Batu Khan

Batu Khan (c. 1205–1255), a son of Jochi and officially a grandson of Genghis Khan, founded the Golden Horde, which ruled the western steppe and Rus' lands. After Jochi's death Genghis made him head of the Jochid ulus.

In 1235 Ögedei named him head of the princes in the eldest sons' campaign, though a quarrel with Güyük never healed. His armies crushed the Cumans and Volga Bulgaria, took Ryazan in 1237 and Kiev in 1240, and in 1241 beat the Poles at Legnica and the Hungarians at Mohi, turning back in 1242 at Ögedei's death.

Batu made his court at Sarai on the lower Volga, and in 1251 backed Möngke for great khan. The Mongols called him Sain Khan, the good khan, for his leniency to his men. He died in 1255; his son Sartaq soon followed, and his brother Berke inherited the Horde.