See Also

Golden Horde

The Golden Horde was a Tatar Tatars

Tatars , often misspelled Tartar, is a collective name applied to the Turkic speaking [i] ... 

-Mongol Mongols

Mongols are an ethnic group [i] that originated in what is now Mongolia [i], Russia [i], and China [i] ... 

 state established in parts of present-day Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

, Ukraine Ukraine

Ukraine is a country [i] in Eastern Europe [i]. ... 

, and Kazakhstan Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan, , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country th... 

 after the break up of the Mongol Empire Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous [i] empire [i] in world history [i], c ... 

 in the 1240s.

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Timeline

1240   Batu Khan and the Golden Horde sack the Ruthenian Kievan Rus'

Kievan Rus' was the early, mostly East Slavic [i] state dominated by the city of Kiev [i] ... 

 city of Kiev Kiev

Kiev, also written as Kyiv is the capital [i] and the largest city of Ukraine [i], lo ... 

1241   Mongols Mongols

Mongols are an ethnic group [i] that originated in what is now Mongolia [i], Russia [i], and China [i] ... 

 of Golden Horde under the command of Subotai defeat feudal Polish Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

 nobility, including Knights Templar Knights Templar

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , popularly known as the Knights Temp... 

, in the battle of Liegnitz.

1242   Batu Khan establishes the Golden Horde at Sarai.

1242   The Mongols Mongols

Mongols are an ethnic group [i] that originated in what is now Mongolia [i], Russia [i], and China [i] ... 

 of the Golden Horde devastate Bulgaria Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe [i]. ... 

, and force the nation to pay tribute.

1259   Nogai Khan leads the second Mongol Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous [i] empire [i] in world history [i], c ... 

 Golden Horde attack against Poland Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

.

1284   Second mongol Golden Horde attack against Hungary Hungary

Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked [i] country in Central Europe [i], ... 

, led by Nogai Khan.

1287   Third mongol Golden Horde attack against Poland Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

1294   The death of Kublai Khan Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan, Khubilai Khan or "the last of the Great Khan [i]s", was a Mongol [i] military [i] leader [i] ... 

 allows the four khanates Khan

Khan is a title with many meanings, originally commander, leader or ruler, in Mongolian [i] ... 

 of the Mongol Empire Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous [i] empire [i] in world history [i], c ... 

 (the Chagatai Khanate, the Golden Horde, the Ilkhanate Ilkhanate

The Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate or Il Khanate, was one of the four divisions within t... 

, and the Yuan Dynasty Yuan Dynasty

The Yuan Dynasty lasting officially from 1271 [i] to 1368 [i], followed the Song Dynasty [i] ... 

 of China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

) to formally become independent; they each had already been moving toward independence during Kublai's reign.

1380   Battle of Kulikovo Battle of Kulikovo

The Battle of Kulikovo, also called Battle on the Snipes' Field, was fought by the [[Tatars|Tartaro]... 

 - Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

n forces under Grand Prince Dmitri Ivanovich of Moscow Dmitri Donskoi

Saint Dmitri Ivanovich Donskoy reigned as the Grand Duke of Muscovy [i] from 1359 [i] and Grand Duke of ... 

 defeat a mixed army of Tatars Tatars

Tatars , often misspelled Tartar, is a collective name applied to the Turkic speaking [i] ... 

 and Mongol Mongols

Mongols are an ethnic group [i] that originated in what is now Mongolia [i], Russia [i], and China [i] ... 

s (the Golden Horde), stopping their advance at Kulikovo Battle of Kulikovo

The Battle of Kulikovo, also called Battle on the Snipes' Field, was fought by the [[Tatars|Tartaro]... 

.

1441   With the help of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Grand Duchy of Lithuania

[i] /[[13th century]... 

, governor Haci Giray Haci I Giray

... 

 declares his province independent of the Golden Horde and establishes the Crimean Khanate Crimean Khanate

[i] [[state]... 

.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

The Golden Horde was a Tatar Tatars

Tatars , often misspelled Tartar, is a collective name applied to the Turkic speaking [i] ... 

-Mongol Mongols

Mongols are an ethnic group [i] that originated in what is now Mongolia [i], Russia [i], and China [i] ... 

 state established in parts of present-day Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

, Ukraine Ukraine

Ukraine is a country [i] in Eastern Europe [i]. ... 

, and Kazakhstan Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan, , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country th... 

 after the break up of the Mongol Empire Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous [i] empire [i] in world history [i], c ... 

 in the 1240s.

Name


The name Golden is believed to have come from the steppe Steppe

In physical geography [i], a steppe , pronounced in English as step, is a plain [i] without tree [i] ... 

 color system for the cardinal direction Cardinal direction

In geography [i], the four cardinal directions are north [i], east [i], south [i] and west [i]. ... 

s : black — north, blue — east, red — south, white — west, and yellow — center.

According to another version, the name was derived from a magnificent golden tent that Batu Khan established to mark a place of his future capital on the Volga Volga River

The Volga, widely viewed as the national river of Russia [i], flows through the western part of the coun... 

. Although much aired in the 19th-century 19th century

The 19th century lasted from 1801 [i] through 1900 [i] in the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

 books, this theory is now considered apocryphal.

There are no written records dated prior to 17th century 17th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 17th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

  that refer to the state as Golden Horde. Earlier documents allude to this polity as Ulus of Jochi.

Some scholars prefer to use an alternative name - Kipchak Khanate - because various derivatives of Kipchak were also applied to this state in medieval documents.

Mongol origins


At his death, Genghis Khan Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan, , was a Mongol [i] political and military leader or Khan [i] who united the Mongol tribe ... 

 divided the Mongol Empire Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous [i] empire [i] in world history [i], c ... 

 amongst his four sons. Jochi was the eldest, but he was already dead and his paternity was in doubt, so the westernmost lands trodden by the Mongol hoof were given to his sons, Batu leader of the Blue Horde , and Orda, leader of the White Horde White Horde

The White Horde was one of the khanates formed around 1226, after the death of Genghis Khan [i] and subs... 

 .


In 1235, Batu moved against the Bashkirs Bashkirs

The Bashkirs, a Turkic people [i], live in Russia [i], mostly in the republic of Bashkortostan [i]. ... 

 and the Bulgars Bulgars

[i] inhabited the [[steppe]... 

. By 1237, he had reached the easternmost of the Russian Principalities. His army then moved southwards against the Cumans Cumans

Cumans, also called Polovtsy, Polovtsians, or the Anglicized [i] Polovetsian, is a Western European [i] ... 

, taking the northern coast of the Black Sea Black Sea

The Black Sea is an inland sea [i] between southeastern Europe [i] and Anatolia [i] that is actually a d ... 

. For the next 3 years, his horde succeeded in vassalizing all but the Polotskian principalities of Russia.

Batu's Blue Horde continued west, raiding Poland Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

 and Hungary Hungary

Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked [i] country in Central Europe [i], ... 

 after the Battles of Legnica and Muhi. In 1241, however, the Great Khan Ogedei Ögedei Khan

gedei,, was the third son of Genghis Khan [i] and second Great Khan [i] of the Mongol Empire [i] by succ ... 

 died in Mongolia Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked [i] country [i] located in East Asia [i]. ... 

, and Batu turned back from his siege of Vienna Vienna

Vienna is the capital [i] of Austria [i], and also one of the nine States of Austria [i]. ... 

 to take part in disputing the succession. The Mongol armies would never again travel so far west.

On their way back to their Russian territories, in 1242, the Mongol armies moved through Bulgaria, vassalizing it as they had done the russian principalities.

In 1242, Batu established his capital at Sarai, commanding the lower stretch of the Volga River Volga River

The Volga, widely viewed as the national river of Russia [i], flows through the western part of the coun... 

. Shortly before that, the Blue Horde split when Batu's younger brother Shayban left Batu's army to set up his own horde east of the Ural Mountains Ural Mountains

The Ural Mountains also known simply as the Urals and as the Riphean Mountains in Greco-Roman antiquity [i] ... 

 along the Ob Ob River

Ob River , also Obi, is a river in West Siberia [i], Russia [i], the country's fourth longest.
... 

 and Irtysh Irtysh

Irtysh a river [i] in Central Asia [i], the chief tributary of the river Ob [i]. ... 

 River River

A river is a large natural waterway [i]. ... 

s. Aother brother, Toq-Temur established a short lived Khanate on the remains of Volga Bulgaria Volga Bulgaria

Volga Bulgaria or Volga-Kama Bolghar, is a historic state that existed between the 7th [i] ... 

.

Golden Age


The Horde quickly lost its Mongol identity. While the descendants of Batu's original Mongol warriors constituted the upper class of society, most of the Horde's population were Kipchaks Kipchaks

Kipchaks are an ancient Turkic people [i], first mentioned in the historical chronicles of Central Asia [i] ... 

, Bulgar Tatars Volga Tatars

Volga Tatars live in the central and Eastern European parts of Russia [i].... 

, Kyrghyz Kyrgyz

Kyrgyz are a Turkic [i] ethnic group [i] found primarily in Kyrgyzstan [i].
... 

, Khwarezm Khwarezm

Khwarezm was a series of state [i]s centered on the Amu Darya [i] river delta [i] of the former Aral Sea [i] ... 

ians, and other Turkic Turkic peoples

Turkic peoples are Northern and Central Eurasian [i] peoples who speak languages belonging to th ... 

 peoples.

Internal organization


In the Blue Horde, the hordes supreme ruler was the khan Khan

Khan is a title with many meanings, originally commander, leader or ruler, in Mongolian [i]... 

, chosen by the kurultai among Batu Khan's descendants. The prime minister, also ethnically Mongol, was known as "prince of princes", or beqlare-beq. The ministers were called viziers. Local governors, or baskaks, were responsible for levying tribute and extinguishing popular discontent. Civil and military administration, as a rule, was not separated.


The Horde developed as a settled rather than nomadic culture, with Sarai evolving into a populous and prosperous metropolis. In the early 14th century, the capital was moved considerably upstream to Sarai Berqe, which became one of the largest cities of the medieval world, with a population estimated by the 2004 Britannica Encyclopædia Britannica

The Encyclopdia Britannica was first published in 1768–1771 as Encyclopdia Britannica, or, ... 

 at 600,000.

Despite Russian efforts at proselytizing in Sarai Krutitsy

Krutitsy is a former ecclesiastical estate and monastery [i], situated on the steep left bank of the Moskva River [i] ... 

, the Mongols clung to their traditional animist Animism

In religion [i], the term "Animism" is used in a number of ways.
... 

 beliefs until Uzbeg Khan Uzbeg Khan

Sultan Mohammed z-Beg, better known as Uzbeg, was the longest-reigning Khan [i] of the Blue Horde [i] ... 

  adopted Islam Islam

Islam is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] based upon the Qur'an [i], which adherents believe w ... 

 as a state religion. Several Russian rulers - Mikhail of Chernigov Michael of Chernigov

Mikhail Vsevolodovich was the last prominent ruler of Kiev [i] from the bloodline of Oleg Sviatoslavich [i] ... 

 and Mikhail of Tver Mikhail Yaroslavich

Mikhail Yaroslavich, also known as Michael of Tver, was a Prince [i] of Tver [i] who ruled as Grand Prince [i]... 

 among them - were reportedly assassinated in Sarai for their refusal to worship pagan idols, but the khans were generally tolerant and even freed the Russian Orthodox Church Russian Orthodox Church

The Russian Orthodox Church , also known as the Orthodox Catholic Church of Russia, is that body of ... 

 of taxes.

Vassals and allies


The Horde exacted tribute from its subject peoples - Russians Russians

Russians are an East Slavic [i] ethnic group [i], primarily living in Russia [i] and neighbo ... 

, Bulgarians Bulgarians

The Bulgarians are a South Slavic [i] people generally associated with Bulgaria [i] and the ... 

, Volgars and Crimea Crimea

Crimea /kra?'mia/ or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an autonomous republic [i] of Ukraine [i] ... 

n Greeks Greeks

The Greeks are an ethnic group [i] mostly found in the southern Balkan peninsula [i] of southeastern Europe [i] ... 

. The territories of Christian subjects were regarded as peripheral areas of little interest as long as they continued to pay tribute. These vassal states were never incorporated into the Horde, and Russian rulers early obtained the privilege of collecting the Tatar tribute themselves. To maintain the control over Russia, Tatar warlords carried out regular punitive raids to Russian principalities .

There is a point of view, much propagated by Lev Gumilev Lev Gumilev

Lev Nikolayevich Gumilyov, better known in the West as Lev Gumilev, was one of the most controvers... 

, that the Horde and Russian polities concluded a defensive alliance against the fanatical Teutonic knights Teutonic Knights

The Teutonic Knights or Teutonic Order is a German [i] Roman Catholic religious order [i] ... 

 and pagan Lithuanian Lithuanians

Lithuanians are the Baltic [i] ethnic group [i] native to Lithuania [i], where they number a littl ... 

s. Enthusiasts point out to the fact that the Mongol court was frequented by Russian princes, notably Yaroslavl Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl is a city [i] in Russia [i], the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast [i] ... 

's Feodor the Black, who boasted his own ulus near Sarai, and Novgorod Velikiy Novgorod

Velikiy Novgorod is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia [i]. ... 

's Alexander Nevsky Alexander Nevsky

Saint Alexander Nevsky listen was the Grand Prince of Novgorod [i] and Vladimir [i] during some of the m ... 

, the sworn brother of Batu's successor Sartaq Khan. Although Novgorod never acknowledged the Horde's ascendancy, a Mongol contingent supported Novgorodians in the Battle of the Ice Battle of the Ice

The Battle of the Ice, also known as the Battle of Lake Peipus, was a battle [i] between Novgorod [i] ... 

.

Sarai carried on a brisk trade with the Genoese trade emporiums on the Black Sea Black Sea

The Black Sea is an inland sea [i] between southeastern Europe [i] and Anatolia [i] that is actually a d ... 

 littoral - Soldaia Sudak

Sudak is historic townlet of about 15,000 inhabitants in Crimea [i], situated 57 km to the west from Theodosia [i] ... 

, Caffa Theodosia

Theodosia is a port [i] and resort [i] city in Crimea [i], Ukraine [i], located on the Black Sea [i] coa ... 

, and Azak Azov

Azov is a town in Rostov Oblast [i], Russia [i], situated on the Don River [i] just th... 

. Mamluk Mamluk

A mamluk was a slave [i] soldier [i] who converted to Islam [i] and served the Muslim [i] caliph [i] ... 

 Egypt Egypt

[i] country in [[North Africa]... 

 was the khans' long-standing trade partner and ally in the Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

.

Political evolution



After Batu's death in 1255, the prosperity of his empire lasted for a full century, until the assassination Assassination

Assassination is the deliberate killing of an important person, usually a political figure or other stra... 

 of Jani Beg Jani Beg

Jani Beg was a Khan [i] of the Blue Horde [i] from 1342-1357, succeeding his father Uzbeg Khan [i].
... 

 in 1357. The White Horde White Horde

The White Horde was one of the khanates formed around 1226, after the death of Genghis Khan [i] and subs... 

 and the Blue Horde were effectively consolidated into a single state by Tokhtamysh Tokhtamysh

Tokhtamysh, was the last khan [i] of the White Horde [i], who unified the White Horde and Blue Horde [i] ... 

, a descendant of Batu's brother Orda.

Their Russian policy was one of constantly switching alliances in an attempt to keep Russia weak and divided. In the 14th century 14th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 14th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

 the rise of Lithuania Lithuania

Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania , is a country in northern Europe.... 

 in North East Europe posed a challenge to Tatar control over Russia. Thus Uzbeg Khan began backing Moscow Moscow

Moscow is the capital [i] of Russia [i] and the country's principal political, economic, financial, edu ... 

 as the leading Russian state. Ivan I Kalita Ivan I of Russia

Ivan I Danilovich Kalita, Prince [i] of Moscow [i], Grand Prince [i] of Vladimir [i], son of Daniil Aleksandrovich [i]... 

 was granted the title of grand prince and given the right to collect taxes from other Russian potentates.

The Black Death Black Death

The Black Death, also known as the Black Plague, was a devastating pandemic [i] that first struck ... 

 of the 1340s was a major factor contributing to the Golden Horde's eventual downfall. Following Jani Beg's assassination, the empire fell into a long civil war, averaging one new Khan per annum for the next few decades. By the 1380s, Khwarezm Khwarezm

Khwarezm was a series of state [i]s centered on the Amu Darya [i] river delta [i] of the former Aral Sea [i] ... 

, Astrakhan Astrakhan

Astrakhan, a major city in southern European Russia [i] and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast [i]... 

, and Muscovy Muscovy

Muscovy is a traditional Western name for the Russia [i]n state that existed from the 14th century [i] ... 

 attempted to break free of the Horde's power, while the lower reaches of the Dnieper Dnieper River

The Dnieper River is a river which flows from Russia [i] through Belarus [i] and then Ukraine [i].
... 

 were annexed by Lithuania Grand Duchy of Lithuania

[i] /[[13th century]... 

 and Poland Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

.

Mamai Mamai

Mamai or Mamay was a powerful military commander of the Blue Horde [i] in the 1370s [i], who resid ... 

, a Tatar general who did not formally hold the throne, attempted to reassert Tatar authority over Russia. His army was defeated by Dmitri Donskoi Dmitri Donskoi

Saint Dmitri Ivanovich Donskoy reigned as the Grand Duke of Muscovy [i] from 1359 [i] and Grand Duke of ... 

 at the Battle of Kulikovo Battle of Kulikovo

The Battle of Kulikovo, also called Battle on the Snipes' Field, was fought by the [[Tatars|Tartaro]... 

 in his second consecutive victory over the Tatars. Mamai soon fell from power, and in 1378, Tokhtamysh Tokhtamysh

Tokhtamysh, was the last khan [i] of the White Horde [i], who unified the White Horde and Blue Horde [i] ... 

 took the throne, creating the Golden Horde. Tokhtamysh defeated Dmitri Donskoi, reasserting control over Russia.

Disintegration and fall



A fatal blow to the Horde was dealt by Tamerlane Timur

Timur bin Taraghay Barlas was a 14th century warlord [i] of Turco-Mongol [i] descent, conqueror of much ... 

, who annihilated Tokhtamysh's army, destroyed his capital, looted the Crimean trade centers, and deported the most skillful craftsmen to his own capital in Samarkand Samarkand

Samarkand is the third-largest city in Uzbekistan [i] and the capital of Samarqand Province [i].... 

.

In the first decades of the 15th century, the power was wielded by Edigu, a vizier who routed Vytautas Vytautas the Great

Vytautas the Great was born circa 1350 [i], near Trakai [i], and died on October 27 [i] 1430 [i], and w ... 

 of Lithuania in the great Battle of the Vorskla River and established the Nogai Horde as his personal demesne. For the next few decades the horde was stable.

In the 1440s, the Horde was again wracked by civil war. This time it broke up into seven separate Khanate Khan

Khan is a title with many meanings, originally commander, leader or ruler, in Mongolian [i]... 

s: Qasim Khanate, Khanate of Kazan Khanate of Kazan

The Kazan Khanate was a medieval Tatar [i] state which occipied the territory of former Volga Bulgaria [i] ... 

, Khanate of Astrakhan Astrakhan Khanate

The Khanate [i] of Astrakhan [i] was a Tatar [i] feudal [i] state that appeared after the collapse of th... 

, Kazakh Khanate Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan, , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country th... 

, and Khanate of Crimea Crimean Khanate

[i] [[state]... 

 all seceding from the last remnant of the Golden Horde - the Great or Big Horde.

None of these new Khanates was stronger than Muscovite Russia Muscovy

Muscovy is a traditional Western name for the Russia [i]n state that existed from the 14th century [i] ... 

, which finally broke free of Tatar control Great standing on the Ugra river

The Great standing on the Ugra river [i]
... 

 by 1480. Each Khanate was eventually annexed by it, starting with Kazan and Astrakhan in the 1550s. By the end of the century the Siberia Khanate was also part of Russia, and descendants of its ruling khans entered Russian service.

The Khanate of Crimea became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , is also sometimes known in the West [i] as the Turkish Empire. ... 

 in 1475 and subjugated what remained of the Great Horde by 1502. Crimean Tatars Crimean Tatars

The Crimean Tatars or Crimeans are a Turkic-speaking [i] ethnic group originally ... 

 wreaked havoc in southern Russia in the course of the 16th and early 17th centuries but they were not able to defeat Russia or take Moscow. Under Ottoman protection, the Khanate of Crimea Crimean Khanate

[i] [[state]... 

 continued its precarious existence until Catherine the Great Catherine II of Russia

Catherine II of Russia, called the Great , born Sophie Augusta Frederike of Anhalt-Zerbst) so... 

 annexed it on April 8, 1783. It was by far the longest-lived of the successor states to the Golden Horde.

Notes


See also

  • List of Khans of the Golden Horde
  • Berke-Hulagu war
  • Tokhtamysh-Tamerlane war

External links