The Path to Greatness
Toktamysh (according to Russian sources Tokhtamysh) (about 1350-1406), khan of the Jochi Ulus (Golden Horde) (1380-1397 with interruptions). He was the son of Tui-khoja-oglan, a descendant of the son of Jochi Tukai-Timur, ruler of Mangyshlak. Tui-khoja was one of the highest aristocrats at the court of Khan of the Kok-Horde of Urus. But, according to some rumored written sources, he decided to take advantage of Urus Khan’s attempts to extend his power throughout the empire, and plotted. As a result, the rebel was executed, and his son Toktamysh was forced to flee to the court of Emir Timur (Aksak-Timur, Timurleng, Tamerlane).
At the same time, the Mangit clan from the Northern Caspian region, led by Emir Baltychak, strengthens its position at the court of Urus Khan, who, after Urus’ death, becomes Karachibek at the court of his son Timur Melik. His son Idegey successfully commanded the troops, but suddenly in 1376, having quarreled with his father and with the khan, he also fled to Timur, where he led a group of emirs seeking to overthrow the power of Khan Urus. Ironically, he even saves Toktamysh, who was once again defeated by the Tatar troops. Young and ambitious contenders for power, enlisting his support of Aksak-Timur, invaded Kok-Orda in 1379, where they were able to capture Sygnak. From that moment on, according to historical writings, noble emirs «began to march continuously, squad after squad,» to Toktamysh and Idegey. Timur-Melik was defeated and executed with several loyal emirs, among whom was Idegey’s father.
Having gained a foothold in Kok-Orda, Sultan Toktamysh launched a decisive offensive against Sarai. In 1379, his troops invaded the Volga region, where they defeated Khan Arabshah. The decisive stage of the struggle for power has begun.
Tokhtamysh on the throne of the Golden Horde. Excerpt from the illustration of the Front Chronicle, late 16th century Source: ru.wikipedia.org
Rise to the top of power
It was the consolidation of power in the Kok Orda and the active invasion of the Volga region that forced Karachibek Mamai to try to bring the Moscow Principality to submission in order to use its resources for a future war with Toktamysh. But in 1380, after Mamai’s crushing defeat at Kulikovo Field, Toktamysh turned out to be the strongest khan in the Horde, who did not slow down to move troops to the Don region. Mamai managed to gather troops and meet Toktamysh’s troops on the Kalka River. A new battle was inevitable, but at the last moment the emirs abandoned Mamai and swore allegiance to the new legitimate khan. The once all-powerful Mamai fled to Kafa, where he was killed by the Italians, who did not want to risk their huge trade profits for the sake of dubious political adventures.
In an effort to strengthen his power throughout the country, Khan Toktamysh marched against the Bulgarians, and in 1382 suddenly invaded Russia. Prince Dmitry Donskoy, drained of blood by the victory over Mamai, could not organize the defense of Moscow. After a short siege, Toktamysh captured and burned Moscow and other cities of Northeastern Russia. The Russian principalities again became dependent on the khan’s power. Although there will never be the same unquestioning obedience.
At that moment, the Jochi ulus was united under a single government for the first time. Trade began to expand again and cities began to revive. The internal situation has stabilized, and its military power has increased. It seemed that the years of past prosperity and prosperity had returned. But in the south, the danger was becoming more and more intense, which was growing and was ready to engulf the Jochi Ulus.
Tokhtamysh near Moscow. Source: ru.wikipedia.org
The war with Aksak Timur
Aksak-Timur, the Emir of Khorasan, watched the successes of Khan Toktamysh with gloomy indignation. Although he supported Toktamysh and Idegey, he believed that by doing so he would weaken his northern neighbor and then subjugate him to his power. Taking advantage of the weakening of the Golden Horde, he even captured Khorezm. Therefore, the strengthening of the Jochi Ulus was not included in his plans. For a long time, he was engaged in wars with other claimants to the Chagatai Ulus, then with Moghulistan, and then invaded Iran and captured it. The interests of Aksak-Timur and Toktamysh collided in two important regions – the Aral Sea region and Northern Azerbaijan. By this time, the triple anti-terrorist alliance of Mamluk Egypt, Turkey and the Golden Horde had been revived. A collision was inevitable.
In 1388-1389, Khan Toktamysh began a war with Aksak-Timur, invading Azerbaijan, where he took Tabriz and the Aral Sea region, where he captured Sygnak. Timur’s empire turned out to be vulnerable, and he began to look for a way to respond to this challenge. At this time, Idegey and the young sultan, Timur-Melik’s son Timur-Kutlug, run to Timur to «seek happiness at Timur’s court.» Justifying this act, medieval historians believed that Idegey was the victim of slander or even avenged his father’s death at the hands of Toktamysh. Both of these versions are questionable. The truth, apparently, was in the ambitions of Idegey, who believed that his talents were not sufficiently rewarded at the court of Toktamysh. And he began his struggle for power.
Tamerlane and his warriors. Persian miniature. Source: ru.wikipedia.org
In 1389, Timur’s troops drove out the Tatar troops and captured the cities in the Syr Darya basin. And in 1391 Aksak-Timur made a grandiose campaign in the Volga region through the trans-Volga steppes. Along the way, the disgruntled feudal lords of the Kok Horde joined his army. In the bloody battle on the Kondurcha River (in modern times. Samara region) Khan Toktamysh was defeated. But Timur, having suffered heavy losses in enemy territory, could not build on his success, and turned back. His immediate goals were achieved: the threat from the north no longer hung over his possessions in Central Asia, and Toktamysh seemed completely defeated. Timur granted the rebellious oglans and Idegey a decree on tarkhanism (the right to an inheritance) and released them to restore order in their possessions. But that wasn’t what they had in mind. According to Eastern sources, «they began to forget what they had promised, not keeping their word, and made infidelity their slogan.»
Toktamysh returns
The Jochi ulus was shaken by the khan’s defeat and again split into a number of uluses (Idegey and Timur-Kutlug in the Trans-Volga region, Koyurchak in the Volga region, etc.). Taking advantage of this, contenders for power appeared. In 1391-1392, Bik-Bulat (Bulat-oglan, Peh-Pulad), grandson of Urus Khan, proclaimed himself Khan. But Toktamysh’s forces were far from exhausted, and by 1393, relying on the provinces that remained loyal to him, he defeated Bik-Bulat, managing to regain power.,
Having regained the Horde throne and the appearance of his former greatness, Toktamysh nevertheless could not conquer the Idegeya ulus in the Trans-Volga region, being content with formal submission. The empire’s crisis was progressing.
Given his previous bitter experience of fighting Timur alone, he enters into an alliance with the Ottoman Sultan Bayazet (Bayezid) and the ruler of Egypt, Barkuk. In 1394, the allies opposed Timur, but he retreated without accepting the challenge. And only after waiting for a split among the opponents, he invaded Transcaucasia. Khan Toktamysh, left without allies, was preparing for a decisive clash in the North Caucasus. Timur’s army, having wintered in Azerbaijan, rushed north and reached the Terek. A fierce battle took place on its shores on April 15, 1395. The battle lasted three days, but Toktamysh was defeated again and fled, hiding first in the Volga region and then in the Crimea.
Timur’s troops, pursuing him, ravaged the main cities of the Golden Horde in the Volga region, Crimea and the North Caucasus.
Source: mirtesen.ru
During a short internecine war in 1396-1367, Idegey and his henchman Timur-Kutlug seized power in Sarai.
Toktamysh, who was defeated once again, fled to Lithuania.
The Exile
Arriving in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Toktamysh entered into an alliance with Vytautas. He intended to use his troops to regain power in the Golden Horde, and according to rumors that circulated in Moscow, he was ready to give up sovereignty over Russia in favor of the Lithuanian prince.
But the attempt was unsuccessful. On August 12, 1399, in a grandiose battle on the Vorskla River (near Sovr. The combined Lithuanian-Russian-Polish forces were defeated. Vitovt and Toktamysh barely managed to escape to Kiev. As a result of the concluded peace, Toktamysh was forced to return to the steppes of Central Asia, where he again tried to find Aksak-Timur’s support. He seemed to have promised her, but absorbed in his conquests, he was in no hurry. A new round of old intrigue did not have time to arise. In 1405, Timur died while preparing a campaign in China, and in 1406.
At the end of 1399, Toktamysh was forced to leave Lithuania and hide in Eastern Siberia with his sons. He tried to enlist Aksaktimer’s support, but was overtaken by Khan Shadibek’s troops in Tyumen and died.
Khan Toktamysh, despite his defeats, went down in history as one of the outstanding military and political figures of the Golden Horde at the end of the 14th century. He was able to end the turmoil in the empire and gave hope for the revival of its greatness. But for a number of reasons, he was unable to realize his potential. His policy was continued by other rulers.