Golden Horde

A translation of 'Altan Ordu', the Mongol name for the state established by Batu Khan. The Golden Horde dominated southern Russia from 1236 to 1502. Nominally dependent on the Great Khanate, it retained its autonomy until weakened by defeats at the hands of the Russians in 1380 and Timur the Lame at the end of the 14th century. From about 1419, a succession of independent provinces (including the Crimea, Astrakhan, Kazan) emerged within the Golden Horde.