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Berke Khan (Mongolian: Бэрх) was the Khan of the Kipchak or Golden Horde^[1] who effectively consolidated the power of the Blue Horde and White Hordes^[2] from 1257 to 1266. He succeeded his brother Batu Khan of the Blue Horde (West) and was responsible of the first "official establishment" of Islam in a Mongol state^[3] and came to the aid of the Mamlukes in defence of the Holy Land in the Battle of Ain Jalut against another Mongol state, the Ilkhanate.

File:Berke-Arikboke coin.jpg

Golden Horde coins with Arik Boke's name during the reign of Berke

Background

Berke was one of the sons of Jochi, the eldest son of Genghis Khan. In 1246, Berke joined his brothers Orda, Sinkur, and Siban and an assortment of cousins under the leadership of Batu. The vast army, comprising some 150,000 soldiers, marched from Siberia and into the territory of the Muslim Volga Bulgars and Kipchaks, whom they subdued. Next they devastated the principalities of Ryazan and Suzdal in 1237, and marched further into Russia. Berke further served under his brother during the invasion of Europe, fighting at the Battle of the Mohi, where the Hungarian army was decimated. When Ögedei Khan died, and all the princes of the blood were summoned to return to Mongolia to select a Great Khan, Berke and his brothers joined Batu in his bid for power. When that failed, they returned to Russia, and due to the ill-feeling between the heirs of Ögedei, and those of Jochi, the Kipchak Khanate never again invaded Europe in force (a raid into Poland was strictly for loot). Instead, the Kipchak Khanate settled into Russia, and looked east to defend themselves against their cousins.

In 1247/1248, Batu sent him to Mongolia in order to install Mongke on the throne of Great Khaan. When he arrived, he invited Chagatai and Ogedeyd families several times. But they refused politely. That is why, Berke conducted the kurultai in 1250 and Mongke enthroned.

Assuming the Kipchak Khanate

When Batu died in 1255, he was briefly succeeded by his son Sartak, before Berke assumed leadership in 1257. He was an able ruler and succeeded in maintaining and stabilizing the Golden Horde, a newly created empire in the Mongol world. During his government, the Mongols finally defeated Danylo of Halych and made a second attack against Lithuania and Poland,led by generals Burundai and Nogai Khan (Lublin, Zawichost, Sandomierz, Krakow and Bytom were plundered) in 1259, primarily to provide funds for his wars against Hulagu Khan, ruler of the Il-Khanate, due to Hulagu's horrific actions in the 1258 sack of Baghdad. Also in 1265 there was a raid against Bulgaria and Thrace. Michael of Byzantine Empire also sent much valuable fabric to the Golden Horde as a tribute thereafter.

Aftermath of Conversion to Islam

Berke converted to Islam and became a devout Muslim. This resulted in the Blue Horde becoming primarily Islamic, and its subjects professing Muslim faith. Berke had a deadly determination to deal with Hulagu Khan, who had murdered the Caliph Al-Musta'sim, and whose territorial ambitions in Syria and Egypt threatened Berke's fellow Muslims.

In the meantime, the Mongols led by Kitbuqa had fallen out with the crusaders holding the coast of Palestine, and the Mamluks were able to ally with them, pass through their territory, and destroy the Mongol army at the Battle of Ain Jalut. Kitbuqa was killed. Palestine and Syria were permanently lost, the border remaining the Tigris for the duration of Hulagu's dynasty. Berke's vow of vengeance against Hulagu had to wait until the latter's return to his lands after the death of Mongke Khan.

Hulagu returned to his lands by 1262, but instead of being able to avenge his defeats, was drawn into civil war with Berke and the Blue Horde. Berke Khan had promised such a defeat in his rage after Hulagu's sack of Bagdad; Berke was a Muslim. Muslim Historian Rashid al-Din quoted Berke Khan said his Mongols and muslim subjects, protesting the attack on Baghdad, (not knowing Mongke had died in China) "he has sacked all the cities of the Muslims, and has brought about the death of the Caliph. With the help of God I will call him to account for so much innocent blood." (see The Mongol Warlords, quoting Rashid al Din's record of Berke Khan's pronouncement; this quote is also found in The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War) -- He also complained Batu "We helped Mongke to enthrone. But he forgot who the enemy is or friend is. Now, he is starving the lands of our friend Caliph. It is abject". it is notable that Berke Khan kept his promise, allying himself with the Mamluks, (Berke sought an alliance with the Mamluk sultan Baibars against Hulagu) and when Hulagu returned to his lands in 1262, after the succession was finally settled with Kublai as the last Great Khan, and massed his armies to avenge Ain Jalut and attack the Mamluks, Berke Khan initiated a series of raids in force which drew Hulagu north to meet him. This was the first open conflict between Mongols, and signaled the end of the unified empire.

But the reason of the conflict between Berke and Hulegu was not only religion. It was territory. Mongke khan gave Azerbaijan, which was given to Jochi by Chinghis khan before, to his brother Hulegu. Although, Berke did not like the situation, he was patient till Mongke s death.

Finally, in 1262 the conflict turned into open war. Hulagu Khan suffered severe defeat in an attempted invasion north of the Caucasus in 1263. Hulagu's forces were crushed at the Terek river by Berke's nephew Nogai, forcing Hulagu into retreat; he died in 1265. Also Chagatai khan Alghu invaded Khwarizm and annexed Golden Horde lands. Jochid army tried to halt his advance unsuccessfully.

Berke also supported khan claimant Ariqboke. That is why he minted coins in the name of Ariqboke. But Kublai finally won the crown in 1264. Kublai called both Hulegu and Berke to discuss about Ariqboke's matter. However, Berke noted that he would come to Kurultai, he could not arrive on time.

Aftermath

Berke died while fighting Hulagu's son, Abaqa Khan, in 1266. He was succeeded by his grandnephew, Mengu-Timur. The policy of alliance with the Mamluks, and containment of the Il-Khanate, was continued by Mengu-Timur. Many historians^[4] are in agreement that the intervention by Berke against Hulagu saved the remainder of the Holy Land, including Mecca and Jerusalem, from the same fate as Bagdad.

Footnotes

^ The name Golden is believed to have come from the steppe color system for the cardinal directions : black — north, blue — east, red — south, white — west, and yellow (or gold) — center.
^ In this terminology the names Blue and White follow the Persian usage, as do most contemporary historians; in Turkish usage they are reversed, causing some confusion in secondary literature.
^ Devin De Weese, Devin A, ( DeWeese. "Islamization and Native Religion in the Golden Horde", Penn State Press, Sep 1, 1994, ISBN 0-271-01073-8 pg.3
^ Michael Pravdin, Lev Nicholaevich Gumilev, Reuven Amittei Press, N.Kruchki

Sources

Amitai-Preiss, Reuven. The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War, 1998
Chambers, James, The Devil's Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe
Hildinger, Eric, Warriors of the Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia, 500 B.C. to A.D. 1700
Morgan, David -- The Mongols, ISBN 0-631-17563-6
Nicolle, David, -- The Mongol Warlords Brockhampton Press, 1998
Reagan, Geoffry, The Guinness Book of Decisive Battles , Canopy Books, NY (1992)
Saunders, J.J. -- The History of the Mongol Conquests, Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, 1971, ISBN 0-8122-1766-7
Soucek, Svatopluk -- A History of Inner Asia, Cambridge, 2000

Preceded by Ulaghchi	Khan of Golden Horde 1257 – 1266	Succeeded by Mengu-Timur

[1] The name Golden is believed to have come from the steppe color system for the cardinal directions : black — north, blue — east, red — south, white — west, and yellow (or gold) — center.

[2] In this terminology the names Blue and White follow the Persian usage, as do most contemporary historians; in Turkish usage they are reversed, causing some confusion in secondary literature.

[3] Devin De Weese, Devin A, ( DeWeese. "Islamization and Native Religion in the Golden Horde", Penn State Press, Sep 1, 1994, ISBN 0-271-01073-8 pg.3

[4] Michael Pravdin, Lev Nicholaevich Gumilev, Reuven Amittei Press, N.Kruchki

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