of the conquest of Siberia.

Chronological table
reign of the khans of the Golden Horde 1236-1481

The chronological table is based on the book by William Vasilyevich Pokhlebkin (1923-2000s), a prominent scientist who was tragically killed under unclear circumstances, Tatars and Rus'. 360 years of relations in 1238-1598. Chapter 1.1. (M. International relationships 2000). The table is the first attempt (according to the author) at historical literature to give a consolidated, complete, clear idea of the number (number), sequence of succession, reliable names and period of power of all the supreme rulers of the Horde throughout the history of its existence.
This book contains a lot of interesting and important data. Unfortunately, it was published in only 1,500 copies. and is unlikely to be available to a wide readership. For greater clarity of the presentation on the Internet, we had to slightly change the appearance of the table, preserving all its contents

Years of reign	Khans	Notes
		I. The Jochid Dynasty of the Batu (Batu) clan
	1. Batu (Batu)	2nd son of Jochi
1255 several weeks
1255 several days	3. Ulagji ( Ulagchi)	Son of Sartak (or son of Batu? from his fourth wife)
	4. Berke ( Berkay)	3rd son of Jochi, brother of Batu; Under Berke Khan state religion The Horde became Islam, which significantly complicated the situation of the Orthodox population of the Horde.
	5. Mengu-Timur ( Temir)	Nephew of Berke. In the period 1266-1300, the Horde was actually ruled by the temnik (military leader) Nogai, under whom the khans were only nominal rulers. Nogai (grandson of Bumal, the 7th son of Jochi) advanced in military abilities under Khan Berke and made successful campaigns in Transcaucasia and Iran. After Berke's death, his influence in the Horde quickly grew. He became the governor and de facto ruler of the Western Horde (from the Lower Danube and Dniester to the Don), which bordered Russian lands to the north. In 1273 Nogai married his daughter Byzantine Emperor Mikhail Paleologus - Euphrosyne and thus, as it were, received international recognition as a sovereign sovereign, and not an official of the khan. Nogai controlled neighboring states - Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Bulgaria, and all the southern Russian principalities - Kursk, Rylsk, Lipetsk.
	6. Tuda-Mengu ( Tudai)	Grandson of Batu
	7. Talabuga ( Telebuga)	Ruled jointly with his brother (Kichik) and two sons of Mengu-Timur (Algui and Toghrul). During this period, Temnik Nogai completely controlled the khans in Sarai. He overthrew Khan Talabuga and placed Tokhta on the throne.
	8. Tokhta ( Toktay, Toktagu)	Son of Mengu-Timur. Trying to free himself from dependence, in 1299 Tokhta began a war with Nogai and defeated his army in 1300. Tokhta took Nogai prisoner and killed him.
1313 - 7.IV.1342		Son of Togrul, grandson of Mengu-Temir
	10. Tinibek ( Isanbek)	Son of an Uzbek, killed by his brother
	11. Janibek ( Chanibek)	Son of an Uzbek, killed by his son. During the reign of Janibek, the Horde was dealt a strong blow by the plague that spread throughout its territory in 1346 (?). The damage from the loss of population and livestock was so great that for 2-3 years it was impossible to even bury the dead, because fewer were left alive than died from the pestilence.
	12. Berdibek	Son of Janibek. With the death of Berdibek, the Batu family came to an end, and a period of 20 years of unrest began in the Horde.
	1 (13). Mubarek-Khoja	I a. Blue Horde The Blue Horde is the eastern extreme part of the Juchi ulus, separated into the Orda-Ichen yurt under Batu and separated by the middle of the 14th century. Its first independent ruler, as a separate (parallel) khan, was Mubarek-Khoja. In the work of Grekov and Yakubovsky, the Blue Horde is erroneously designated as western territory Hordes, i.e. confused with the White Horde (Ak-Orda).
1353 - 1372 or 1357-1372	2 (14). Chamthai (Chimtai)	Brother Mubarek-Khoja. Refused to take the throne of the entire Golden Horde
	15. Kulpa (Askulpa) - 1359, 6 months; 16. Nevruzbek, khan of the Western part of the Horde - 1359-1360; 17. Hiderbeck (Khidir, Khidrbek)- 1360, killed by his son; 18. Timur-Khaja (Temir-Khoja), son of Khidrbek - 1361, 1 month; 19. Ordu-Melek (Horde-Sheikh) - 1361; 20. Kildibek (Heldebeck)- 1361, killed; 21. Mir-Pulat (Temir-Bulat)- 1361, several weeks;	II. Period of Troubles (1359-1379) In the period 1357-1380, actual power in the Horde belonged to the temnik Mamai, who was married to the daughter of Khan Berdibek. After the death of Berdibek, in the midst of a struggle for power between the temporary khans, Mamai continued to rule through dummy, nominal khans, maintaining a state of unrest, the Great Mess and appointing his proteges not only in Sarai, but also in the regions. With this policy, Mamai actually weakened the Horde in 20 years.
		II a. Specific khans who settled in different parts Hordes and non-combatants for the throne in Sarai
	22. Bulak-Timur (Bulak-Temer)	In Bulgars;
	23. Seit Bey (Sigizbey)	In Mordovia;
	24. Hadji-Cherkess	In Astrakhan, 1st time;
	25. Alibek (Aibek, Ataluk)	In the Zayky yurt;
	26. Urus Khan, son of Chamtai	In Khorezm, 1st time;
	27. Murat (Murid, Murid, Amurat) - 1360-1363; 28. Bulat-Khoja - 1364; 29. Aziz, son of Timur-Hadji - 1364-1367; 30. Abdallah - 1367-1368;
	31. Hassan (Asan)	In the Bulgars - 1369-1376
	32. Hadji-Cherkess	In Astrakhan, 2nd time - 1374-1375
	33. Urus Khan, son of Chamtai	Blue Horde, 2nd time; Temporary continuity is established in the Blue Horde khan's power- own dynasty;
	34. Alibek (Aibek, Ilbek, Ali-Khoja), 2nd time - 1374-1375; 35. Karihan (Giyaseddin, Koanbek Khan), son of Alibek - 1375-1377; 36. Arab Shah (Arapsha) from the Blue Horde - 1375-1377; 36a. Arab Shah (Arapsha) to Mordovia - 1377-1378; 37. Urus Khan, son of Chamtai, 3rd time - 1377-1378; 38. Toktoga, son of Urus Khan, - 1378, 2 months; 39. Timur-Melek - 1378-1379;	II. Period of Troubles (continued) In 1378, Mamai’s troops were first defeated by the Russians on the Vozha River. Trying to take revenge, Mamai organized a campaign against Moscow in 1380, in alliance with Lithuania (Jagiello) and the Ryazan principality, but received a crushing defeat in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, which began the countdown of the real weakening and decline of the Horde. The remnants of Mamai’s army after the Battle of Kulikovo were defeated by Khan Tokhtamysh, who restored the unity of the Horde. Mamai fled to the Crimea, to the Genoese colony of Cafu, where he was killed in 1381.
		II b. Mamai's henchmen are the khans in the Kuban region, the Lower Don and the North. Caucasus
	40. Muhammad-Bulak	(from 1369 actual)
Apr.-Sept. 1380	41. Tuluk-bek (Tulunbek)
		III. Restoring Horde Unity
	42. Tokhtamysh, 1st time	Tokhtamysh's campaign against Moscow (1382); Tokhtamysh's campaign against Transoxiana in alliance with the Semirechye Mongols (1387); Tamerlane's campaign against the possessions of the Golden Horde to the Volga (1391);
June-Aug. 1391	43. Bek-Bulat
Sep.-Oct. 1391	44. Timur-Kutlu
	45. Tokhtamysh, 2nd time	In 1395, Tamerlane's second invasion of the Golden Horde took place. Tokhtamysh's troops were defeated on the Terek. The capital of the Horde, Sarai, Astrakhan and some cities were destroyed Southern Rus'(Dace);
	46. Tash-Timur-oglan (khan)
	47. Kayrycak (Kuyurchak), son of Urus Khan
	48. Berdibek II (1396) 49. Timur-Kutlu (Temir-Kutluy), 2nd time (1396-1399) 50. Shadibek (Chanibek), brother of Timur-Kutlu (1399-1406) 51. Pulat (Pulad, Bulat Khan), son of Timur-Kutlu, 1st time (1406-1407) 52. Jelal-eddin, son of Tokhtamysh, 1st time (1407) 53. Pulat, 2nd time (1407-1411)	In the period 1396-1411, actual power in the Horde belonged to the temnik Edigei, emir of the Blue Horde, in the Zayaitsky yurt. In 1376, Edigei, having quarreled with Urus Khan, fled to Tamerlane and fought in Tamerlane’s armies against Tokhtamysh. In 1391 he betrayed Tamerlane and from 1396 became the ruler of the part of the Horde between the Volga and the Yaik River (Ural), which later became known as the Nogai Horde. In 1397 he became the head of the Golden Horde army, and in 1399 on the Vorskla River he defeated the Lithuanian army of Prince Vitovt and the troops of Tokhtamysh, placed Khan Shadibek on the throne in the Horde and became the de facto ruler of the Horde (the whole). In 1406 he killed Tokhtamysh, in 1407 he overthrew his son Jelal-Eddin, in 1408 he attacked Rus' to force him to pay tribute again, burned Mozhaisk, besieged Moscow (under Vasily I), but could not take it. In 1411 he was expelled from the Horde, fled to Khorezm, in 1414 he was expelled from there, and in 1419 he was killed by one of the sons of Tokhtamysh.
	55. Jelal-eddin
	56. Kerim-Berdy

	58. Chekri (Chegre, Chingiz-oglan)
	59. Jabbar-Birds (Erimberdy, Yarimferdei)
	60. Dervish (Dariush)	Khan of the Eastern Horde
	61. Ulu-Muhammad
	65. Khudaydat (Khudad)
			66a. Barack
	67. Ulu-Muhammad, 3rd time
	68. Jumadukh Khan
	69. Davlet-Berdy
	70. Ulu-Muhammad, 4th time		71. Haji Mohammed, 2nd time
			72. Abdulkhair Khan

	73. Ulu-Muhammad	5th time, in the Barn
	74. Kichi-Muhammad (Kuchuk-Magomet, Kichik, Kichi-Akhmet)	Grandson of Timur-Kutlu, 1st time; Khan of the entire Horde. Fights contenders for the throne who are expelled: 75. Gias-eddin -> to Lithuania (in 1430); 76. Hadji-Girey -> to Crimea (in 1432); 77. Ulu-Muhammad -> to Kazan (in 1437, see Khanate of Kazan); 78. Seid-Akhmet -> to the West. part of the Horde (in 1444);
	79. Seid-Akhmet	Grandson of Urus Khan, in the West. parts of the Horde

		V. Khans of the Great Horde The Great Horde was a Tatar state in 1433-1502 in the Northern Black Sea region and the Lower Volga region. Destroyed in 1502 Crimean Khan Mengli-Gireem, the capital of Saray-Berke (Saray II) was burned.
	80. Kichi-Muhammad
	81. Mahmoud	Son of Kichi-Muhammad
	82. Ahmad (Akhmet)	Son of Kichi-Muhammad; Killed in 1481 by Tyumen Khan Ibak

Thus, over the entire history of the Horde of 245 years, it was ruled by 64 khans, who ascended the throne a total of 79 times. Of the 64 khans, 12 were purely regional, sitting in their own fiefs (yurts), 4 were mixed (they came from the regions to Sarai) and only 48 were all-Horde. This statistics explains the discrepancies among historians in calculating the number of khans. Twice the Horde was ruled by 10 khans, three times by Urus Khan and 5 times by Ulu-Muhammad (Muhammad the Great).

Average length of stay on the khan's throne for individual periods:
I. For the descendants of the Batu family, for the first 120 years of the Horde (1236-1359) - 10 years;
II. During the 20-year turmoil (1359-1379) - less than 1 year (approx. 9 months);
III. During the period of restoration of the unity of the Horde (1380-1420) - 2 years;
IV. During the period of division of the Horde into the Western and Eastern parts (1420-1455) - 4 years 4 months;
V. During the period of the Great Horde (1443-1481) - 13 years;

His father Jochi, the son of Genghis Khan, received a paternal division of land to the west and northwest of the Aral Sea. In the west, his possessions bordered the Caspian Sea and the lands of the Kipchaks (Cumans) and Volga Bulgarians. Genghis Khan ordered Jochi to continue his conquests further to the west, but Jochi evaded this order and soon either died or was killed. Son of Genghis Khan Ögedey, elected as the new supreme khan of the Mongols, transferred the lands to Jochi Batu. At the kurultai (sejm) of 1229, it was decided to finally implement the plan of conquest outlined by Genghis Khan. To conquer the Kipchaks, Russians and Bulgarians, huge forces were sent under the command of Batu. Under his command were given the younger princes: his brothers, Urda, Sheiban and Tangut, and his cousins, among whom were the future great khans (Mongol emperors), Guyuk, son of Ogedei, and Menggu, son of Tuluy. Batu, who participated in the campaigns of his father Jochi, also received at his disposal experienced military generals, Subudai and Buruldai. Subudai had previously acted in the land of the Kipchaks and Bulgarians (see the article Battle of the Kalka River) and collected information about them exact information.

Batu drew up a plan for further movement in Western Europe. One Mongol army moved into Poland and Silesia; the other went to Moravia, Batu himself with Buruldai moved straight from Rus' through mountain passes, and the army of Prince Kadan with Subudai passed through Wallachia and Transylvania. All these forces united in the center of Hungary. At r. A decisive battle took place in Sajyo (Solonai), and the Hungarians were defeated in it. Their country suffered terrible devastation. The Mongols even penetrated Dalmatia and ravaged Kataro and other cities. Only the death of the Great Khan Ogedei recalled Batu from the west.

Batu’s possessions included all southern steppes before Caucasus Mountains, Russian and Bulgarian lands. In the lower reaches of the Volga he founded his residence, around which he quickly formed Big City Barn. Batu cared about the unity of the Mongol state. When, after the death of Ogedei, the power of the Great Khan was seized by Guyuk, Batu moved east with enormous forces to restore the broken order. Guyuk died before the collision. Batu invited all the Mongol princes to gather at the kurultai, at which, under his influence, Mengu, the son of Tului, the most capable of the Genghisid family, was elected emperor. Batu himself refused to accept the imperial rank, which was first offered to him by all those present. Throughout his reign, he provided Meng with complete submission. He sent visiting foreign ambassadors to the Great Khan in Mongolia and forced Russian princes to come and pay homage to him.

In his possessions, Batu Khan demanded the full implementation of the laws of Genghis Khan ( Yasy). “Anyone who violates Yasu will lose his head,” he said. He strictly observed Mongolian customs, which was especially evident during receptions and audiences. Violators or those who opposed were threatened with death, as happened with the Chernigov prince Mikhail, who refused to perform some rituals during the presentation ceremony to the khan. Batu demanded unquestioning obedience from his subordinates.

Great conquerors - Khan Batu. Video

Plano Carpini, the papal ambassador who was with Batu, characterizes him this way: “this Batu is very affectionate towards his people, but despite this, they are extremely afraid of him; in battles he is very cruel, and in war he is very cunning and cunning.” Batu received the nickname sain-khan, i.e., good khan: they said that he was very generous and gave away all the gifts brought to him, leaving nothing for himself. And the mentioned Plano Carpini and the ambassador French king, Rubruk, testify to their affectionate reception from Batu. Our chronicles lead whole line facts of the same attitude of Batu towards the Russian princes. At the same time, he looked at the latter as his subjects and sometimes showed gross arbitrariness towards them, combined with mockery. However, Batu also shows a cautious politician. He caresses the obedient princes, distinguishes the outstanding ones, like Yaroslav Vsevolodovich Suzdal (Pereyaslavsky) and Daniil Romanovich Galitsky. On the border with Russia he places his general Kuremsa (Korenza), a relatively gentle man. Batu, apparently, receives quick and accurate information from everywhere, which explains the assessment of the personalities of the princes. Undoubtedly, the latter were well watched. Batu learns of the infidelity of Prince Andrei Yaroslavich and Andrei Vorgalsky and immediately deals with them: the governor Nevryuy was sent against the former; his whole family was beaten; Andrei Vorgalsky was executed. Batu also keeps an eye on his princes. So he orders Berke to migrate to other places, since there was a suspicion that he was too friendly towards the Mohammedans. Under Batu, Tatar tributes and duties had not yet been established in the Russian land. Only after his death, in 1257, Alexander Nevsky came from the Horde with the khan's officials for a census.

Khan Batu died in 1256, 48 years old. In his place in the Golden Horde, the great Khan Mengu appointed his son Sartak.

No matter how much the legendary Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan tried to conquer the whole world, he failed. But the founder of a huge empire had a worthy heir. Batu Khan continued the work of his great grandfather, leading the Horde troops in western campaigns.
It was he who conquered the Polovtsians, Volga Bulgars, Russians, and then moved his army to Poland, Hungary, Balkan countries, cities Central Europe. The Golden Horde owes its prosperity and power largely to the leadership talent of Khan Batu and his far-sighted policies.

Illustrious Mentor

Genghis Khan (between 1155 and 1162 - 1227) had an eldest son, Jochi. He inherited the richest and most promising lands in terms of future conquests - the part of the empire located west of the Irtysh. That is, the future Golden Horde or Ulus Jochi, as the Mongols themselves called this territory.

Towards the end of his life, Genghis Khan realized that he simply would not have time to implement his grandiose plan to conquer the entire world. But he hoped for heirs: they had to surpass great glory Alexander the Great, whom Asians considered a god for many centuries.

However, Genghis Khan would not have been great if he had relied only on providence. This calculating man was accustomed to trusting only himself and his closest associates - the commanders loyal to him, among whom were real geniuses of military affairs. The most respected associate among the military elite and devoted to the ruler - practically the second person in the Horde after Genghis Khan himself - was Subedei-Baghatur (1176-1248). It was to him that the ruler entrusted an important mission: to prepare a future successor.

Subedei (Subudai - depends on the pronunciation) was the person without whom the Mongols could not have conquered half the world. The son of a simple blacksmith from the Uriankhai tribe went down in history as one of the greatest military strategists of all times. Suffice it to say that Napoleon Bonaparte highly appreciated his undoubted military talent. The commander was highly respected in the Horde; the army trusted him infinitely. Subedei-Baghatur also used his authority in politics.

Why, when determining the future conqueror, did Genghis Khan choose young Batu, and not his older brother Ordu-Ichin (Ordu-Eugene) or one of the other heirs? Now it is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. Of course, the sons of Jochi, who was never personally interested in military affairs, had priority. Maybe Orda-Ichin was not old enough to study, so Subedei-bagatur became the mentor of Batu, who was born between 1205 and 1209 - exact date medieval chronicles do not indicate.

As history has shown, the mentor coped with his task, preparing a great commander and ruler.

Choice between heirs

It so happened that in 1227 Batu lost both his father and grandfather. The circumstances of the death of both are quite controversial; some historians believe that the rulers were poisoned, because the throne of a huge empire is too big a stake to worry about family ties. A fierce struggle for the throne began in the Horde. The sons of Genghis Khan and his many grandchildren disputed vast possessions with each other.

The throne of the empire was taken by Ogedei (Ögedei) - one of younger brothers Jochi Khan. A promising lands in the west went to Batu. The Mongol army, renowned in battle, unconditionally recognized this young man as its new leader, of course, with the direct support of the authoritative Subedei-bagatur.

However, Batu’s elder brother, Orda-Ichin, did not lose out. He received most of the Jochi Ulus: all rich eastern lands, including cities of Central Asia. But Batu, who shared the western part of his father’s possessions with his younger brothers, still had to conquer his empire.

In 1235, a national kurultai (congress of official representatives of all uluses) took place in Mongolia. The clan nobility and the army elite decided to resume conquests V westward. This important task was entrusted to Batu, and the above-mentioned Subedei-bagatur was appointed to him right hand. Famous commander participated in all the battles of Genghis Khan, he also accompanied Batu in new campaigns.

Successful commander

Great western campaign Mongols began in 1236. He was also joined by the troops of Batu’s cousins - Munke, Guyuk and other descendants of Genghis Khan. First, the Polovtsians were defeated, then Volga Bulgaria was forcibly annexed to the empire.

Rus', fragmented into feudal plots, was also unable to repel the invaders. The squads of the princes simply went out “to a fair fight” in an open field, as they were used to - according to the rules of military affairs of Eastern Europe. The Mongols acted completely differently. They attacked with light cavalry, disorienting and gradually exhausting their opponents, shooting from bows, hiding behind covers. Batu valued his experienced and trained troops, which were well equipped. Captured Chinese engineers built for the Mongolian army unprecedented mechanisms for that time - battering guns, with the help of which it was possible to throw stones weighing up to 150-160 kg over several hundred meters. These machines destroyed fortress walls.

Batu's military strategy was unusual for residents European countries. His troops could attack in the middle of the night to achieve the effect of surprise. Mongol army moved quickly, trying to completely destroy the enemy army, so as not to give the enemy the opportunity to regroup for a new blow.

Ryazan and Vladimir fell in 1238, Kyiv in 1240. After the conquest of Rus', the troops of Guyuk and Mongke returned back to Mongolia. Further advance to the west was solely the initiative of Batu himself. His army captured Alania, Poland, Moravia, Silesia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia, and Dalmatia. In 1242, Batu's troops ended up in Saxony, but were soon forced to turn back. The news reached them about the death of Khan Ogedei and the convening of the next kurultai. The army returned and settled in the Lower Volga region.

Skillful politician

Supreme power in the empire went to Guyuk, Batu’s cousin, with whom he did not have a good relationship. Started new fight for the throne, internecine strife reached unprecedented heights.

Offended by Batu's insubordination, in 1948 Guyuk and his army went to the Lower Volga to severely punish his relative. But in the Samarkand region Supreme ruler empire died suddenly. There were rumors that he was poisoned by political opponents, although no one proved anything.

Meanwhile, Batu firmly established himself on his lands; around 1250, on the territory of the modern Astrakhan region, he founded the capital of the Golden Horde - the city of Sarai-Batu. Huge conquests gave impetus to the development of the state; looted goods and captured slaves contributed to economic growth. Rich gifts from vassals who fought for the favor of the commander served as the beginning of legendary wealth. And where there is money, there is power, influence, and recruits ready to join the winning army.

Other descendants of Genghis Khan had to reckon with the great conqueror. In 1251, Batu was proposed to become the next ruler of the empire at the kurultai. But he refused such an honor, he was more interested in strengthening own state. Then Munke, loyal to Batu, took the throne cousin. However, in order to support his protege, the ruler of the Golden Horde was forced to send troops to Mongolia.

Batu always demonstrated his submission to Munka, although in fact he decided everything personally. Hold political influence, skillfully attracting the right people to his side, the ruler of the Golden Horde was always helped by an extensive network of spies. And if one of the Russian princes was thinking of organizing resistance, the punitive detachments of the Horde managed to do it earlier. For example, in 1252 the troops were defeated Prince of Vladimir Andrey Yaroslavich and Daniil Romanovich Galitsky. But Batu favored Alexander Nevsky and obviously valued him as a military leader and strategist.

Anyway, great conqueror died 1255. Some sources say that he was poisoned, according to others, the khan was overcome by rheumatism. Both Batu's eldest son, whose name was Sartak, and his grandson Ulagchi soon left this world under very suspicious circumstances. And power in the Golden Horde was seized by Berke, one of the younger brothers of the late ruler, another son of Jochi Khan.

TO historical heritage Batu, like the conquests of Genghis Khan, can be treated differently. Being a skilled politician and strategist, possessing an undeniable talent as a military leader, the first ruler of the Golden Horde was a cruel, power-hungry and calculating man. Just like his legendary grandfather.

Khans of the Golden Horde, descendants of Jochi (Dzhochi), whose territory of the state extended from the lower Danube and the Gulf of Finland in the west to the Irtysh basin and lower Ob in the east; from the Black, Caspian and Aral seas and Lake Balkhash in the south to the Novgorod lands in the north. In particular, the khans of the Blue Horde from the “house of Batu” ruled in the south of Russia, in Khorezm and the western part of the Kipchak steppe, and the khans of the White Horde from the “house of the Horde” ruled in Western Siberia and the eastern part of the Kipchak steppe. The population of the Golden Horde was diverse in ethnic and religious composition. Large centers trade, mainly caravan, was Sarai-Batu, Sarai-Berke, Urgench, the Crimean cities of Sudak, Kafa (Feodosia), etc. The state was not centralized, the struggle for power between the princes of the house of Jochi began after the death of Khan Mongke-Timur (1267- 1280). Under the khans Tode-Mongke (1280-1287) and Tole-Buk (1287-1291), the temnik Nogai became the de facto ruler of the state. The restoration of the power of the Golden Horde occurred under Khan Muhammad Ozbeg (Uzbek) (1313-1341) and his successor Jani-beg (Janibek) (1342-1357). The state's military forces numbered up to 300 thousand people. However, after 1357, the collapse of the Golden Horde began; khans replaced each other without staying on the throne for long. In the 1360-1370s. Temnik Mamai became the de facto ruler of the state. Khorezm fell from the Golden Horde, Astrakhan separated. Mamai’s attempt to restore the power of the Horde in Rus' led to the defeat of his army in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. A temporary lull came under Khan Toktamysh (Tokhatmysh) (1377-1395), who managed to defeat Mamai’s army. However, the confrontation with a new formidable force in the person of Timur (1336-1405) accelerated the collapse of the Golden Horde. In the early 1420s. formed Khanate of Siberia, in the 1440s. - Nogai Horde, later the Kazan Khanate (1437) and Crimean Khanate(1449), and in the 1460s. - Kazakh, Uzbek khanates, in 1466 - Astrakhan Khanate.

Dates of reign are given according to the European calendar (on the left) and according to the Muslim chronology - Hijri (in brackets)

“Khans of the Golden Horde, descendants of Jochi. 1227-1502 (624-907). Western Siberia, Khorezm and Southern Rus'

1. House of Batu, khans of the Blue Horde in southern Russia, Khorezm and the western part of the Kipchak steppe

1227-1255 (624-653) Batu, son of Jochi (d. in? 1255)

1256-1257 (654-655) Sartak, son of Batu

1257-1257 (655) Ulagchi, son or brother of Sartak

1257-1267 (655-665) Berke (Baraka), son of Jochi

1267-1280 (665-679) Mongke (Mengyu)-Temur, son of Tokokan, son of Batu

1280-1287 (679-687) Tode-Mongke (Mengyu), son of Tokokan

1287-1291 (687-690) Tole-Buka, son of Tartu, son of Tokokan

1313-1341 (713-742) Muhammad Ozbeg, Giyas ad-Din, son of Mongke-Temur

1341-1342 (742-743) Tini-beg, son of Ozbeg

1342-1357 (743-758) Jani-beg (Dzhambek), son of Ozbeg

1357-1380 (758-782) period of anarchy, when Muhammad Berdi-beg, Kulpa, Muhammad Nauruz-beg, Khidr, Murad, Muhammad Bolak and others claimed the throne.

2. House of the Horde, khans of the White Horde in Western Siberia and the eastern part of the Kipchak steppe;

after 1378 (780) - the Blue and White Hordes, united into the Golden Horde of Southern Russia

1226-1280 (623-679) Horde, son of Jochi

1280-1302 (679-701) Kochu

1302-1309 (701-708) Bayan

1309 - about 1315 (708 - about 715) Sasibuka (?Saryg-Buka)

about 1315-1320 (about 715-720) Ilbasan

1320-1344 (720-745) Mubarak Khoja

1344-1374 (745-776) Chimtay

1374-1376 (776-778) Urus, son of Chimtai

1377-1377 (778) Temur-Malik, son of Urus

1377-1395 (778-797) Toktamysh, Giyas ad-Din, son of Toli-Khoja or descendant of the Horde's brother Tok-Temur

1395-1401 (797-803) Temur-Kutlug, son of Temur-Malik

1401-1407 (803-810) Shadi-beg, son of Temur-Malik

1407-1410 (810-813) Pulad (Bolod) Khan, son of Temur-Malik

1410-1412 (813-815) Temur, son of Temur-Kutlug

1412-1412 (815) Jalal ad-Din, son of Toqtamysh

1412-1414 (815-817) Karim-Berdi, son of Toktamysh

1414-1417 (817-820) Kebek, son of Toktamysh

1417-1419 (820-822) Eremferden (?Jabbar-Berdi), son of Toktamysh

(three) rival khans:

1419-1420 (822-823) Ulug-Muhammad

1420-1422 (823-825) Daulat-Berdi

1422-1427 9825-832) Barak

1427 - about 1433 (832 - about 838) Ulug-Muhammad (secondary); later in Kazan

about 1433 - about 1435 (about 838 - about 840) Sayyid Ahmad I

about 1435 - about 1465 (about 840 - about 871) Küçük-Muhammad, son of Temür

about 1465-1481 (about 871-886) Ahmad, son of Temür

sons of Ahmad, co-rulers:

1481-1498 (886-903), 1499-1502 (904-907) Shaykh Ahmad (d. 1505)

1481- (886-) Sayyid Ahmad II

1481-1499 (886-904) Murtada

1502 (907) Crimean Giray Khans defeated Shaikh Ahmad and included the Golden Horde into the Horde Crimean Tatars»

// Bosworth K. E. Muslim dynasties. Handbook of chronology and genealogy. Per. from English P. A. Gryaznevich. M., Main editorial office of oriental literature of the publishing house "Nauka", 1971. P. 203-205; Bosworth C. E. The new Islamic dynasties. A chronological and genealogical manual. N.Y., 1996. R. 252-253.

“Juchi, the eldest son of Genghis, received as an inheritance the tribes that once made up the state of the Kara-Kitai, north of Sikhun (Syr Darya); he died before his father and was succeeded by his eldest son Orda. Jochi's second son, Batu, with his famous invasion of Europe significantly expanded the borders of the state towards the west, and secured for himself possession of the Turkic Khanate of Kipchak. To the north of Batu's possessions, the third brother, Tuka-Timur, apparently received Great Bulgaria on the upper Volga as his inheritance; Jochi's fourth son, Sheiban, ruled the steppes now known as the Kyrgyz steppes; the fifth, Teval, stood at the head of the Pechenegs, who later became known as the Nogais, between the Urals and Emba. All these tribes and their leaders were more or less subordinate to the house of Batu, which, although, in fact, was one of the younger branches, achieved its greatest power and made its capital, Sarai on the Volga, the main city of the entire Jochid state. All tribes are known by common name The Golden Horde, named after the Khan's headquarters Syr-Orda, i.e. golden rate. It should be added that only the ruling family and the color of the army were Mongolian origin; the vast majority of the tribes inherited by the sons of Jochi were conquered Turks or Turkmen.

So, the Jochi clan was divided into the following branches:

A. House of Batu - the main khans of the Golden Horde, who ruled the Blue Horde in the western part of the Kipchak (1224-1359).

B. House of the Horde - the nominal heads of the clan; ruled the White Horde in eastern Kipchak (1226-1428), were khans of the Golden Horde in western Kipchak after the house of Batu (1380-1502) and, finally, eked out a miserable existence as Astrakhan khans (1466-1554).

C. House of Tuk-Timur - khans Great Bulgaria, north of Kipchak; were temporarily khans of the Golden Horde in western Kipchak; finally, the khans of Kazan (1438-1552), Kasimov (1456-1678) and Crimean (1420-1783) descended from them.

D. House of Sheyban in the Uzbek or Kyrgyz steppes (1224-1659); subsequently they moved out and became khans of Khiva and Bukhara (1500-1873).

A. House of Batu: the main khans of the Golden Horde; their destiny is the Blue Horde in western Kipchak. (1224-1359)

The House of Batu ruled that state, which, with some exaggeration, was called “great” Western Khanate. Its history is significant in connection with the history of the rise of Russia. At first, the great Kipchak khans were overlords of the Russian princes, collected tribute from them and took their daughters as wives; but they were destined subsequently to become vassals of those whom they had once held in subjection. Even before the onset of such a decline of the Golden Horde, the house of Batu came to an end, and power passed to the khans from the descendants of his brothers. As long as the reins of government remained in the hands of Batu’s descendants, the degree of power of the great Kipchak khans did not decrease at all. The history of the first ten khans of this house, down to Janibek, the last great representative of this branch of the Jochids, is comparatively clear; but after his death, in 1357, anarchy began. His son Berdibek ruled for two years; two khans, calling themselves sons of Janibek, succeeded each other within one year; after this, a confusing period of rivalry between various claimants begins, which lasted 20 years.

There were five branches of the Jochi clan, from which, after the suppression of Batu’s house, contenders for the Golden Horde throne could appear. In the north and south, in Great Bulgaria and the Crimea, numerous descendants of Tuk-Timur dominated. In addition, in the south, in the Caucasus, the descendants of Berkai, the younger brother and second successor of Batu, to whom the Golden Horde owed a significant part of its terrible charm, roamed along the banks of the Terek and Kuma. To the east of the main Khanate was the White Horde, at the head of which stood the House of the Horde; also to the east, but somewhat to the north, lived the Uzbek tribes subordinate to Sheiban; On the northern shore of the Caspian Sea, the Nogai tribes grazed their herds. Fifteen khans of this troubled period are assigned to various branches of the Jochids (see below, pp. 164-165), partly on the basis of conjecture, but the dates can be established thanks to coins. In 1380, the Golden Horde throne passed to the house of the Horde in the person of Tokhtamysh.

B. House of the Horde: inheritance - the White Horde in the eastern Kipchak (1226-1428); khans of the Golden Horde in western Kipchak (1380-1502); khans of Astrakhan (1466-1554)

Although Batu was the most powerful of Jochi's sons, Horde, as the eldest son, inherited his father's inheritance in the Syr Darya and enjoyed special honor as the hereditary head of the clan. He ruled the left wing of the Golden Horde, known as the White Horde (Ak-Orda), in contrast to the right wing, i.e. the tribes of Batu, designated by the name of the Blue Horde (Kuk-Orda) as a sign of nominal dependence; White color was considered superior to blue. Living in the remote Trans-Caspian steppes, the khans of the White Horde soon lost the palm to their brothers on the Don and Volga, but thanks to their harsh lifestyle they retained their primitive strength and strength, and these qualities often brought them the throne in the country of the more civilized, but also more degenerate descendants of Batu .

We know little about the first rulers of the White Horde. Power passed correctly from father to son; the only remarkable event was the conquest by the prince of Kuchi of Ghazna, Bamiyan and the surrounding area, under the supreme authority of either the Jaghatai khans or the Persian Ilkhans. The first of the rulers of the White Horde, remarkable for his personal qualities, was Urus Khan. He distinguished himself by repeatedly defeating Timur's troops. Timur, according to his custom, autocratically appointed one of the descendants of the Horde, Tokhtamysh, as the owner of the Juchi inheritance; Tokhtamysh's father was killed, and he himself was expelled by Urus Khan. Despite the support of the troops given to him by Timur for the actual seizure of the throne, Tokhtamysh was defeated several times by Urus, and only after the death of this khan and the short-term reign of his son Toktakya, Tokhtamysh managed to take power over the White Horde from another son of Urus, Timur-Melik.

Tokhtamysh - the last one is true great personality in the history of the Golden Horde. Having captured the White Horde, he moved to the western Kipchak, defeated Mamai, who was in charge of the throne of Sarai; With this victory, in 1380 (782) he put an end to the division of the inheritance into the White and Blue Hordes and united the eastern and western Kipchak under his rule. From that time on, the descendants of the Horde ruled the Blue Horde; with them, undoubtedly, the best elements of their subjects migrated to the west; their native pastures were gradually occupied by the descendants of Sheiban. Under Tokhtamysh, the Golden Horde regained much of its former splendor. A big campaign was made against Russia; Moscow was sacked and burned (1382), and the entire grand duchy was devastated by the Mongols with the same fury. This revival of the glory of Kipchak was, however, only the light of a dying lamp that flared for the last time. Tokhtamysh had the misfortune or ingratitude to quarrel with the sovereign, to whom he owed his successes, and no one insulted Timur with impunity. The great conqueror made two campaigns, the first of which was marked by the battle of Ur-tepe, June 18, 1391, and the second by a terrible defeat near the Terek in 1395, after the return of Tokhtamysh from exile; these defeats forever crushed the power of the Kipchak Khanoa. True, Tokhtamysh in 1398, after the removal of Timur, again entered Sarai, but was soon again driven out from there by Timur-Kutlug, the son of his old enemy Urus, and was forced to seek refuge with the Lithuanian prince Vitovt, whom he involved in a war with the Tatars. He died in 1406.

After the defeat of Tokhtamysh, one of the most dark periods in the history of the Golden Horde, which is generally rich in such periods; Continuous civil strife for the throne continued all the time. It is possible to distinguish at least three groups of candidates for the throne of the weakened Khanate: 1) the family of Urus Khan, which enjoyed the support of the Nogai military leader Edigei, the second sovereign temnik in Kipchak; 2) sons of Tokhtamysh; 3) some younger members of the house of Sheiban. Table on p. 166 gives an idea about this troubled period. The khans that competed with each other not only ruled simultaneously in Kipchak, but also owned the same cities in the same years; the history of Sarai and other large cities in this era would only be a listing of a series of sieges and captures.

This was the end of the Golden Horde. It was absorbed by Russia in 1502 (907), and its history becomes an insignificant chronicle of its scattered fragments. Of the latter, only one belonged to the Horde house, namely an insignificant Astrakhan Khanate, founded around 1466 by Kasim, the grandson of Kuchuk-Muhammad, whose descendants ruled there until the destruction of the Khanate in 1554 by the Moscow Grand Duke"

// Stanley Lan-Poole. Muslim dynasties. Chronological and genealogical tables with historical introductions. Per. from English with notes and additional V.V. Bartold. M., " Eastern literature", "Ant", 2004. pp. 159-164.

The definition is not entirely precise; Most of the former Kara-Chinese empire was part of Jaghatai's inheritance. Jochi's possessions extended from the Irtysh to the western borders of the Mongol Empire; of the cultural lands they included Khorezm and the Caspian regions. - Translator.

According to Howorth's hypothesis (History of the Mongols, II, 364). - Translator.

(1) Also the opinion of Howorth (II, 1011). The Pechenegs as a people at that time probably no longer existed, having merged (in the 12th century) with the Polovtsians. - Translator.

(2) The Blue Horde in some sources refers to the possessions of the Horde. - Translator.

(3) Error; the descendants of the Horde always recognized the primacy of the descendants of Batu and, according to Rashid ad-din, placed their names at the head of their labels.

(4) In the original, 1872. Nominally, the Bukhara and Khiva khans, as is known, still rule today.

(1) That is in a country watered by the Don and Volga, stretching from east to west from Yaik (Ural) to the Dnieper, and from south to north from the Black and Caspian Seas to Ukek.

(2) In the original 1378; see below, p. 163.

(1) The region, which included the lower reaches of the Syr Darya and the Ulug-Tag and Kuchuk-Tag mountains, its border was the Blue Horde of Batu in the west, the Uzbeks of Sheiban in the north, the Jaghatai Khanate in the east, the Kyzyl steppe in the south. Kum and Alexander Ridge (Howorth II, 216-362).

(2) Jochi’s headquarters, according to Rashid ad-din, was located on the Irtysh, the Horde’s headquarters, according to Plano Carpini, was east of Lake Ala-Kul. The transfer of the residence of the descendants of the Horde to the banks of the Syr Darya, apparently, occurred later, under the influence of wars with the Dzhagatai. - Translator.

(3) See above, p. 160, note. 2 and 3.

(4) Some Jochid princes took part in Hulagu’s campaign against Persia, among other things Kuli (not Kuchi), the son of the Horde. The princes died in Persia; their troops, when the war between Berkay and Hulagu (1262) occurred, retired to Ghazna and Bamiyan and took possession of this region. Subsequently, they submitted to the Jagatai princes. Kuchi (about this name, see below, p. 165) and his son Bayan are named rulers of Ghazna only by Abulfida, probably by mistake. - Translator.

(5) According to other news, Tokhtamysh was a descendant of Tuk-Timur. - Translator

(1) In the original 1378 - Tokhtamysh’s victory over Mamai occurred at the end of 1380 or at the beginning of 1381.

(2) Timur-Kutlug, as can be seen from the genealogical table of the author himself, was not the son, but the grandson of Urus.

(1) As is known, the Kipchak Khanate was destroyed by the Crimeans, allies of the Russians, but this fact did not result in the territorial increase of Russia. - Translator.

No matter how much the legendary Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan tried to conquer the whole world, he failed. But the founder of a huge empire had a worthy heir. Batu Khan continued the work of his great grandfather, leading the Horde troops in western campaigns.
It was he who conquered the Polovtsians, Volga Bulgars, Russians, and then moved his army to Poland, Hungary, the Balkan countries, and the cities of Central Europe. The Golden Horde owes its prosperity and power largely to the leadership talent of Khan Batu and his far-sighted policies.

Illustrious Mentor

Towards the end of his life, Genghis Khan realized that he simply would not have time to implement his grandiose plan to conquer the entire world. But he hoped for heirs: they had to surpass the great glory of Alexander the Great, whom the inhabitants of Asia considered a god for many centuries.

Why, when determining the future conqueror, did Genghis Khan choose young Batu, and not his older brother Ordu-Ichin (Ordu-Eugene) or one of the other heirs? Now it is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. Of course, the sons of Jochi, who was never personally interested in military affairs, had priority. Maybe Orda-Ichin was not old enough to study, so Subedey-bagatur became the mentor of Batu, who was born between 1205 and 1209 - the medieval chronicles do not indicate the exact date.

As history has shown, the mentor coped with his task, preparing a great commander and ruler.

Choice between heirs

The throne of the empire was taken by Ogedei (Ogedei), one of the younger brothers of Jochi Khan. And promising lands in the west went to Batu. The Mongol army, renowned in battle, unconditionally recognized this young man as its new leader, of course, with the direct support of the authoritative Subedei-bagatur.

However, Batu’s elder brother, Orda-Ichin, did not lose out. He received most of the Jochi Ulus: all the rich eastern lands, including the cities of Central Asia. But Batu, who shared the western part of his father’s possessions with his younger brothers, still had to conquer his empire.

In 1235, a national kurultai (congress of official representatives of all uluses) took place in Mongolia. The clan nobility and the army elite decided to resume campaigns of conquest in a western direction. This important task was entrusted to Batu, and the aforementioned Subedei-bagatur was appointed his right hand. The famous commander took part in all the battles of Genghis Khan, and he also accompanied Batu on new campaigns.

Successful commander

The Great Western Campaign of the Mongols began in 1236. He was also joined by the troops of Batu’s cousins - Munke, Guyuk and other descendants of Genghis Khan. First, the Polovtsians were defeated, then Volga Bulgaria was forcibly annexed to the empire.

Rus', fragmented into feudal plots, was also unable to repel the invaders. The squads of the princes simply went out “for a fair fight” in an open field, as they were used to - according to the rules of military affairs of Eastern Europe. The Mongols acted completely differently. They attacked with light cavalry, disorienting and gradually exhausting their opponents, shooting from bows, hiding behind covers. Batu valued his experienced and trained troops, which were well equipped. Captured Chinese engineers built for the Mongolian army unprecedented mechanisms for that time - battering guns, with the help of which it was possible to throw stones weighing up to 150-160 kg over several hundred meters. These machines destroyed fortress walls.

Batu's military strategy was unusual for residents of European countries. His troops could attack in the middle of the night to achieve the effect of surprise. The Mongol army moved quickly, trying to completely destroy the enemy army, so as not to give the enemy the opportunity to regroup for a new attack.

Skillful politician

Supreme power in the empire went to Guyuk, Batu’s cousin, with whom he did not have a good relationship. A new struggle for the throne began, internecine strife reached unprecedented heights.

Offended by Batu's insubordination, in 1948 Guyuk and his army went to the Lower Volga to severely punish his relative. But in the Samarkand region, the supreme ruler of the empire died suddenly. There were rumors that he was poisoned by political opponents, although no one proved anything.

Other descendants of Genghis Khan had to reckon with the great conqueror. In 1251, Batu was proposed to become the next ruler of the empire at the kurultai. But he refused such an honor; he was more interested in strengthening his own state. Then Munke, Batu’s loyal cousin, took the throne. However, in order to support his protege, the ruler of the Golden Horde was forced to send troops to Mongolia.

Batu always demonstrated his submission to Munka, although in fact he decided everything personally. An extensive network of spies always helped the ruler of the Golden Horde maintain political influence by skillfully attracting the right people to his side. And if one of the Russian princes was thinking of organizing resistance, the punitive detachments of the Horde managed to do it earlier. For example, in 1252 the troops of the Vladimir prince Andrei Yaroslavich and Daniil Romanovich Galitsky were defeated. But Batu favored Alexander Nevsky and obviously valued him as a military leader and strategist.

One way or another, the great conqueror died in 1255. Some sources say that he was poisoned, according to others, the khan was overcome by rheumatism. Both Batu's eldest son, whose name was Sartak, and his grandson Ulagchi soon left this world under very suspicious circumstances. And power in the Golden Horde was seized by Berke, one of the younger brothers of the late ruler, another son of Jochi Khan.

The historical legacy of Batu, as well as the conquests of Genghis Khan, can be treated differently. Being a skilled politician and strategist, possessing an undeniable talent as a military leader, the first ruler of the Golden Horde was a cruel, power-hungry and calculating man. Just like his legendary grandfather.