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Great State

اولوغ اولوس‎
Ulug Ulus
1242–1502
Flag of Golden Horde
Flag during the reign of Öz Beg Khan as shown in Dulcert's 1339 map (other sources claim that the Golden Horde was named for the yellow banner of the khan)
Territories of Golden Horde as of 1300
Territories of Golden Horde as of 1300
Status
  • Nomadic empire
  • Division of the Mongol Empire (until 1313/68)
Capital
  • Sarai (Western wing, later overall)
  • Sighnaq (Eastern wing)
Common languages
  • Middle Mongol
  • Kipchak Turkic
Religion
Government Semi-elective monarchy, later hereditary monarchy
Khan  
• 1226–1280
Orda Khan (White Horde)
• 1242–1255
Batu Khan (Blue Horde)
• 1379–1395
Tokhtamysh
Legislature Kurultai
Historical era Late Middle Ages
• Established
1242
• Blue Horde and White Horde united
1379
• Disintegrated into Great Horde
1466
1480
• Sack of Sarai by the Crimean Khanate
1502
Area
1310 6,000,000 km2 (2,300,000 sq mi)
Currency Pul, som, dirham
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Mongol Empire
Cuman-Kipchak Confederation
Volga Bulgaria
Uzbek Khanate
Qasim Khanate
Genoese Gazaria
Astrakhan Khanate
Kazakh Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Khanate of Sibir
Nogai Horde
Khanate of Kazan

The Golden Horde, also known as Ulug Ulus (meaning Great State in a Turkic language called Kipchak Turkic), was a powerful kingdom that started in the 13th century. It was part of the huge Mongol Empire but became its own separate state after 1259. It was also called the Kipchak Khanate or the Ulus of Jochi.

After its founder, Batu Khan, died in 1255, the Golden Horde grew strong for about 100 years. Its military power was greatest during the rule of Uzbeg Khan (1312–1341), who made Islam the main religion. At its largest, the Golden Horde stretched from Siberia and Central Asia to parts of Eastern Europe. This included areas from the Urals to the Danube River in the west, and from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea in the south. It also bordered the Caucasus Mountains.

The kingdom faced a tough time called the Great Troubles (1359–1381), with lots of internal fighting. It was briefly reunited under Tokhtamysh (1381–1395). However, after an invasion by Timur in 1396, the Golden Horde broke into many smaller Tatar kingdoms. These smaller states steadily lost power. By 1466, it was simply called the "Great Horde". These internal problems allowed Moscow to finally break free from Mongol rule in 1480, an event known as the Great Stand on the Ugra River. The last parts of the Golden Horde, like the Crimean Khanate and the Kazakh Khanate, lasted until the 18th and 19th centuries before being taken over by the growing Russian state.

What's in a Name?

The name Golden Horde comes from the Russian words Zolotáya Ordá. Zolotáya means 'Golden', and Ordá became 'Horde'. The Turkic word orda actually means 'palace', 'camp', or 'headquarters'. It referred to the khan's main camp, which then became the name for the whole kingdom. The English word horde (meaning a large, often scary group) came later, inspired by the Mongols' reputation.

People say the name Golden came from the golden color of the Mongols' tents during wartime. Or it might have been from a special golden tent used by leaders like Batu Khan or Özbeg Khan. Some also believe the Slavic people they ruled gave it this name to describe the khan's great wealth.

The term "Golden Horde" wasn't used until the 16th century by Russian writers. Before that, in the 13th and 14th centuries, it was known as the Ulus of Jochi (meaning 'realm of Jochi' in Mongolian), Qipchaq Steppe, or Khanate of the Qipchaq.

The Golden Horde was also divided into two main parts: the eastern or left wing, called the Blue Horde, and the western or right wing, called the White Horde.

Mongol Beginnings (1225–1241)

When Genghis Khan died in 1227, he divided his huge Mongol Empire among his four sons. The western lands, which are now southern Russia and Kazakhstan, went to the sons of his eldest son, Jochi. These were Batu Khan, who led the Blue Horde, and Orda Khan, who led the White Horde.

In 1235, Batu Khan, along with the great general Subutai, began to invade lands to the west. They first conquered the Bashkirs and then Volga Bulgaria in 1236. From there, they moved into the southern steppes of what is now Ukraine in 1237, forcing many local Cumans to move west. By 1239, a large part of the Cumans were driven out of the Crimean peninsula.

Moving north, Batu started the Mongol invasion of Rus' and spent three years taking over many small kingdoms. His cousins, Möngke, Kadan, and Güyük, moved south into Alania.

Battle of Mohi 1241
Decisive Golden Horde victory in the Battle of Mohi

The Mongols continued west, raiding Poland and Hungary. They won major battles at Legnica and Mohi. However, in 1241, Ögedei Khan died back in Mongolia. Batu turned back from his siege of Vienna. He decided to stay near the Volga River instead of returning to Mongolia. The Mongol armies never again went so far west. In 1242, after retreating through Hungary and conquering Bulgaria, Batu set up his capital at Sarai on the lower Volga River.

At Batu's court, the Mongolian language was used, but few Mongol texts from the Golden Horde have survived. This might be because most people couldn't read or write. Important decrees from the Khans, called yarliq, were written in Mongol and then translated into the Cuman language.

The Golden Age

Batu Khan on the Throne by Rashid al-Din
Batu Khan establishes the Golden Horde.
Dzhuchi khan mausoleum
Jochi Mausoleum, Karagandy Region

Batu Khan's Rule (1242–1256)

When the Great Khatun Töregene asked Batu to choose the next Mongol Emperor in 1242, he refused. He stayed at the Volga River, likely because he didn't support Güyük Khan becoming emperor. Batu sent his brothers to the meeting, and Güyük was chosen as the new Great Khan in 1246.

All the important princes of Rus', including Yaroslav II of Vladimir, Daniel of Galicia, and Sviatoslav III of Vladimir, accepted Batu's power. Daniel of Galicia visited Batu in 1245 and promised to be loyal. After his visit, Daniel was clearly influenced by the Mongols. He even dressed his army in the Mongol style.

When Güyük asked Batu to visit him, Batu sent Yaroslav II, Andrey II of Vladimir, and Alexander Nevsky to Karakorum in Mongolia in 1247. Yaroslav II died in Mongolia, possibly poisoned. Güyük made Andrey the grand prince of Vladimir and Alexander the prince of Kiev.

In 1248, Güyük again demanded Batu come meet him. Batu came with a large army. Güyük died on the way. Some historians think he died naturally, but he might have been poisoned.

With Batu's help, Möngke became the Great Khan in 1251. Batu became a very important person in the Mongol Empire. He allowed Möngke's officials to count people in his lands. This census happened in Russia in 1258–1259. There was a rebellion in Novgorod against the census, but Alexander Nevsky made the city accept it.

Batu now had direct control over the princes of Rus'. When Andrey II refused to obey, Batu sent an army that defeated Andrey, forcing him to flee. Alexander Nevsky was then made the grand prince of Vladimir in 1252.

Berke's Reign (1258–1266)

Golden Horde. Berke. AH 655-665 AD 1257-1267 Qrim (Crimea) mint. Struck circa AH 662-665 (AD 1263-1267)
Coinage of Berke, Qrim (Crimea) mint. Struck c. AH 662–665 (AD 1263–1267).

After Batu died in 1256, his son Sartaq Khan took over but died soon after. Batu Khan's younger brother, Berke, who had become a Muslim, became the khan of the Golden Horde in 1258.

Berke launched attacks on Lithuania and Poland in 1259. He also demanded that the Hungarian and French kings submit to him. In 1261, Berke allowed a church to be built in Sarai.

War with the Ilkhanate (1262–1266)

Bataille du Terek (1262)
The Golden Horde army defeats the Ilkhanate at the battle of Terek in 1262. Many of Hulagu's men drowned in the Terek River while withdrawing.

Berke became angry with Hulagu Khan of the Ilkhanate (another part of the Mongol Empire). Hulagu had killed the Abbasid Caliph in 1258, and Berke was a devoted Muslim. Also, Hulagu didn't share war treasures with Berke. This led to a war between the Golden Horde and the Ilkhanate in 1262.

Berke allied with the Mamluks of Egypt against Hulagu. The Golden Horde sent Prince Nogai to invade the Ilkhanate. Nogai's forces defeated Hulagu's army at the Battle of Terek in 1262. Many of Hulagu's soldiers drowned when the ice on the river broke.

Berke died in 1266 while on a military campaign.

Mengu-Timur's Rule (1266–1280)

Golden Horde. Möngke (Mengu) Timur. AH 665-679 AD 1267-1280 Bulghar mint. Dated AH 672 or 3 (AD 1273-1275)
Coinage of Mengu-Timur. Bulghar mint. Dated AH 672 or 3 (AD 1273–1275).

Since Berke had no sons, Batu's grandson Mengu-Timur became the next khan. He secretly supported Kaidu, a Mongol prince who was against the Great Khan Kublai Khan.

In 1267, Mengu-Timur gave a special document (called a jarliq) that freed Russian clergy from taxes. He also gave Genoese and Venice special trading rights in Caffa and Azov. Some of Mengu-Timur's relatives even became Christian and settled in Russia.

When the Danes and Livonian Knights attacked Novgorod Republic in 1269, the Khan's officials and many Mongols helped the Russian army. The Germans and Danes were so scared that they sent gifts to the Mongols and left the area. The Khan's power reached all Russian principalities. In 1274–1275, a census was taken in all cities, including Smolensk.

In 1277, Mengu-Timur fought against the Alans north of the Caucasus. He also got involved in the affairs of the Byzantine Empire. Mengu-Timur died in 1280.

Two Khans (1281–1299)

Toda Mongke and His Mongol Horde
Tode Mongke Khan of the Golden Horde

Mengu-Timur was followed by his brother Töde Möngke in 1281, who was a Muslim. However, Nogai Khan became very powerful and ruled almost independently. So, the Golden Horde had two leaders at this time.

Nogai raided Bulgaria and Lithuania in the 1270s. He also made the Serbian king Stefan Milutin accept Mongol rule. Under Nogai, people like the Vlachs, Slavs, Alans, and Turco-Mongols lived in what is now Moldavia.

Nogai's power grew so much that some Russian princes sided with him instead of Töde Möngke. This led to conflicts among the Russian princes.

In 1285, Talabuga and Nogai invaded Hungary and Poland. After returning, Talabuga overthrew Töde Möngke in 1287. Talabuga then tried to invade the Ilkhanate but failed.

Talabuga became angry with Nogai and challenged him. But Nogai defeated Talabuga in a coup and replaced him with Toqta in 1291.

Toqta wanted to regain full control over the Golden Horde. He fought against Nogai, who had become too independent. Toqta defeated and killed Nogai in 1299. Nogai's son, Chaka of Bulgaria, briefly ruled Bulgaria but was later killed on Toqta's orders.

Golden Horde. Töde Möngke (Mengu). AH 679-687 AD 1280-1287 Qrim (Crimea) mint
Coinage of Töde Möngke (Mengu). AH 679–687 AD 1280–1287 Qrim (Crimea) mint.

A Time of Peace (1299–1312)

From 1300 to 1302, there was a severe drought around the Black Sea. But things improved quickly under Toqta's rule. After Nogai's defeat, his followers either fled or joined Toqta, later becoming the Nogai Horde.

Toqta made peace with the Byzantine Empire. He was also friendly towards Christians, though he himself was an idol-worshiper (following Buddhism and Tengerism) and favored religious people of all faiths, especially Muslims.

In 1304, ambassadors from other Mongol kingdoms and the Yuan dynasty (China) proposed a general peace. Toqta accepted, and trade routes across the Mongol lands reopened. Toqta told the Russian princes about this peace. The Yuan dynasty's influence seemed to grow in the Golden Horde, as some of Toqta's coins had Chinese writing on them.

Toqta arrested Italian traders in Sarai and attacked Caffa in 1307. This was because he was unhappy about the Genoese selling his people as slaves to Egypt. In 1308, Caffa was looted by the Mongols.

Towards the end of Toqta's rule, tensions grew between the princes of Tver and Moscow. Toqta tried to settle these conflicts and planned to visit northern Russia. However, he fell ill and died in 1312 while crossing the Volga River.

Becoming Muslim

Öz Beg Khan (1313–1341)

Dmitri revenge the death of his father
Dmitri avenging the death of his father in the ordo (palace) of Uzbeg Khan, killing Yury

When Öz Beg Khan became ruler in 1313, he made Islam the official religion of the Golden Horde. He built a large mosque in Solkhat in the Crimea in 1314 and banned Buddhism and Shamanism among the Mongols. By 1315, Öz Beg had successfully made the Horde Muslim. He even removed princes and Buddhist priests who opposed his religious changes.

Under Öz Beg, trade caravans were safe, and there was good order in the Golden Horde. When the famous traveler Ibn Battuta visited Sarai in 1333, he described it as a large and beautiful city with wide streets and good markets. He noted that six different groups of people – Mongols, Alans, Kypchaks, Circassians, Russians, and Greeks – each had their own areas. Merchants had a special walled part of the city just for them.

Öz Beg continued the alliance with the Mamluks of Egypt. He also raided Thrace many times to help Bulgaria in its wars against Byzantium and Serbia. He even married the daughter of the Byzantine emperor.

Ösbeg Khan in the 1339 Dulcert map, legend Hic dominatur Usbech, dominus imperator de Sara
Özbeg Khan in the 1339 Dulcert map. Legend: Hic dominatur Usbech, dominus imperator de Sara, "Here rules Özbeg, the Emperor of Sara". The flag Golden Horde flag 1339.svg appears next to the ruler.

Öz Beg's way of dealing with Russian affairs was to prevent a unified Russian state from forming. He tried to keep a balance of power between the princes, especially between Tver and Moscow. In 1327, a Mongol official named Shevkal, Öz Beg's cousin, arrived in Tver. Rumors spread that he wanted to take the throne and make the city Muslim. The people of Tver revolted and killed the Mongol official. Öz Beg then ordered Ivan I, the prince of Moscow, to lead a punishment army. This army, with Mongol soldiers, looted Tver. This event made Öz Beg start supporting Moscow as the main Russian state.

Thanks to the good relationship between Ivan I and Öz Beg, the Moscow region grew rich and its population increased quickly. Ivan I also started calling himself "grand prince of all Russia," which showed his goal to unite Russia.

Öz Beg allowed Christian Genoese traders to settle in Crimea. He signed a new trade treaty with the Genoese in 1339 and let them rebuild the walls of Caffa. In 1332, he allowed the Venetians to set up a trading post at Tanais on the Don.

Jani Beg's Reign (1342–1357)

Golden Horde in the Catalan Atlas (1375)
Jani Beg of the Golden Horde, as depicted in the Catalan Atlas (1375), with the flag of the Golden Horde: Flag of the Golden Horde in the Catalan Atlas (published in1375).png. The caption reads: "Here resides the emperor of this northern region whose empire starts in the province of Bulgaria and ends at the city of Organcio. The sovereign is named Jambech, Lord of the Sarra."

Öz Beg's son, Jani Beg (1342–1357), became khan after his older brother ruled briefly.

In 1344, Jani Beg tried to take Caffa from the Genoese but failed. In 1347, he signed a trade agreement with Venice. The slave trade grew strong because of ties with the Mamluk Sultanate. Sarai became a large, rich Muslim city.

The terrible disease known as the Black Death in the 1340s greatly hurt the Golden Horde's economy. It hit the Crimea in 1345 and killed over 85,000 people.

Jani Beg supported Moscow against Lithuania and Poland. In 1344, his army marched against Poland. In 1349, a Polish-Hungarian force took over Galicia–Volhynia, ending its ties to the Golden Horde. In 1352, the Golden Horde and its Russian allies attacked Polish lands. The Polish king, Casimir III the Great, agreed to pay tribute in 1357 to avoid more fighting.

Jani Beg even took control of Tabriz in 1356. He boasted that three parts of the Mongol Empire were under his rule. However, on his way back from Tabriz, Jani Beg was killed by his own son, Berdi Beg. After this, the Golden Horde quickly lost Azerbaijan.

Decline of the Golden Horde

The Great Troubles (1359–1381)

Kulikovo lubok
The Battle of Kulikovo in 1380

After Berdi Beg was killed in 1359, the Golden Horde entered a long period of political chaos known as the Great Troubles. This lasted for two decades. Many different khans ruled for short periods, and the kingdom was often divided.

In 1362, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania attacked the western parts of the Golden Horde. They conquered Kiev and Podolia after the Battle of Blue Waters.

A powerful Mongol general named Mamai supported one of the khans but failed to take Sarai. Mamai also faced a rebellion in Nizhny Novgorod. Russian troops attacked Mongol territory, but were defeated. However, Mamai's forces were later defeated by Dmitry Donskoy at the Battle of the Vozha River in 1378. Mamai then hired other soldiers for another attack on Moscow in 1380. But the Mongol forces lost again at the famous Battle of Kulikovo.

During this time, Urus Khan became powerful in the eastern part of the Horde. His nephew, Tokhtamysh, left him and sought help from Timur. Tokhtamysh eventually conquered Sarai in 1378.

Tokhtamysh's Reign (1381–1395)

Facial Chronicle - b.10, p.049 - Tokhtamysh at Moscow
Tokhtamysh besieges Moscow.

Tokhtamysh attacked Mamai in 1381, defeating him and briefly making the Golden Horde strong again. Mamai fled and was soon killed. Tokhtamysh demanded that the Russian states pay tribute again. When they refused, he attacked Moscow in 1382, taking the city after three days. Most Russian princes then agreed to pay tribute again. Tokhtamysh also defeated the Lithuanian army in 1383.

Tokhtamysh then invaded Azerbaijan in 1386 and took Tabriz. He also tried to ally with Egypt. In 1387, Timur sent an army into Azerbaijan. Tokhtamysh invaded Transoxania but failed to take the city of Bukhara. Timur fought back, destroying Urgench.

In 1391, Timur gathered a huge army of 200,000 soldiers and defeated Tokhtamysh at the Battle of the Kondurcha River. Timur's allies took the eastern half of the Golden Horde. Tokhtamysh returned in 1394, but Timur crushed his army again at the Battle of the Terek River in 1395. Timur destroyed Tokhtamysh's capital, looted Crimean trade centers, and took skilled workers to his own capital in Samarkand. Timur's forces went as far north as Ryazan before turning back.

Edigu's Influence (1395–1419)

After Timur's victories, Temür Qutlugh became Khan in Sarai, and Edigu became a co-ruler. Tokhtamysh fled to Lithuania and asked Vytautas for help to get the Golden Horde back. In 1399, Vytautas and Tokhtamysh attacked Temür Qutlugh and Edigu at the Battle of the Vorskla River but were defeated. This victory helped the Golden Horde keep control of Kiev and Podolia. Tokhtamysh died around 1405.

Edigu focused on making the Golden Horde strong again. He banned selling Golden Horde people as slaves abroad, though later only Circassians were allowed to be sold. After Timur died in 1405, Edigu took over Khwarezm. From 1400 to 1408, Edigu slowly regained control over the eastern Russian lands that paid tribute, except for Moscow. He tried to take Moscow but failed, though he did damage the surrounding area.

Edigu died in 1419 in a fight with one of Tokhtamysh's sons.

Breaking Apart and New Kingdoms

After 1419, the Golden Horde basically stopped existing as one strong state. Many smaller kingdoms, called khanates, formed from its lands.

Khanate of Sibir (1405)

The Khanate of Sibir started in 1405. After its first ruler died, it was led by the Uzbek khan Abu'l-Khayr Khan. When he died in 1468, the khanate split into two parts.

Uzbek Khanate (1428)

The political situation in the Golden Horde was very unstable. In 1422, Barak Khan attacked the khans in the west. Within two years, many claimants were defeated. Barak was killed in 1428. His successor, Abu'l-Khayr Khan, founded the Uzbek Khanate.

Nogai Horde (1440s)

By the 1440s, a descendant of Edigu named Musa bin Waqqas ruled independently as the khan of the Nogai Horde.

Khanate of Kazan (1445)

Ulugh Muhammad became the official Khan of the Golden Horde, but his power was limited. He fought against Vasily II of Moscow and even captured him in 1445, releasing him for a large ransom. Unfortunately, Ulugh Muhammad was then killed by his own son, Mäxmüd of Kazan. Mäxmüd fled and founded the Khanate of Kazan in 1445.

Crimean Khanate (1449)

In 1449, Hacı I Giray took control of Crimea and founded the Crimean Khanate. This new khanate saw itself as the true heir of the Golden Horde.

Qasim Khanate (1452)

One of Ulugh Muhammad's sons, Qasim Khan, went to Moscow. There, Vasily II gave him land, which became the Qasim Khanate.

Kazakh Khanate (1458)

In 1458, Janibek Khan and Kerei Khan led many followers of Abu'l-Khayr Khan east. They were given new lands and later became the leaders of the Kazakh Khanate.

The Great Horde (1459–1502)

Facial Chronicle - b.16, p. 462 - Great standing on the Ugra
The Great Stand on the Ugra River in 1480, miniature from the Illustrated Chronicle of Ivan the Terrible

In 1459, Mahmud bin Küchük became khan, and from this point, the Golden Horde was known as the Great Horde. His brother, Ahmed Khan bin Küchük, took over in 1465.

In 1480, Ahmed organized a military campaign against Moscow. This led to a famous standoff known as the Great Stand on the Ugra River. Ahmed decided the conditions were not good and retreated. This event officially ended the "Tatar yoke" (Mongol rule) over the Russian lands. Ahmed was killed in 1481.

Ahmed's sons could not keep the Great Horde together. The Crimean Khanate, which had become part of the Ottoman Empire, took over what was left of the Great Horde, sacking Sarai in 1502. Sheikh Ahmed, the last Khan of the Horde, died in prison after 1504.

Astrakhan Khanate (1466)

After 1466, Mahmud bin Küchük's family continued to rule in Astrakhan as the khans of the Astrakhan Khanate.

Russian Conquests

The Tsardom of Russia conquered the Khanate of Kazan in 1552, the Khanate of Astrakhan in 1556, and the Khanate of Sibir in 1582. The Crimean Khanate continued to exist under Ottoman protection until Catherine the Great took it over in 1783. It was one of the longest-lasting states that came from the Golden Horde.

People and Places

Golden Horde 1313
The Golden Horde and its tributaries in 1313 under Öz Beg Khan

The Golden Horde was made up of many different groups of people. These included Turks and Mongols who later became Muslim, as well as smaller numbers of Finno-Ugric peoples, Sarmato-Scythians, Slavs, and people from the Caucasus. Most of the population was Turkic, like the Kipchaks, Cumans, and Volga Bulgars. Over time, the Horde became more Turkic and lost its original Mongol identity. The people were often called Tatars by Russians and Europeans.

The descendants of Batu ruled the Golden Horde from their capital cities, first Sarai Batu and later Sarai Berke. These cities were located near the Volga River.

How the Golden Horde was Organized

Ghengisid's palace tile decor detail
Tilework fragments of a palace in Sarai

The Golden Horde's leaders came from four main Mongol clans. Their supreme ruler was the Khan, chosen from Batu Khan's family. The main minister was called the "prince of princes" or beklare-bek. Other ministers were called viziers. Local governors, called basqaqs, collected taxes and dealt with local problems.

The Golden Horde grew into a settled society, not just nomadic. Sarai became a large, rich city. In the early 14th century, the capital moved to Sarai Berqe, which became one of the biggest cities in the medieval world, with 600,000 people. The traveler Ibn Battuta described Sarai as "one of the most beautiful cities... full of people, with beautiful markets and wide streets." It had many mosques and was home to poets.

Even though Russians tried to spread Christianity in Sarai, the Mongols kept their traditional beliefs until Uzbeg Khan made Islam the state religion. The Khans were generally tolerant of different religions and even freed the Russian Orthodox Church from paying taxes.

Vassal Territories

The Golden Horde ruled over many areas, including:

  • Venetian port cities in Crimea (like Qırım).
  • The banks of Azov.
  • The country of Circassians.
  • Walachia.
  • Alania.
  • Russian lands.

Trade and Economy

Sarai was a busy trading hub. It traded a lot with the Genoese cities on the Black Sea coast, like Soldaia, Caffa, and Azak. Mamluk Egypt was a long-time trading partner and ally of the Khans.

Changes in Trade Routes

Normally, trade went down the Volga River to Sarai, then across to Tabriz in Persia. But in 1262, Berke started a war with the Ilkhanate. This fighting disrupted trade. So, the Golden Horde built new trading towns along a northern route. They also allied with the Mamluks of Egypt, who were enemies of the Ilkhanate. Trade between the Horde and Egypt was handled by the Genoese in Crimea. A big part of this trade was selling slaves for the Mamluk army.

Trade was hurt by a conflict with the Genoese in 1307 and a peace treaty between the Mamluks and Persia in 1323. Around 1340, the northern trade route became more important. However, in 1347, a Golden Horde attack on the Genoese port of Kaffa led to the spread of the Black Death to Europe. In 1395–96, Timur destroyed the Horde's trading towns. Since these towns didn't have farms nearby, many disappeared, and trade shifted back south.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Horda de Oro para niños

  • Cumans
  • Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'
  • Russo-Kazan Wars
  • Tatar invasions
  • Timeline of the Golden Horde
  • Tokhtamysh–Timur war
  • Volga Bulgaria
  • Division of the Mongol Empire
  • Berke–Hulagu war
  • History of the western steppe
  • List of Khans of the Golden Horde
  • List of medieval Mongol tribes and clans
  • List of Mongol states
  • Jarlig
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