Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a partial successor state of the Mongol Empire. Also known as the Crimean Khanate, especially in later history.
This state should definitely not be confused with Cumania.
The ethnic group represented by this state is often referred to as Tatars; that name may have been borrowed from the otherwise unrelated Tatar Confederation.
Contents
History
The Golden Horde was a military complex that effectively governed a large portion of the Mongol Empire. Genghis Khan appointed his eldest son, Jochi, as khan of this force. When he died, his sons inherited a split horde. Batu became khan of the western wing and Orda became khan of the eastern wing.
Beginning in 1229, Batu and Subutai were directed by Ögedei to conquer the Ruthenian principalities. This was effectively achieved by 1240.
The Cumans fled the conquest of Crimea, became refugees, and were welcomed into Hungary as a nomadic military loyal to the crown. This prompted Batu and Subutai to invade Hungary as well.
The conquest had already reached Pest, and was preparing to shift toward the Holy Roman Empire, when Ögedei died in 1242. The conquest was abandoned so that they could return to Karakorum for the next election.
Eventually, a portion of the Golden Horde decided to abandon the nomadic lifestyle, and settled in Desht-i-Kipchak. This developed into a more formal state which, by 1441, came to be referred to as the Crimean Khanate.
Structure
The Golden Horde was organized loosely.
Firstly, the horde was in fact two hordes: the western wing centered on Sarai (which was probably located on the lower Volga) and the eastern wing centered on Sighnaq (in modern Kazakhstan on the Syr Darya). The western wing held nominal primacy but the sheer distances reduced any importance of hierarchy.
Originally, the Golden Horde was a khanate rather than a khaganate. During the reign of Kublai Khan, however, the Golden Horde became effectively autonomous.