General Notes

REFN: 12140AN
Of the Golden Horde.
The Golden Horde is best known as that part of the Mongol Empire establish
ed in Russia. Originally, however, it consisted of the lands Genghis Kh
an (1165-1227) bequeathed to his son Jochi (1184-1225): the territories we
st of the Irtysh River (modern Kazakhstan) and Khwarazm (consisting of par
ts of modern Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan). Jochi, however, did not have t
he opportunity to expand his realm as he died in 1225, two years pri
or to his father's death.
During the reign of the successor of Genghis Khan, Ogodei Khan (d.1240/41
), the Jochid Ulus or realm greatly expanded in size. In 1237, Jochi's s
on Batu (1227-1255), assisted by the famous Mongol general Subedei, l
ed a large army westward. In route they destroyed the Bulgar khanate on t
he Volga River, pacified the numerous Turkic tribes of the steppes, and co
nquered the Russian cities. Then in 1240, Mongol armies invaded Hungary a
nd Poland, winning victories over the knights of Europe at Mohi in Hunga
ry and Liegnitz in Poland. As news spread of the ferocity of the Mongol
s, Europe trembled in anticipation of an attack that never came. In 1241 O
godei Khan died, which forced the Mongol armies to withdraw to Russia in o
rder to elect a new khan.