Batu Khan

Under his leadership, the Mongol forces began their campaign in 1236, systematically defeating Volga Bulgaria and conquering the principalities of Kyivan Rus'. The campaign reached a major turning point with the brutal siege and destruction of the historic capital of Kyiv in 1240. Pushing further west, Batu's armies split into multiple columns, defeating the Polish and Teutonic coalition at the Battle of Legnica and crushing the Hungarian army at the Battle of Mohi in 1241. However, upon learning of the death of Great Khan Ögedei in late 1241, Batu decided to withdraw his forces to the Volga River region to participate in the succession council, establishing his capital at Sarai.

According to historical legends, Batu was known as a leader who valued justice and fairness among his subjects. In Mongolian tradition, he was referred to as 'Sain Khan' (the Good/Merciful Khan) due to his benevolent rule over his own people, contrasting with his terrifying military reputation in Europe. The name 'Golden Horde' itself is believed by legend to have originated from the magnificent gilded tent (ordo) that Batu pitched along the banks of the Volga River, demonstrating the immense wealth and power of his court. The legend of the 'Invisible City of Kitezh' also stems from his campaign, where a mythical city allegedly sank into a lake to escape destruction by Batu's army.

Despite his immense military power, Batu Khan never attempted to claim the title of Great Khan himself, a decision deeply rooted in the questions surrounding his father Jochi's legitimacy. Jochi, the eldest son of Genghis Khan, was born shortly after his mother Börte was rescued from captivity by the Merkits, leading to lifelong whispers among his uncles—particularly Ögedei and Chagatai—that Jochi was not Genghis Khan's biological son. This legitimacy crisis cast a shadow over Jochi's descendants, including Batu. Recognizing that a bid for the supreme throne would spark a catastrophic civil war among the rival houses, Batu strategically opted to play the role of a kingmaker. In the succession crisis of 1251, he threw his full political weight behind Möngke, the eldest son of Tolui (Genghis Khan's youngest son). By placing a trusted ally with an unquestioned lineage on the throne, Batu neutralized the hostile House of Ögedei, secured complete autonomy for the Golden Horde, and reigned as the de facto second-in-command of the vast Mongol Empire.