37 Facts About Nogai Khan

At his height, Nogai Khan was one of the most powerful men in Europe and widely thought of as the Horde's true head.

Genghis Nogai Khan called his capable generals "dogs of war" or "men of war".

Nogai Khan was born to Tatar, a son of Terval who was a son of Jochi.

Nogai Khan was a nephew of Berke Khan as well as Batu Khan and Orda Khan, and under his uncle, he became a powerful and ambitious warlord.

Nogai Khan was a young sub-commander during the second major Mongol raid against Poland, undertaken to pay for Berke's war against Hulegu.

Nogai Khan was given a high role in the army of the Golden Horde; Rashid Al-Din describes him as Berke's "commander-in-chief".

Nogai Khan was first charged with raiding along the frontier into the territory of the Ilkhanate; Nogai made multiple reconnaissances in force into the Caucasus region, drawing Hulegu north with the bulk of his forces.

Nogai Khan invaded Persia and plundered some areas before being met in battle by Abaqa on the Aksu.

In 1265, Nogai Khan led his army across the Danube, leading 20,000 soldiers into Byzantine territory.

Nogai Khan routed the Byzantine forces before him, and devastated the cities of Thrace.

Nogai Khan gave much valuable fabric to the Golden Horde as tribute, and became an ally of the Horde, principally dealing with it through Nogai instead of the official khan.

Nogai Khan did however slyly ask if the jewels and clothes could ward off lightning bolts, prevent headache, or promote good health, before praising the practicality of the dog skins his people wore.

Nogai Khan undertook his own foreign policy, sending envoys to the Mamluk Sultanate, forming marriage alliances with Byzantium and the Il-Khanate, and raiding various European kingdoms.

In 1282, Nogai Khan sent 4,000 Mongol soldiers to Constantinople, to help his father in law Emperor Michael suppress the rebels headed by John I Doukas of Thessaly.

In 1271 and 1274, Nogai Khan led raids against Bulgaria and Byzantium.

Nogai Khan defeated the Bulgarians, raided the country, and besieged Ivaylo in Silistra, however he withdrew after three months.

Nogai Khan considered executing Ivan as well, the second pretender to the Bulgarian throne, but his wife Euphrosyne requested he spare Ivan, and Nogai Khan relented.

Nogai Khan made the new Bulgarian Emperor George Terter his vassal.

Nogai Khan had been told of the perilous political situation in Hungary by fleeing Cuman warriors, and planned to capitalize on it by launching a vast campaign against the apparently weakened kingdom.

Nogai Khan was more successful than Talabuga, staying in Hungary into spring and retaining the bulk of his army, but still suffered several serious reverses at the hands of local Hungarian troops.

Nogai Khan failed to capture any major fortifications, with the exception of the Saxon castle of Ban Mikod.

Nogai Khan's column was ambushed by the Szekelys on the return.

Nogai Khan failed, discrediting him and playing into the hands of his rival Nogai, who was still respected despite his own defeats in Transylvania.

Nogai Khan's army made their way to winter quarters safe and sound.

However, Nogai Khan was duplicitous; he had arrived at the designated meeting spot accompanied by a large group of soldiers and Tokhta, as well as three sons of Mengu-Timur.

Tokhta's father-in-law and wife often complained that Nogai Khan seemed to consider himself superior to Tokhta, and Nogai Khan repeatedly rejected any demands Tokhta made of him to attend his court.

Two years after Nogai Khan installed Tokhta, their rivalry came to a head and Tokhta set out to gather his supporters for a war against Nogai Khan.

Marco Polo, drawing from Mongol sources, states that Nogai Khan assembled 15 tumens and Tokhta assembled 20 tumens, but these numbers are likely exaggerated.

Nogai Khan's sons escaped the battle with 1,000 horsemen, while Nogai Khan was found fleeing with 17 when he was wounded by a Russian soldier in the service of Tokhta.

Nogai Khan served under several Golden Horde Khans: Berke, Mengu-Timur, Tuda-Mengu, Talabuga, and Tokhta.

Nogai Khan was content to remain a kingmaker and the power behind the throne, rather than seizing direct control of the Horde himself.

Nogai Khan self-consciously promoted Mongol ways, and took pride in his lineage.

Nogai Khan had two sons by Chubei: Joge and Tige.

Nogai Khan had another wife named Alaka with which he had another son, Chaka, who ruled as the tsar of Bulgaria from 1299 to 1300.

Nogai Khan was close friends with Mankus, a Byzantine merchant from Crimea.

Nogai Khan arranged and held the marriage ceremony of Mankus's daughter Encona to Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria at his court, and his wife Euphrosyne became her god-mother.

Toqta Oz Beg Nogai Khan Tini Beg Jani Beg Berdi Beg Qulpa Nawruz Beg Khidr Timur Khwaja.