The House of Toqtamish
Ghiyath ad-Din Toqtamish Ak Urdu - (b. circa 1350?) was born under mysterious circumstances. His mother, Tuli Khwaja (daughter of Chimtay, Khan of the White Horde), bore him not in matrimony but instead to an unknown father. Still, young Toqtamish was not abandoned, but was raised at court in Astrakhan and trained in the ways of a prince. Meanwhile, Tuli's brother, Urus, became Khan of the White Horde in 1361 and seized the throne of the unstable Blue Horde in 1364. With his external rivals defeated, Urus turned on his sister and his little nephew, exiling them from the realm, hoping that they would die in the wastes of the East. They did not, but instead found refugee at Samarkand, coming under the protection of the infamous Timur.
At Samarkand, Toqtamish was able to continue his education and became the protegee of the middle-aged Timur. Toqtamish admired the Conqueror, despite his blatant cruel nature, and frequently made his wish known to one day return to the Russian lands and take the throne that he felt was his by right, eventhough he was in Frankish terms illegitimate. Timur, for his part, saw much promise in the young man as a ruler and also saw a way of getting rid of a potential adversary. The Ulus of Jochi posed a great threat to the northern flank of Timur's empire and its capital. If he could make Toqtamish its master, then surely the Conqueror would have nothing to fear from that corner of the world and his wars could continue as he willed. So when news of the death of Urus Khan came in the spring of 1375, Timur was more than happy to aid the young prince in his mission to capture the thrones of the White and Blue Hordes by providing Toqtamish with 10,000 heavy cavalry, various nomad contingents and the service of a young emir named Edigu of Nogai.
Within two months, Toqtamish returned to his homeland with this army, defeating and slaying Urus' firstborn and heir, Tuqtaqiya, before Astrakhan. Urus' second son, Temur Malik (meaning
iron king), raised a new army and fought on for another year before he too was captured and executed by Toqtamish. Now the twenty-six year old could be crowned as Khan of the White Horde, proud descendant and successor of Orda Khan, son of Jochi, son of Genghis, first Khan of the White Horde, but this was not enough for Toqtamish. The White Horde was the lesser in the bicameral Ulus Jochi, but the House of Batu had died out in the 1350's and the Blue Horde had fallen under an annual parade of new khans and upstart generals. From 1364 to 1375, Urus Khan had held both thrones, but after his death, the
tumenbashy (General of the 10,000) Mamai, as he was not of the seed of Genghis, made himself Khan by his own hand and wished the Rus to pay tribute to him. His defeat by the Rus at Kulikovo in 1380 and his subsequent assassination at Kaffa presented Toqtamish with the opportunity he had been waiting for. With the aid once more of Timur, Toqtamish captured Sarai in 1380 and was crowned Khan of the Blue Horde, or as he revived its united relam's old name, the Golden Horde (
Altin Ordu). The Khan then led a successful campaign in 1382 against Muscovy as a punishment for the Kulikovo defeat, forcing the prince to pay tribute once more to the Horde.
Today, Toqtamish is the most powerful man east of the Oder and is building a court at Sarai that shall equal the opulence and dignity of Samarkand, Cairo, or Constantinople. He is wary of his former mentor, Timur, as the Conqueror added more of the world to his empire every passing day and threatens the commerce of the Horde with the West. Rumblings of happenings among the Poles, Liths, Turks, and even the Franks reach his ears, but do not greatly concern him. For Toqtamish, only at the beginning of his middle-age, the future is bright and covered in gold!
The Wives of Toqtamish
Fatima al-‘Aliyya - The first and Great Wife of the Khan. The two met, courted, wed during Toqtamish's exile at the court of Timur. Fatima was the second daughter of Timur's relative and constable, Cheku Barlas, and both Timur and Toqtamish's mother thought the marriage a good one both politically and romantically. The two did and still do adore one another, but Fatima has lived up to her name as being high-born (
al-‘Aliyya) and heavy handed. Though neither Mongol nor Islam law require primogenitor, Fatima made sure that her son, the firstborn, would be heir by her various means. She strictly rules the royal household and court, not tolerating impolite or immoral behavior among its members (not in her presence anyway). She and Toqtamish have had no more children together, but Fatima will continue to be the power behind the throne.
Irini Berdi - daughter of the Emir of Astrakhan and second wife of the Khan. The two wed in 1377 and till her recent conversion, she was a Christian by birth, but has changed for the sake of her husband and the unity of the new court at Sarai. By her Slavic mother, she is tied to the people her husband rules and is a voice for them as the Khan rebuilds the state, ruined by five decades of civil war. She remains humble and kind, even under the tyranny of Fatima, and does not seek power, but justice. In the most recent year, it is this gentle woman that has found the favor of Toqtamish, as symbolized in the birth of their son in 1378.
Sultana al-Zarqa’ - Emira (Princess) of Nogai, of Khazar blood, and the third wife of the Khan. The two were wed in 1380 in a political marriage in order to tighten the bonds of the eastern tribes to the reunited Khanate at Sarai. She is called
al-Zarqa’ because she has captivating blue eyes. This alone has gained her favor with the Khan, but she is also a woman of grace and culture. With her love of poetry and music, she is helping Toqtamish in his ambition for a Tartar renaissance at Sarai.
Maria d'Altavilla - Lady of Naples and fourth wife of the Khan. She is not only the newest wife, but the youngest. She is hated by all the other wives, but Toqtamish views his new bride as a treasure, both politically and physically. Their marriage has cemented the alliance with the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies, which will come in handy if war with the Huns comes.
The Seed of Toqtamish
Jalal ad-Din - (b. 1376) son by Fatima. He was born soon after Toqtamish's crowning as Khan of the White Horde. The Khan has always taken this as a good omen and is training Jalal as his heir-apparent. The boy can ride and hunt as all Mongols can from their youth, but he seems to prefer the life of the court and the city to that of the steppe.
Karim Berdi - (b. 1378) son by Irini. He is quite young, so he has not done much.
Important Persons of the Realm
Isa ibn-Hâkim Chormaghan,
Grand Vizer - (b. 1327) Chormaghan is of the one of the most prestigious clans in the realm, the Şirin. As first, one sees a shy, uneasy man of little martial note or other achievements, but behind this exterior Chormaghan is a master of organization and intrigue. After years of service to the White Horde khans, he betrayed the sons of Urus and joined the forces of Toqtamish. Since then it has been he who has been behind the rapid reconstitution of the Golden Horde, being in charge of appointing and directing governors, agents, envoys, and conducting war in the absence of the Khan. He is unmarried and uninterested in earthly pleasures. He has made his sole duty service to the Great Khan.
Kuyuk Beg,
Marshal and governor of Astrakhan - (b. 1344) Kuyuk was formerly a lieutenant of the upstart Mamai, upon his death in 1380, Kuyuk went to Sarai and pledged allegiance to Toqtamish. He further gained the favor of the Khan during the 1382 campaign by leading a daring raid upon Novgorod; he was rewarded by being appointed governor of Astrakhan. Kuyuk is a plain man and plain spoken, like most soldiers. He has no time for culture, but is an efficient ruler and patron of justice.
Emir Tangut,
Marshal and governor of Crimea - (b. 1335) Tangut is the scion of one of the great clans, the Qepchaq. He was born a member of the old religion as his father was still a holdout against the conversation en masse to Islam. This did not at all hinder Tangut’s rise as a commander first for the Blue Horde and Emir Nogai, then for Urus Khan of the White Horde. By this time, he married a Christian Slav woman named Anna, the daughter of one of his servants. He became enamored with the mysteries of the Church and the holiness of its clergy, so he converted. This again had not ill effect on his career, but instead he became a close adviser to Urus Khan. He had opposed the exiling of Toqtamish, but was overruled. He continued to serve and received the governorship of the Crimea in reward. At this point (1375), Urus Khan died and Toqtamish returned with a vengeance. Tangut overnight converted to Islam and sent a message to Toqtamish pledging his loyalty and offering his daughter Irini as a wife. This pleased the young Khan, who accepted both the submission of Tangut and the daughter, and Tangut became a trusted adviser and leading general. In the war against Mamai and the 1382 campaign, Tangut showed great courage in battle and brilliance in strategic operations.
Ali Batu Beg Saraev,
Marshal and governor of Kazan - (b. 1351) Batu is a member of one of the great clans, the Barğın. He gained the Rus name Saraev, denoting the place of his birth. Despite this urban origin, Batu became a peerless warrior in the service of Urus Khan. After his death in 1375, Batu joined forces with Mamai and aimed at building a new Khanate in the north, centered on Kazan. He was at the battle of Kulikovo, during which he lost three fingers on his right hand and was shot in the thigh. That battle crushed Batu’s ambitious plans and he pledged loyalty to Toqtamish at Sarai soon thereafter. The Khan reappointed Batu governor of Kazan and gave him a free hand during 1382 campaign, leading to many excesses (including the burning of three monasteries and the massacre of a village hiding in their church). Batu is the epitome of Mongol manhood, but also has a predilection to be ostentatious. Radiant Chinese silks of crimson, blue, and gold, denoted his presence at court and on the field of battle.
Mevlana Mustafa bin Yusuf al-Misir,
Religious Instructor of the Khan - (b. 1341) While he was in exile at Samarkand, Toqtamish met the scholar Mustafa for the first time. The Egyptian impressed the young man with his piety, stance on matters of religion, and philosophy. Toqtamish had not been especially devout, but he took the Egyptian into his service. Since then, Mustafa has been a moderate adviser to the Khan and a patron of the Tartar renaissance. He currently preaches at the Grand Mosque of Sarai.
Urgu Sa'dar,
Mongol Sheik and Imam - (b. ?) As the greatest scholar in the Khanate, he is very well versed in Islamic shariah, fiqh, and as a memorizer of the Quran. He has a very strict view of the khilafah and he sympathizes with the Ottomans or anyone within range of supporting Islam. Some say it has been he that has urged the Khan to support the Osmanli as much as he has.
Chagan,
Tumenbashy on the Lithuanian marches - (b. 1340) Chagan is the most devoted lieutenant of Toqtamish. After a brilliant career as a commander in the White Horde, he voluntarily went into exile with Toqtamish in 1364. During the exile, he continued the martial training of the future Khan and was given high command during the invasion of the White Horde in 1375. Despite his great service, he has not received the rank of marshal. The Khan instead has founded a greater duty for Chagan, making him a tumenbashy in 1380 and assigning him to guard the border with Lithuania. He has taken to this new job with the same devotion he has always shown.
Temur Qutlugh, Shadi Beg, and Pulad - the sons of Temur Malik, late Khan of the White Horde. Following their father’s capture and execution in 1376, the children fled the realm, first to Armenia, then Iraq, then Persia, and finally to Samarkand in 1383. Their goal is clear; they hope to repeat the success of Toqtamish in gaining the patronage of Timur in order to retake their inheritance, the White Horde.
Emir Edigü - (b. ?) a young man who first gained notice as a warrior in the service of Timur. His birth date and parentage is unknown to most, but he is from Nogai. Timur appointed him as second-in-command of the army which Toqtamish lead north in 1375 to reconquer the White Horde and again in 1378-80 during the conquest of the Blue Horde. This dark eyed soldier also has taken an increasing interest in the politics of the Golden Horde, but his rank as a general in the army of Timur often keeps him away from Rus.