Mengu-Timur: The Khan Who Freed the Russian Church

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of Mengu-Timur, a grandson of Batu Khan who ruled the Golden Horde from 1266 to 1280. Unlike his predecessors, Mengu-Timur issued a landmark yarlyk granting the Russian Orthodox Church unprecedented tax exemptions and legal protections, effectively making it a state within the Horde's state. This policy was not merely religious tolerance; it was a calculated move to secure the loyalty of church leaders and undermine the influence of the Mongol-appointed baskak tax collectors. The episode also covers Mengu-Timur's military campaigns, including his intervention in the Byzantine-Bulgarian conflict and his role in the Mongol civil war against the Ilkhanate. Lucas explains how the khan's alliance with the Mamluk sultan Baibars shaped the geopolitics of the 13th century. The discussion touches on the complex relationship between the Horde and the Russian principalities, including the rise of Prince Yaroslav of Tver and the shifting power dynamics under Mengu-Timur's reign. This is a deep dive into a pivotal but often overlooked figure in the history of the Golden Horde. #MenguTimur #GoldenHorde #RussianOrthodoxChurch #Yarlyk #MongolTaxExemption #BatuKhan #MamlukSultanate #Baibars #Ilkhanate #Hulagu #Sarai #Tver #YaroslavOfTver #ByzantineEmpire #MongolCivilWar #SteppeHistory #MedievalRussia #FexingoHistory #MongolEmpire #Kyiv1240 Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo