Genghis Khan was the founder and great khan of the Mongol Empire. He united disparate tribes, organized aggressive campaigns V Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and China. The proper name of the ruler is Temujin. After his death, the sons of Genghis Khan became heirs. They significantly expanded the territory of the ulus. An even greater contribution to territorial arrangement introduced by the grandson of the emperor - Batu - the owner of the Golden Horde.

The personality of the ruler

All sources by which Genghis Khan can be characterized were created after his death. Of particular importance among them is the Secret History. In these sources there is a description of the appearance of the ruler. He was tall, with a strong physique, broad forehead and a long beard. In addition, the features of his character are also described. Genghis Khan came from a people that probably did not have a written language and state institutions. Therefore, the Mongol ruler did not have any education. However, this did not prevent him from becoming a talented commander. Organizational abilities were combined in him with self-control and unbending will. Genghis Khan was affable and generous to the extent that was necessary to maintain the affection of his companions. He did not deny himself the pleasures, but at the same time he did not recognize excesses that could not be combined with his activities as a commander and ruler. According to sources, Genghis Khan lived to old age, retaining his mental capacity fully.

Heirs

During recent years The life of the ruler was very worried about the fate of his empire. Only some sons of Genghis Khan were eligible to take his place. The ruler had many children, all of them were considered legitimate. But only four sons from Borte's wife could become heirs. These children were very different from each other both in character traits and inclinations. The eldest son of Genghis Khan was born shortly after the return of Borte from the Merkit captivity. His shadow always haunted the boy. Evil tongues and even the second son of Genghis Khan, whose name would later firmly go down in history, openly called him a "Merkit geek." The mother has always protected the child. At the same time, Genghis Khan himself always recognized him as his son. Nevertheless, the boy was always reproached for being illegitimate. Once Chagatai (the son of Genghis Khan, the second heir) openly called his brother in the presence of his father. The conflict almost escalated into a real fight.

Jochi

The son of Genghis Khan, who was born after the Merkit captivity, was distinguished by some features. They, in particular, manifested themselves in his behavior. The stable stereotypes that were observed in him greatly distinguished him from his father. For example, Genghis Khan did not recognize such a thing as mercy for enemies. He could only leave small children alive, who were subsequently adopted by Hoelun (his mother), as well as valiant bagaturs who accepted Mongol citizenship. Jochi, on the contrary, was distinguished by kindness and humanity. For example, during the siege of Gurganj, the Khorezmians, who were absolutely exhausted by the war, asked to accept their surrender, spare them, leave them alive. Jochi spoke out in support of them, but Genghis Khan categorically rejected such a proposal. As a result, the garrison of the besieged city was partially cut out, and it was flooded by the waters of the Amu Darya.

tragic death

The misunderstanding that was established between the son and father was constantly fueled by slander and intrigues of relatives. Over time, the conflict deepened and led to the emergence of a stable distrust of the ruler towards his first heir. Genghis Khan began to suspect that Jochi wanted to become popular with the conquered tribes in order to subsequently secede from Mongolia. Historians doubt that the heir really aspired to this. Nevertheless, in early 1227, Jochi, with a broken spine, was found dead in the steppe, where he hunted. Certainly his father was not the only person who benefited from the death of the heir and who had the opportunity to end his life.

Second son of Genghis Khan

The name of this heir was known in circles close to the Mongol throne. Unlike the deceased brother, he was characterized by strictness, diligence and even a certain cruelty. These features contributed to the fact that Chagatai was appointed as the "guardian of Yasa". This position is analogous to that of the Chief Justice or Attorney General. Chagatai always strictly followed the law, he was merciless to violators.

Third heir

Few know the name of the son of Genghis Khan, who was the next contender for the throne. It was Ogedei. The first and third sons of Genghis Khan were similar in character. Ogedei was also known for his tolerance and kindness towards people. However, his peculiarity was a passion for hunting in the steppe and drinking with friends. One day, going on a joint trip, Chagatai and Ogedei saw a Muslim who was washing in the water. According to religious custom, every true believer should perform namaz several times during the day, as well as ritual ablution. But these actions were forbidden by Mongol custom. The tradition did not allow ablutions anywhere during the whole summer. The Mongols believed that washing in a lake or river causes a thunderstorm, which is very dangerous for travelers in the steppe. Therefore, such actions were considered as a threat to their lives. The warriors (nukhuras) of the ruthless and law-abiding Chagatai seized the Muslim. Ogedei, assuming that the intruder would lose his head, sent his man to him. The messenger had to tell the Muslim that he supposedly dropped the gold into the water and was looking for it there (to stay alive). The violator answered Chagatai in this way. This was followed by an order to the Nuhurs to find the coin in the water. Ogedei's combatant threw a gold piece into the water. The coin was found and returned to the Muslim as its "legitimate" owner. Ogedei, saying goodbye to the rescued man, took out a handful of gold coins from his pocket and handed them to the man. At the same time, he warned the Muslim that the next time he drops a coin into the water, he would not look for it, and would not break the law.

Fourth successor

The youngest son of Genghis Khan, according to Chinese sources, was born in 1193. At that time, his father was in Jurchen captivity. He stayed there until 1197. This time Borte's betrayal was obvious. However, Genghis Khan recognized Tului's son as his own. At the same time, outwardly, the child had a completely Mongolian appearance. All the sons of Genghis Khan had their own characteristics. But Tului was rewarded by nature with the greatest talents. He was distinguished by the highest moral dignity, possessed extraordinary abilities as an organizer and commander. Tului is known as a loving husband and noble man. He married the daughter of the deceased Van Khan (the head of the Keraits). She, in turn, was a Christian. Tului could not accept his wife's religion. Being a Genghisid, he must profess the faith of his ancestors - bon. Tului not only allowed his wife to perform all the proper Christian rites in a "church" yurt, but also to receive monks and have priests with her. The death of the fourth heir of Genghis Khan can be called heroic without any exaggeration. To save the sick Ogedei, Tului voluntarily took a strong shaman's potion. So, taking the disease away from his brother, he sought to attract it to himself.

Board of heirs

All the sons of Genghis Khan had the right to rule the empire. After the elimination of the elder brother, there were three successors left. After the death of his father, until the election of a new khan, Tului ruled the ulus. In 1229, a kurultai took place. Here was chosen, according to the will of the emperor, new ruler. They became tolerant and gentle Ogedei. This heir, as mentioned above, was distinguished by kindness. However, this quality is not always in favor of the ruler. During the years of his khanate, the leadership of the ulus was very weakened. Administration was carried out mainly due to the severity of Chagatai and thanks to the diplomatic abilities of Tului. Ogedei himself, instead of state affairs, preferred to roam in Western Mongolia, hunting and feasting.

grandchildren

They received various territories of the ulus or significant positions. The eldest son of Jochi - Horde-Ichen, got the White Horde. This area was located between the Tarbagatai ridge and the Irtysh (the Semipalatinsk region today). Batu was next. The son of Genghis Khan left him a legacy of the Golden Horde. Sheibani (the third successor) relied on the Blue Horde. The rulers of the uluses were also allocated 1-2 thousand soldiers each. At the same time, the number then reached 130 thousand people.

Batu

According to Russian sources, he is known as the Son of Genghis Khan, who died in 1227, three years before that he received the Kipchak steppe, part of the Caucasus, Rus' and Crimea, as well as Khorezm. The ruler's heir died, owning only Khorezm and the Asian part of the steppe. In the years 1236-1243. a general Mongol campaign to the West took place. It was led by Batu. The son of Genghis Khan passed on some character traits to his heir. The sources mention the nickname Sain Khan. According to one version, it means "good-natured". This nickname was possessed by Tsar Batu. The son of Genghis Khan died, as mentioned above, owning only a small part of his inheritance. As a result of the campaign carried out in 1236-1243, the following went to Mongolia: the western part to the North Caucasian and Volga peoples, as well as Volga Bulgaria. Several times, under the leadership of Batu, troops attacked Rus'. In their campaigns, the Mongol army reached Central Europe. Frederick II, who was then emperor of Rome, tried to organize resistance. When Batu began to demand obedience, he replied that he could be a falconer with the khan. Collisions, however, between the troops did not occur. Some time later, Batu settled in Sarai-Batu, on the banks of the Volga. He did not make any more trips to the West.

Strengthening the ulus

In 1243, Batu learned about the death of Ogedei. His army retreated to the Lower Volga. A new center of the Jochi ulus was founded here. Guyuk (one of the heirs of Ogedei) was elected kagan at the kurultai of 1246. He was an old enemy of Batu. In 1248, Guyuk died, and in 1251, a loyal Munch, a participant in the European campaign from 1246 to 1243, was elected the fourth ruler. To support the new khan, Batu sent Berke (his brother) with an army.

Relations with the princes of Rus'

In 1243-1246. all Russian rulers accepted dependence on the Mongol Empire and the Golden Horde. (Prince of Vladimir) was recognized as the oldest in Rus'. He received Kyiv ravaged in 1240 by the Mongols. In 1246, Batu sent Yaroslav to the kurultai in Karakorum as a plenipotentiary representative. There, the Russian prince was poisoned by Guyuk's supporters. Mikhail Chernigov died in the Golden Horde because he refused to enter the Khan's yurt between two fires. The Mongols regarded this as having malicious intent. Alexander Nevsky and Andrei - the sons of Yaroslav - also went to the Horde. Arriving from there to Karakorum, the first received Novgorod and Kyiv, and the second - Vladimir reign. Andrew, seeking to resist the Mongols, entered into an alliance with the strongest prince in Southern Rus' at that time - Galician. This was the reason for the punitive campaign of the Mongols in 1252. The Horde army, led by Nevryuy, defeated Yaroslav and Andrey. Batu gave the label to Vladimir Alexander. built his relationship with Batu in a slightly different way. He expelled the Horde Baskaks from their cities. In 1254 he defeated the army led by Kuremsa.

Karokorum Affairs

After the election of Guyuk as the Great Khan in 1246, a split occurred between the descendants of Chagatai and Ogedei and the heirs of the other two sons of Genghis Khan. Guyuk went on a campaign against Batu. However, in 1248, while his army was stationed in Maverannahr, he suddenly died. According to one version, he was poisoned by supporters of Munch and Batu. The first became subsequently the new ruler of the Mongolian ulus. In 1251, Batu sent an army under the leadership of Burundai near Ortar to help Munk.

Descendants

Batu's successors were: Sartak, Tukan, Ulagchi and Abukan. The first was an adherent of the Christian religion. Sartak's daughter married Gleb Vasilkovich, and the daughter of Batu's grandson became the wife of St. Fyodor Cherny. In these two marriages, Belozersky and Yaroslavl princes were born (respectively).

Name: Batu Khan

Date of Birth: 1209

Age: 46 years old

Date of death: 1255

Height: 170

Activity: military leader, statesman

Family status: was married

Batu: biography

The death of the great Khan of the Mongol Empire did not put an end to the wars of conquest of the Golden Horde. The grandson of the brilliant commander continued the traditions of the famous grandfather and organized the most treacherous campaign of the Golden Horde in history, called the Great Western Campaign. The invasion of Batu expanded the empire of Genghis Khan to incredible borders.

In one of the surviving documents from the time of Batu's campaign there are lines:

"He entered north coast Meotian swamps with a huge army to Europe and, having first conquered North-Eastern Rus', destroyed the richest city of Kiev, defeated the Poles, Silesians and Moravians and, finally, rushed to Hungary, which he ruined to the end and through that brought the whole Christian world to horror and awe ".

The devastating campaign of Batu against Rus' and the ensuing 250-year-old Tatar-Mongol yoke left an indelible mark on the history of the state.

Childhood and youth

There is no exact date of Batu's birth. Historical documents indicate different year birth. Batu, the son of Jochi, was born at the very beginning of the 13th century. Batu's father is the eldest son of Genghis Khan, who inherited all the lands to the west of the Irtysh River. Also, Jochi received lands that had not yet been conquered: Europe, Rus', Khorezm and Volga Bulgaria. Genghis Khan ordered his son to expand the boundaries of the ulus (empire) by conquering Russian lands and Europe.

Jochi was not loved by relatives. Father Batu lived a solitary life, on his lands. After Jochi's death under unclear circumstances in 1227, troops west of the Irtysh named Batu as heir. Genghis Khan approved the choice of heir. Batu shared power in the state with his brothers: Horde-Ichen got most of the troops and East End state, and the rest Batu shared with his younger brothers.

hiking

The biography of Batu Khan is the life story of a great warrior. In 1235, near the river Onon, the kurultai (council of the nobility) decided to resume the campaign to the West. The first attempt to reach Kyiv was made by the troops of Genghis Khan in 1221. Having suffered a defeat in 1224 from the Volga Bulgars (Volga-Kama Bulgaria - a state in the Middle Volga), the troops of Genghis Khan stopped the advance. lead new campaign entrusted to the grandson of Genghis Khan Batu Khan. Right hand Batu was appointed Subedei-bagatur. Subedey went on all campaigns with Genghis Khan, participated in the victorious battle with the Polovtsy and Russian troops on the Kalka River (present-day Donetsk region, Ukraine).

In 1236, Batu led the troops in the Great Western Campaign. The first conquest of the Golden Horde was the Polovtsian lands. Volga Bulgaria became part of the Mongol Empire. There were several invasions of Rus'. Batu personally led the seizure of the lands of Ryazan and Vladimir in 1238, in 1240 - Kyiv. Having conquered the Volga Bulgaria, Batu with an army went to the Polovtsy on the Don. The last Polovtsy troops were defeated by the Mongols in 1237. Having defeated the Polovtsy, the Tatar-Mongols of Batu moved to Ryazan. The city fell on the sixth day of the assault.

The Old Russian story “On the Devastation of Ryazan by Batu”, dating from the end of the 16th century, has survived to this day. The ancient lists tell of the Tatar-Mongol invasion of Ryazan in 1237. Khan Batu with a horde stood on the Voronezh River near Ryazan. Prince Yuri Igorevich sent for help to the Grand Duke of Vladimir Georgy Vsevolodovich. At the same time, Yuri tried to get rid of Batu with gifts. Khan found out about the beauty living outside the walls of Ryazan, and demanded to send the daughter-in-law of Prince Eupraxia to him. Eupraxia's husband resisted and was killed. The woman committed suicide by jumping off the tower. The refusal served as a signal for the start of the battle. The result of the battle was the capture and destruction of Ryazan by the Tatars of Batu. Yuri's army was defeated, the prince died.

According to legend, the governor of Ryazan, returning home from Chernigov, saw the city destroyed by the Tatars. Gathering a detachment of 177 people, he set off in the footsteps of the Mongols. Having entered into an unequal battle with the army of Batu near Suzdal, the squad was defeated. Batu, paying tribute to the courage of Kolovrat, shown in an unequal battle, gave the body of the murdered governor to the surviving Russians with the words: “Oh, Evpaty! If you served me, I would keep you close to my heart! The name of the Ryazan governor is inscribed in the history of Russia next to other, no less glorious heroes.

Having destroyed Ryazan, Batu's army went to Vladimir. Moscow and Kolomna, which stood in the way of the khan, were devastated. The siege of Vladimir began in the winter of 1238. Four days later, the Tatars stormed the city. Batu ordered Vladimir to be set on fire. In the fire, the inhabitants died along with the Grand Duke. Having ruined Vladimir, the horde split in two. One part of the army went to capture Torzhok, the other went to Novgorod, defeating Russian army on the River Sit. Before reaching Novgorod 100 miles, Batu turned back. Passing through the city of Kozelsk, the horde met stubborn resistance local residents. The siege of Kozelsk lasted seven weeks. Having captured the city, the Tatars did not leave even a stone from it.

South direction Batu captured in 1239. On the way to main goal- Kyiv - Khan destroyed Pereyaslavskoe and Chernihiv Principality. The siege of Kyiv lasted three months and ended with the victory of Batu Khan. Consequences Tatar-Mongol invasion in Rus' are terrible. The earth lay in rubble. Many cities are gone. The inhabitants were taken into slavery in the Horde.

As a result of the Mongol invasion of Rus' in 1237-1248, the Grand Dukes had to accept the political and tributary dependence of the principalities on the Mongol Empire. The Russians paid tribute annually. The Khan of the Golden Horde appointed princes in Rus' with labels. The yoke of the Golden Horde of the North-Eastern lands of Rus' lasted two and a half centuries, until 1480.

In 1240, Kyiv, defeated by the Horde, was transferred Vladimir prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. In 1250, the prince went as a representative to the kurultai in Karakorum, where he was poisoned. The sons of Yaroslav Andrey went after their father to the Golden Horde. Andrei received the principality of Vladimir, and Alexander - Kyiv and Novgorod. The occupation of Kyiv opened the way for the Golden Horde to Europe. At the foot of the Carpathians western hike divided into two armies. One group, led by Baidar and the Horde, went on a campaign to Poland, Moravia and Silesia.

The other, led by Batu, Kadan and Subudei, conquered Hungary: on April 11, 1241, the troops of King Bel IV were defeated by the Mongols in the battle on the Shaio River. With the victory over Hungary, Batu opened the way to the conquest of Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia, and Dalmatia. In 1242, the troops of the Golden Horde entered Central Europe and stopped at the gates of the Saxon city of Meissen. The journey to the West is over. The invasion of Rus' severely battered the hordes of Tatars. Batu returned to the Volga.

Another reason for the end of the Long March was the death of the great Khan Ogedei, the successor of Genghis Khan. Guyuk, an old enemy of Batu, became the new kagan. After Guyuk came to power, inter-clan battles began. In 1248, the great khan went on a campaign against Batu. But, having reached Samarkand, the great Khan Guyuk suddenly died. According to historians, the khan was poisoned by Batu's supporters. The next Great Khan in 1251 was a supporter of Batu Munke.

In 1250, Batu founded the city of Sarai-Batu (now - the area of ​​​​the village of Selitrennoye in the Kharabalinsky district of the Astrakhan region). According to contemporaries, Sarai-Batu - beautiful city, full of people. Bright bazaars and streets struck the imagination of the guests of the city. Later, during the reign of Khan Uzbek, the city fell into decay and was dismantled into bricks for the construction of new settlements.

Personal life

Khan Batu had 26 wives. The eldest wife is Borakchin Khatun. Borakchin comes from a tribe of Tatars who roamed in the east of Mongolia. According to unconfirmed reports, Borakchin is the mother of Batu's eldest son, Sartak. In addition to Sartak, two more sons of the khan are known: Tukan and Abukan. There is evidence that there was another heir of Batu - Ulagchi.

Death

Batu died in 1255. accurate information there is no information about the causes of Khan's death. There are versions of death from poisoning or rheumatic disease. Batu's heir was the eldest son Sartak. Sartak learned about his father's death while at the court of Munki Khan in Mongolia. Returning home, the heir suddenly died. The young son of Sartak Ulagchi became Khan. Borakchin-khatun became the regent under the khan and the ruler of the ulus. Soon Ulagchi died.

Borakchin opposed the coming to power in the Juchi ulus of the son of Juchi, the grandson of Genghis Khan Berke. The plot was revealed, and Borakchin was executed. Berke is a follower of the policy of brother Batu in expanding the independence of the ulus. He is the first Khan to convert to Islam. During the reign, the ulus gained independence. The oppression of the Golden Horde over Russia was established.

Memory

Batu left a terrible memory of himself in Rus'. In the ancient chronicles, the khan was called "impious", "godless". In one of the legends that have survived to this day, you can read:

"The wicked Tsar Batu captured the Russian land, shedding innocent blood, like water, abundantly, and torturing Christians."

In the East, Khan Batu is treated with respect. In Astana and Ulaanbaatar, streets are named after Batu Khan. The name of Batu Khan is found in literature and cinema. The writer Vasily Yan has repeatedly addressed the biography of the great commander. The writer's books "Genghis Khan", "Batu", "To the "last" sea" are known to readers. Batu is mentioned in the books of Alexei Yugov and Ilyas Esenberlin.

Nurmukhan Zhanturin as Batu in the film "Daniel - Prince of Galicia"

Dedicated to the campaigns of the Golden Horde and Khan Batu soviet film 1987 directed by Yaroslav Lupiy "Daniel - Prince of Galicia". In 2012, Andrey Proshkin's film "The Horde" was released on the screens of Russia. The picture consecrates the events that took place in Rus' and the Golden Horde in the XIII century.

Name: Batu (Batu)

Years of life: around 1209 - 1255/1256

State: Golden Horde

Field of activity: Army, politics

Greatest achievement: Became the ruler of the Golden Horde. Spent a number of conquests in the north-west, including Rus'.

Batu Khan (ca. 1205-1255) was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Blue Horde. Batu was the son of Jochi and the grandson of Genghis Khan. His (or the Kipchak Khanate), which ruled Russia and the Caucasus for about 250 years, after it destroyed the armies of Poland and Hungary. Batu was the figurehead of the Mongol invasion of Europe, while his general Subedei is credited with the glory of an excellent strategist. Having gained control over Russia, Volga Bulgaria and the Crimea, he invaded Europe, winning the Battle of Mohi against the Hungarian army on April 11, 1241. In 1246 he returned to Mongolia to elect a new Great Khan, apparently hoping for supremacy. When his rival, Guyuk Khan became the Great Khan, he returned to his khanate and built the capital on the Volga - Sarai, known as Sarai-Batu, which remained the capital of the Golden Horde until it collapsed.

The role of Batu Khan in Russian and European campaigns is sometimes downplayed, giving the leading role to his general. Nevertheless, the merit of Batu is that he heeded the advice of his general to gain experience in military affairs. Perhaps the most important result Batu Khan's invasion of Europe was that it helped draw Europe's attention to the world beyond its borders.

As long as the Mongol Empire existed, which gave the development of trade, as well as diplomacy: for example, the papal nuncio was able to arrive at the assembly of 1246. To some extent, the Mongol Empire and Mongol invasion to Europe, the responsibility for which, at least nominally, lay with Batu Khan, served as a bridge between different cultural parts of the world.

Pedigree of Batu

Although Genghis Khan recognized Jochi as his son, his origins remain in question, as his mother Borte, Genghis Khan's wife, was taken captive and he was born shortly after her return. While Genghis Khan was alive, this situation was known to everyone, but it was not discussed publicly. However, she drove a wedge between Jochi and his father; shortly before his death, Jochi almost fought with him because of the stubborn refusal of his wife, Yuki, to join military campaigns.

Jochi was also given only 4,000 Mongol soldiers to establish his own khanate. Jochi's son Batu (Batu), described as "the second and most capable son of Yuki", obtained most of his soldiers by recruiting them from among the conquered Turkic peoples, mainly from the Kipchak Turks. Batu later played important role to win over his uncle Udegei to the side of Tolui, his other uncle. After Jochi and Genghis Khan died, Jochi's lands were divided between Batu and his older brother Horde. The Horde ruled the lands roughly between the Volga and Lake Balkhash - the White Horde, and Batu ruled the lands west of the Volga - the Golden Horde.

After the death of Batu's heir, Sartak, Batu's brother Berke inherited the Golden Horde. Berke was unwilling to unite with his cousins ​​in the Mongol family, going to war with Hulagu Khan, although he officially recognized only the Khanate of China as his theoretical overlord. In fact, by that time, Berke was an independent ruler. Fortunately for Europe, Berke did not share Batu's interest in conquering it, but he demanded the extradition of the Hungarian king Bela IV and sent his general Boroldai to Lithuania and Poland. Batu had at least four children: Sartak, Khan of the Golden Horde from 1255-1256, Tukan, Abukan, Ulagchi (probably the son of Sartak). Batu's mother Yuka-fuj-khatun belonged to the Mongol clan Kungirat, and his chief khatun Borakchin was an Alchi-Tatar.

Early years of Batu

After Jochi's death, his territory was divided among his sons; The Horde received the right bank of the Syr Darya and the areas around Sari Bu, Batu, the northern coast of the Caspian Sea to the Ural River.

In 1229, Ogedei sent three tumens under Kuhdey and Sunday against the tribes in the lower Urals. Batu then joined Ogedei's military campaign in the Jin Dynasty in Northern China, when they fought the Bashkirs, Cumans, Bulgars and Alans. Despite the strong resistance of their enemies, the Mongols conquered many cities of the Jurchens and turned the Bashkirs into their allies.

Batu's invasion of Rus'

In 1235, Batu, who had previously led the conquest of the Crimea, was assigned an army, perhaps 130,000, to oversee the invasion of Europe. His relatives and cousins ​​Guyuk, Buri, Mongke, Khulgen, Kadan, Baidar and the famous Mongol generals Subutai (Subedei), Borodal (Borodai) and Mengyuser (Mnkhsar) joined him on the orders of their uncle Ogedei. The army, actually under the command of Subedei, crossed the Volga and invaded Volga Bulgaria in 1236. It took them a year to crush the resistance of the Volga Bulgars, Kipchaks and Alans.

In November 1237, Batu Khan sent his ambassadors to the Ryazan prince Yuri Igorevich and demanded his loyalty. A month later, the hordes laid siege to Ryazan. After six days of bloody battle, the city was completely destroyed. Excited by the news, Yuri sent his sons to delay the Horde, but was defeated. After Kolomna and Moscow were burned, then on February 4, 1238, the Horde laid siege to Vladimir. Three days later, the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was taken and burned to the ground. The princely family perished in the fire, and the prince himself hastily retreated to the north. Crossing the Volga, he collected new army, which on March 4 on the Sit River was completely destroyed by the Mongols.

Subsequently, Batu divided his army into several parts, which devastated fourteen more cities of Rus': Rostov, Uglich, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Kashin, Kshnyatin, Gorodets, Galich, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yuryev-Polsky, Dmitrov, Volokolamsk, Tver and Torzhok. The city of Kozelsk, where the young Vasily reigned, turned out to be the most difficult - the inhabitants resisted the Mongols for seven weeks. Only three major cities escaped destruction: Smolensk, which submitted to the Mongols and agreed to pay tribute, and Novgorod and Pskov, which were too far away, and besides, winter began.

In the summer of 1238, Batu Khan devastated the Crimea and conquered Mordovia. In the winter of 1239 he took Chernigov and Pereyaslav. After several months of siege, in December 1239 the Horde broke into Kyiv. Despite the fierce resistance of Danila Galitsky, Batu managed to take the two main capitals - Galich and Vladimir-Volynsky. The states of Rus' became vassals, and did not enter the Central Asian empire.

Batu decided to go to central Europe. Some modern historians believe that Batu was primarily concerned that his flanks were protected from a possible attack by the Europeans and partly provided further conquests. Most believe that he intended to conquer all of Europe as soon as his flanks were strengthened and his army was ready again. He probably planned a trip to Hungary, because the Russian princes and commoners took refuge there and could pose a threat.

The Mongols invaded Central Europe in three groups. One group conquered Poland, defeating the combined army under the command of Henry the Pious, Duke of Silesia and Grand Master Teutonic Order in Legnica. The second crossed the Carpathians, and the third came out for the Danube. The armies rejoined and defeated Hungary in 1241, defeating an army led by King Béla IV at the Battle of Mohi on 11 April. The troops swept across the Hungarian plain in the summer, and in the spring of 1242 they extended their control to Austria and Dalmatia, and also invaded Bohemia.

This attack on Europe was planned and carried out by Subedei, under the nominal command of Batu. During his campaign in Central Europe Batu wrote to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, demanding his surrender. The latter replied that he knew bird hunting well and would like to become the guardian of Batu's eagle if he ever lost his throne. Emperor and Pope Gregory IX convened crusade against the Mongol Empire.

Subedei achieved perhaps his most enduring glory with victories in Europe and Eastern Persia. Ruining many Russian principalities, he sent spies to Poland, Hungary and Austria, preparing to attack the central part of Europe. Having a clear picture of the European kingdoms, he prepared an attack with two "princes of the blood" (distant offspring of the Genghis Khan family), Kaidu and Kadan, although General Subedei was again the actual commander on the field. While in the north Kaidu won the Battle of Legnica and Kadan's army was victorious in Transylvania, Subedei was waiting for them on the Hungarian plain. The reunited army withdrew to the Sajo River, where they defeated King Bela IV at the Battle of Mohi.

By the end of 1241, when Batu and Subedei had completed their invasions of Austria, Italy, and Germany, news of the death of Ogedei Khan (died December 1241) overtook them, and the Mongols left in late spring 1242, as the "princes of blood" and Subedei were recalled to Karakorum, where a kurultai (congress of the Mongol nobility) was held. Batu was not actually present at the kurultai; he learned that Guyuk received enough support to become khan and stay out of the way. Instead, he turned around to consolidate his conquests in Asia and the Urals. Subedei was not with him - he remained in Mongolia, where he died in 1248, and the enmity between Batu and Guyuk Khan made further European invasion impossible.

The beginning of the enmity dates back to 1240: celebrating the victory over Russia, Batu declared that the winner has the right to be the first to drink from the ceremonial goblet. But him cousin, apparently believed that this right belongs to General Batu. The deterioration of relations between the grandchildren of Genghis Khan eventually led to the collapse of the Mongol Empire.

After the return of Batu Khan, he founded the capital of his khanate in Saray in the lower reaches of the Volga. He planned new campaigns after Guyuk's death, intending to take advantage of initial plans Subedei to invade Europe, but died in 1255. The heir was his son Sartak, who decided not to invade Europe. It is assumed that if the Mongols had continued their campaign, they would have reached the Atlantic, since "no european army could not resist the victorious Mongols.

The Kipchak Khanate ruled Russia through local princes for the next 230 years.

The Kipchak Khanate was known in Rus' and in Europe as the Golden Horde. Some people think that it is named so because of the golden color of the khan's tent. "Horde" comes from Mongolian word"horde" (horde) or camps. The word "gold" is believed to have also meant "royal". Of all the khanates, the Golden Horde ruled the longest. After the fall of the Yuan dynasty in China and the fall of the Ilkhanate in the Middle East, the descendants of Batu Khan continued to rule the Russian steppes.

Although Subedei is described as the real mastermind behind Batu's campaigns: "It is possible that Batu was only the supreme commander, using his name, and that the real command was in Subedei's hands." But Batu was wise enough to "skillfully use the strife between the various kingdoms of Europe" for the purposes of the Mongol campaign. And the indisputable merit of Batu was that he listened to the advice of his general and skillfully used his many years of experience in this area.

Perhaps the most significant legacy of Batu and the Mongol invasion of Europe was that it helped draw Europe's attention to the world beyond its borders, especially to China, which was effectively traded because it Mongol Empire kept on account Silk Road and carefully guarded him. To some extent, the Mongol Empire and the Mongol invasion of Europe served as a bridge between different cultural worlds.

In 1207, which the Mongols considered the year of the earth-snake, Jochi, the eldest son and heir of Genghis Khan, had a son Batu (in the Russian tradition of pronunciation - Batu). Shortly before the boy was born, Jochi conquered the Transbaikal "forest peoples" and the Kirghiz from the Yenisei, and his family apparently accompanied him on the campaign. Therefore, it is very likely that the birthplace of Batu is the territory of modern Altai Territory or Buryatia.

The famous grandfather Batu, having begun to divide his possessions between his sons, gave the most huge inheritance to Jochi. This legacy included Western Siberia, Khorezm, the Urals and the promise of all the western lands, which only reach the Mongolian horses. But Jochi did not have a chance to rejoice at his father's generosity for a long time. Genghis Khan suspected his son of treason, and soon Jochi was killed - perhaps indeed on his father's orders. After the death of his son, Genghis Khan ordered his grandson Batu to be elected the ruler of the Jochi ulus, which surprised many noyons very much. Batu was about eighteen years old, he was not the eldest son of Jochi and did not have time to distinguish himself in any special merits. However, the noyons did not dare to violate the will of Genghis Khan.

Unanimously elected as his father's successor, Batu, however, did not receive any real power, or even his own inheritance: he had to distribute all areas of his father's ulus to his brothers as a token of gratitude for his election as chief. Ordu-Ichen, the eldest brother, became the ruler of the troops, and Batu's power was then purely symbolic.

After the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, his third son, Ogedei, inherited his throne, after his election, he confirmed the title of Batu and even promised to help in the conquest of the western lands. But in 1230 the Mongols went to conquer China, and Batu, of course, accompanied his uncle on this campaign. The Qin Empire fell in 1234, and a year later it was decided to finally go to the West. The appointed group of conquerors included all the eldest grandchildren of Genghis Khan, and thus the conquest of the West turned into a common cause. The conquered lands were now to be divided among themselves by twelve Chingizid princes.

The campaign to the West was actually commanded by Subedei-batur, the most experienced commander of Genghis Khan, but the princes did not want to recognize him as a real leader. The cunning Ogedei left it to his nephews to elect the commander-in-chief, and Batu won the election, as he had already taken part in campaigns against the Polovtsians and Khorezm. It must be assumed that the reason for the election was still not so much military experience as the fact that the troops were collected mainly in the possessions of Batu.

The number of these troops was about one hundred and thirty thousand soldiers. Some of them were sent to the lands of the Southern Volga region - to fight with the Kipchaks, Alans and other tribes. Most of the army moved in 1236 to the once powerful state of Volga Bulgaria, now consisting of semi-independent principalities. Their rulers were at enmity with each other, and some even united with the Mongols - and a year later the Volga Bulgaria became a Mongol territory. Judging by the Russian chronicles, Batu passed through these lands with a sword and fire, ruthlessly exterminating the population. Having completed the subjugation of the Bulgars, he continued his campaign to the West - and now he had to conquer Rus'.

The Ryazan principality was the first to be invaded - at the end of 1237, Batu defeated the main troops Ryazan princes and in two weeks captured the most important cities, including Ryazan itself. The remnants of the Ryazan army retreated to Kolomna, located on the border of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, and then Yuri Vsevolodovich, Vladimir and Suzdal, came to their aid Grand Duke.

It is curious that when Batu was smashing the Bulgars, Yuri was at war with the Mordovian prince Purgas, the main Bulgarian ally. And the ruin of the Ryazan principality was very beneficial to the Suzdal prince. But on his own territory, the Mongols, of course, were of no use to him, and therefore, near Kolomna, Batu’s troops met not only with the Ryazans, but also with the squad of Yuri Vsevolodovich, reinforced militia. The advanced detachments of the Mongols were first thrown back, and in the battle, one of his main opponents, Kulkan, the youngest son of Genghis Khan, perished very successfully for Batu. But soon the main forces appeared, and the steppe cavalry defeated the foot Russian troops. Then Batu took Moscow in five days and moved to the city of Vladimir, the capital of North-Eastern Rus'.

In February 1238, Vladimir fell, and then Batu captured and burned fourteen cities. March 4 at fierce battle Yuri Vsevolodovich was killed on the City River, and with the defeat of this the last troops Rus' could no longer resist the Mongols in an organized manner. Only Veliky Novgorod remained, and in March the Mongols took Torzhok, the Novgorod advanced outpost. It was a show of force, but prince of novgorod did not respond to the provocation, and Batu turned his troops to the south.

By mid-May, the Mongols took the border Kozelsk, and by the summer Batu was already in the Volga region, where he intended to create his own ulus, considering his campaign completed. Unfortunately, Ogedei, the great Khan of the Mongols, did not think so and demanded to continue the conquests. Batu's comrades-in-arms also wished for military glory. In 1239, Batu was limited to raids on Moksha and Mordvins, went to the devastated Ryazan principality, but by the end next summer it became impossible to postpone a serious campaign, and the Mongols invaded South Rus' - it was through it that the road to Hungary lay. Batu made an attempt to negotiate with Kiev, but Prince Mikhail ordered the death of his ambassadors, for which Kyiv paid a heavy price. In December, after a three-month siege, Kyiv fell.

In Hungary, the Mongols wanted to settle long-standing scores with Kotyan, the Polovtsian Khan who had fled there, and therefore they were in a hurry, and Galicia-Volyn Rus suffered less than Northern Rus - Batu did not touch some cities at all. On the other hand, he brilliantly carried out the European campaign of the Mongols thought out by Subedei. The army of the Mongols, reinforced, by the way, by representatives of the conquered peoples, was divided into three columns, and each of them successfully completed its task.

The northern column, commanded by the grandsons of Genghis Khan Baydar and Kadan, went to Poland, where in April 1241 they defeated the combined army of Czechs, Poles and German knights, and then moved to Slovakia and further to Hungary. The second column was led by Batu himself - this part of the army, having crossed the Carpathians, entered Hungary and on April 11 defeated the Hungarian king Bela IV on the Shaio River. The king at that moment had already managed to deal with the Polovtsian khan, and therefore lost forty thousand Polovtsian soldiers who had left him. Subedei Bagatur with a third column captured the territory of modern Romania, after which he joined Batu, who was pursuing the Hungarian king. However, Batu, apparently, was not going to destroy Hungary and even ordered to restore the economy, but, nevertheless, this period in the history of the Hungarians is considered one of the most difficult.

rulers Western Europe, not ready to resist the Mongols, were preparing for the worst, but in the spring of 1242, Batu unexpectedly ordered to turn back. This order still remains a mystery of his biography. Some historians argue that the reason for the departure of the Mongols from Europe was the struggle of the Russians in the rear of Batu. However, the South Russian warriors gladly went along with the Mongols against the "Polyakhs" and "Ugrians", their ancient enemies. Most likely, Batu simply did what he intended: after all, Khan Kotyan was destroyed one way or another, and the borders of the new possessions were protected. Do not forget that in December 1241 Khan Ogedei died. Upon learning of this, three influential Genghisides from Batu's army left the army and went to Mongolia to fight for the vacant throne. Guyuk, the son of Ogedei and the worst enemy of Batu, had the greatest chances to become the Great Khan, and Batu preferred to meet his accession in his own ulus, and not in distant Europe.

Guyuk was elected the Great Khan only five years later. By the time he died last son Genghis Khan, Jagatai, and Batu became the head of the Borjigin clan, from which both Genghis Khan himself and all his descendants originated. The authority of the head of the Chingizid clan was very great, and the new great khan was forced to recognize Batu as co-ruler of the western destinies. Guyuk did not like this situation very much, and in January 1248 he went with a significant army to the borders of the Golden Horde (as the Ulus of Jochi is now called). Officially, he did not want so much - for Batu to come to him and express his obedience, since he was not present at the kurultai, which elected the Great Khan. In fact, both Guyuk and Batu understood that the internecine war, and only the death of one of the rulers will stop it. Apparently, Batu turned out to be quicker - somewhere in the Samarkand region, Khan Guyuk died very timely, and everyone remained convinced that Batu sent the poisoners to him.

In 1251, another coup d'etat took place: Berke, Batu's brother, and Sartak, his son, came to Mongolia with an army from the Golden Horde, gathered the Mongolian Chingizids and forced them to make Monke the Great Khan, best friend Batu. The new khan, of course, recognized Batu as a co-ruler. A year later, supporters of the Guyuk family tried to plot, but Monke executed most of the conspirators, and sent some of Batu's old opponents to the Ulus of Jochi, so as not to deprive Batu of the pleasure of dealing with them personally. True, in the future, Monke turned out to be not at all so complaisant, he began to strengthen central government, and restrict the rights of ulus rulers. Batu could not do anything with this - after all, he himself spoke for the election of Monke as the Great Khan and now he could not disobey. It must be said that both rulers were primarily statesmen and did not want another split in the Mongol Empire at all, and therefore managed to reach a compromise. Batu allowed a population census to be conducted in the Ulus of Jochi and sent part of his army to march on Iran. In turn, Monke recognized the right of control over Russia, Volga Bulgaria and the northern Caucasus for Ulus Jochi. Batu's activities for the autonomy of his possessions bore fruit very soon - already under the rule of his grandson Mengu-Timur (seventies), the Golden Horde turned into a completely independent state.

Created this state, stretching from the Irtysh to the Danube, Batu Khan. He made Sarai-Bata, a city in the Volga delta, near modern Astrakhan, the capital of the Golden Horde. Russian principalities for several centuries became tributaries of the Golden Horde, and the ruler of the Mongols issued labels for princely possessions.

Batu Khan lived, according to foreign diplomats, like an emperor, having all the necessary officials and developing the military art of the Mongols, famous for surprise attacks, cavalry speed and evasion major battles, threatening the loss of soldiers and horses. Batu became famous for his cruelty, which, however, was not at all surprising for that time.

The founder and first ruler of the Golden Horde died in 1255. His throne was occupied by Sartak, the eldest son, approved in hereditary rights by the Great Khan Monke.

Information about Batu is extremely scarce, and the personality of this great Mongol is surrounded by legends and mysteries, many of which arose during his lifetime. Batu went down in history as a "filthy" and "cursed" destroyer of the lands of Rus' and Eastern Europe. But in his work there were positive sides- the first khan of the Golden Horde patronized trade, developed cities and, apparently, was fair, resolving disputes of his vassals. In addition, Batu was without a doubt an outstanding statesman- after all, the Golden Horde did not disintegrate after his death, like many powers that lost their founders.

Three Lives of Batu Khan

Batu (Batu Khan) - one of the outstanding politicians XIII century, which played a significant role in the history of many countries of the East, Rus', Eastern Europe. But there is still no biography of him. Despite his importance in history, he remains Batu the Unknown, Batu the Forgotten.

How did it happen that historians ignored such a famous figure? Why didn't the chroniclers of his day give him a place in the pages of their works, commensurate with his deeds?

In fact, what is known about Batu today? "Batu (Batu) (1208-55), Mongol khan, grandson of Genghis Khan. The leader of the all-Mongol campaign against Rus' and Eastern Europe (1236-43), Khan of the Golden Horde" - that's all you can learn about Batu from any encyclopedic or biographical dictionary.

Of course, Batu was not such a spectacular personality, a symbol of the Middle Ages, as, for example, Richard the Lionheart or Saint Louis, Sultan Saladdin or St. Thomas Aquinas, Genghis Khan or Cesare Borgia. He did not become famous for his exploits on the battlefield, piety in matters of faith, did not leave behind scientific works or works of art.

But he left something more significant - the state, which today is known as the Golden Horde. A state that outlived its founder for many years, and whose successors at different times were considered the Moscow kingdom and Russian empire, and today Russia and Kazakhstan also rank themselves among them.

Dividing the possessions between his sons, Genghis Khan gave Jochi the largest inheritance, which included Khorezm, Western Siberia, and the Urals. He was also promised all the lands farther in the West, as far as the hooves of the Mongol horses would reach. But Father Batu did not have to take advantage of his father's generosity. Soon the relationship between Genghis Khan and his first-born son escalated. Jochi did not approve of his father's excessive conquest aspirations and, under the pretext of illness, repeatedly refused to participate in his campaigns. Having become very suspicious in his old age, Genghis Khan easily believed the enemies of Jochi, who claimed that his eldest son was plotting a rebellion against him. And when in the spring of 1227 Jochi, who went hunting, was found in the steppe with a broken spine (according to other sources, he was poisoned), everyone immediately suspected that he had been killed on the orders of his father, and some Mongolian chronicles even speak directly about this. But the killers themselves were never found.

Soon, Daniel of Galicia also opposed the Mongols, deciding to take Ponysia from them. This area was formerly part of Kyiv principality, and then came under the direct control of the Golden Horde; The Horde authorities established such tax benefits for the population in Ponysia that Russians constantly ran there even from “natural” princes - from Kyiv, Chernigov, Galich, and Volyn. Daniel decided to put an end to this. In 1255 he invaded Ponysya, drove out small detachments of the Mongols from there and annexed these lands to his possessions. He calculated correctly: Batu, concentrating on eastern affairs, preferred to ignore this attempt on his possessions for the time being, deciding to punish Daniel later. But only after his death, his brother Berke managed to return Ponissya and significantly weaken military power Galicia-Volyn state.

Thus, although Batu laid the foundation for the centuries-old ties between Rus' and the Horde, he himself did not play a very noticeable role in the development of these relations. It can even be said that the affairs of Rus' worried him only to the extent that they influenced relations with other states that were in the sphere of his interests. And only after his death, the Horde khans began to show more attention to the "Russian ulus".

But the name of Batu was preserved in Russian folklore. In epics, he, of course, appears as an enemy of Rus', the leader of a cruel Horde. The repeatedly mentioned expression "Batu's pogrom" even today means desolation, destruction, great disorder. However, back in the 19th century. in the Vologda and Kostroma provinces Milky Way called "Batu's road". It is strange that the galaxy was named after the worst enemy! Who knows, maybe the attitude of the Russian people towards Batu differed from that which the chroniclers tried to reflect in their writings?

Batu is also known by the title "Sain Khan". This title-nickname reflected his qualities, which aroused the greatest respect of his subjects and contemporaries: "sain" in Mongolian has many meanings - from "generous", "generous" to "kind" and "fair". A number of researchers believe that he received this nickname during his lifetime, just as Mongolian khans bore titles-nicknames: Sechen Khan ("Wise Khan", Khubilai), Biligtu Khan ("Pious Khan", Ayushridar), etc. Other authors believe that "Sain Khan" became Batu's posthumous title. It is difficult to say which of them is right, but it should be noted that the first mentions of the title are found in chronicles that appeared after his death.

Batu in history

Batu died in 1256, and his death became another mystery: there were versions about poisoning, and even about death during the next campaign (which is completely implausible). Contemporaries simply could not allow the thought that a figure of such a magnitude would die somehow simply and routinely. However, it is most likely that Batu died from natural causes, - apparently from some kind of rheumatic disease, which he suffered for many years: different sources they report that he suffered from “weakness of the limbs”, that his face was covered with reddish spots, etc.

But why is Batu given so little space in historical chronicles and research? Why is information about him scarce and unsystematic? Finding the answer is no longer so difficult.

The Mongolian and Chinese official chronicles contain practically no information about Batu: during his stay in China, he did not prove himself, and the Mongolian chroniclers saw him as an opponent of the Great Khans from Karakorum and, naturally, preferred not to remember him so as not to provoke the wrath of their overlords .

The same applies to the Persian chronicles: since the heirs of Sain Khan fought for more than a hundred years for the possession of the lands of Iran and Azerbaijan with the Persian Mongols, the Hulaguid court chroniclers also did not risk paying too much attention to the founder of the power of their enemies. And under such circumstances, the flattering characteristics of Batu, which are still found among the Persian chroniclers, seem objective: after all, to praise the enemy, to attribute to him some fictitious positive features was not in their interest.

Western diplomats who visited Batu's court generally prefer not to show their attitude towards him, but they provide some information about his political position and personal qualities: he is affectionate with his people, but inspires them with great fear, knows how to hide his feelings, strives to demonstrate his unity with other Genghisides, etc.

Russian chroniclers and Western chroniclers, who created their works "in hot pursuit" - after the Mongol raids, of course, could not write anything positive about Batu. So he went down in history as "evil", "cursed", "filthy", the destroyer of Rus' and the destroyer of Eastern Europe. And later Russian historians, based on the reports of the chronicles, continued to strengthen just such an image of Batu.

This stereotype is so firmly established that when already in the twentieth century. Soviet orientalists tried to point out the positive aspects of Batu's activities (protection of trade, urban development, justice in resolving disputes between vassal rulers), official history and ideology met their views with hostility. Only towards the end of the twentieth century. historians were allowed to have an opinion that Batu, perhaps, was not quite such a monster as the chroniclers presented him. And L.N. Gumilyov, known for his sympathy for the Mongol rulers, even allowed himself to put Batu on the same level as Charlemagne, and noted that the power of Charles collapsed shortly after his death, and the Golden Horde outlived its founder for many years.

Nevertheless, not a single significant study has yet been devoted to Batu: probably, historians are still stopped by the scarcity of information about him, the inconsistency of the available materials, which do not allow to restore a complete picture of his life and work. Therefore, even today he remains a mysterious and mysterious person for us.

1. Astaykin A. A. Experience of comparative research. Mongol Empire // World of Lev Gumilyov. "Arabesques" of history. Book II: Tartari Desert. - M.: DI-DIK, 1995. S. 597; History of the peoples of East and Central Asia. - M.: Nauka, 1986. S. 286

2. See, for example: Grousset R. Genghis Khan. Conqueror of the Universe. - M .: Young Guard, 2000. S. 63; Gumilyov L. N. Ancient Rus' and the Great Steppe. - M .: Partnership "Klyshnikov, Komarov and Co", 1992. S. 289; Kozin S. A. Secret legend. Yuan chao bi shi. - M.-L.: Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1941, § 254.

3. Lubsan Danzan. Altan Tobchi ("Golden Ska