The Golden Horde is a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate, established in the 13th century, which comprises the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire.
The khanate is also known as the Kipchak Khanate or as the Ulus of Jochi.After the death of Batu Khan in 1255, the prosperity of his dynasty lasts for a full century, until 1359, though the intrigues of Nogai instigate a partial civil war in the late 1290s.
The Horde's military power peaks during the reign of Uzbeg (1312–41), who adopts Islam.
The territory of the Golden Horde at its peak includes most of Eastern Europe from the Urals to the right bank of the Danube River, extending east deep into Siberia.
In the south, the Golden Horde's lands border on the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, and the territories of the Mongol dynasty known as the Ilkhanate.
The khanate experiences violent internal political disorder beginning in 1359, before it is briefly reunited under Tokhtamysh in 1381.
However, soon after the 1396 invasion of Tamerlane, it breaks into smaller Tatar khanates that decline steadily in power.
At the start of the 15th century the Horde begins to fall apart.
By 1433, it is being referred to simply as the Great Horde.
Within its territories there emerged numerous, predominantly Turkic-speaking, khanates.
These internal struggles allow the northern vassal state of Muscovy to rid itself of the "Tatar Yoke" at the Great stand on the Ugra river in 1480.
The Crimean Khanate and the Kazakh Khanate, the last remnants of the Golden Horde, persist until 1783 and 1847, respectively.
