The Horde by Marie Favereau

Author:Marie Favereau
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Mongol ruler on campaign, illustration from an early fourteenth century copy of Rashīd al-Dīn, Jāmi‘ al-tawārīkh. The footman at left appears to carry a gerege, a tablet inscribed with an official notice of safe passage. (Pictures from History / Bridgeman Images)

The daughter complained to her father, who saw an opening to interfere. Pointing out Salji’üdai’s status as a qarachu—an elite, but not a member of the golden lineage—Nogay pressed Toqto’a to banish Salji’üdai from his inner circle and either send him back to his ancestral land in northern Khwarezm or turn him over to Nogay himself. Toqto’a refused. This was unusual for multiple reasons. For one thing, Nogay, unlike Salji’üdai, was both a Jochid and supreme commander: by lineage and by office, Nogay outranked his in-law, in spite of Salji’üdai’s own undoubtedly noble extraction. In addition, Nogay was accustomed to calling the shots, albeit behind the scenes. But this time, instead of carrying out Nogay’s will, Toqto’a went his own way. Toqto’a was firm in his decision. Nogay may have been his protector, a descendent of Jochi, and the most feared and respected Mongol in the west. But the khan had no intention of igniting a quarrel with the Toluids and Qonggirad, who gave him military support.48

With Toqto’a asserting himself, Nogay was facing the very real possibility of consignment to same role he had played under Möngke-Temür: that of an influential commander with great autonomy—but, still, just a commander. Indeed, the present circumstance was worse than that, for Nogay could no longer afford to bide his time. He was in his fifties, possibly older, an advanced age among Mongol warriors. He knew that the end might come soon. So he did something radical: he declared himself khan. To make his claim real and legal, he issued coins bearing his tamga. He also tried to solidify his legacy by choosing his eldest son Cheke as his primary heir.49

There could not be two Jochid khans at the same time. The only question was how the dispute would be settled. Would resolution come via quriltai or war? As a Batuid and the enthroned khan, Toqto’a might have seemed the more legitimate choice of ruler. Certainly there were begs who thought so. But he had numerous enemies among the Jochid families, and several begs sided with Nogay. In the old days, such contests for power inevitably inspired the Jochids to part ways; the western steppe was big enough for many powerful hordes. But this time no consensus was reached, and neither side trusted the other enough to back down. So war it was.

In the winter of 1297–1298, on the lower Don, the two hordes fought their first battle. Nogay emerged the victor, forcing Toqto’a’s army to withdraw toward the Volga. But the battle was not decisive, so Nogay developed a wider strategy. His next step was to take control of Crimea. The peninsula formed an enclave within the Black Sea territory, and Nogay feared that the inhabitants would stay loyal to Toqto’a. Nogay targeted the Genoese of Caffa, whom he accused of holding back his share of tax revenues.

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