Uzbek Khan

The defeated Mikhail Yaroslavich faces Uzbek Khan

Muhammed Khan Uzbek or Sultan Mohammed Öz Beg (also Uzbek Chan or Özbek Chan , Tatar Üzbäk or similar, *.. 1282 , † 1341 / 42 ) was a descendant of Batu Khan (son of Togrilcha, grandson of Mangu Timur ); his long reign 1312–1342 led to the golden horde's heyday . At that time, the Golden Horde was already known as the country of Uzbek , from which the later name of the Uzbeks is derived.

Origin of name and history

The name “Uzbek” probably comes from the Turkish uz / öz (“good” but also “real” or “true”) and bek (ruler; other forms: beg , bey ). According to this, Uzbek was the "good / true ruler".

The future Uzbek Khan had been exiled to the periphery of the empire as a prince for many years, as his father Togrilcha had supported the Khan Tulabugha (r. 1287–91) and was therefore executed by his brother Tokta Khan (r. 1291–1312) . Only shortly before his death did Tokta Khan entrust him with troops, so that he appeared as a possible heir to the throne and could play Tokta's heir.

Sign for the tomb of Uzbek Khan at the exit of the city of Aktau

Uzbek pursued Islamization in its countries, so that this belief with the associated law ( Sharia ) prevailed on the Volga for two centuries . He broke the resistance of several emirs who rejected his government and the new state religion at the time he took office. The upper class converted to Islam, as it were, on orders, but the population tolerated shamanistic and also many Christian Turks and Mongols for a long time , some of whom leaned towards Nestorianism and partly towards Orthodoxy . In the Crimea he had a mosque named after him built, the mosque of Uzbek Khan .

The Khan also favored Ivan Kalita against the Prince of Tver in 1327 , which - combined with Ivan's right to collect taxes in Russia - resulted in the rise of Moscow . Taking advantage of the rivalry between Moscow and Tver, there were also repeated attacks on Russian cities, which were mainly used for looting (e.g. around 1318, 1327). Uzbek Khan also and even personally waged war against the Ilchanate , last in 1335 against the Khan Arpa Ke'un , but achieved no success.

It is said of Uzbek that he only cared about the affairs of his empire in general, was satisfied with the money he received and did not ask any further questions about how it was received and then spent. In this, however, his behavior hardly differed from the nomadic tribal traditions of his predecessors.

See also

• Mongol invasion of the Rus

predecessor	Office	successor
Tokta Khan	Khan of the Golden Horde 1312–1342	Jani Beg