The Golden Horde's Great Troubles: Khan Berdi Beg's Assassination

In the late 1350s, the Golden Horde entered a chaotic period known as the Great Troubles, a 20-year civil war sparked by the assassination of Khan Berdi Beg in 1359. This episode traces the collapse of central authority in Sarai as rival Jochid princes, Islamic factions, and regional warlords vied for power. Lucas and Luna explore how the murder of Berdi Beg by his brother Qulpa set off a chain reaction of usurpations, including the rise of Mamai, the powerful emir who ruled through puppet khans. They discuss the role of the Crimean Genoese in backing Mamai, the devastating impact on trade along the Volga, and how Moscow began to exploit the chaos to assert independence. Key figures include Berdi Beg, Qulpa, Nawruz Beg, Mamai, and Khizr Khan. The episode also covers the spread of the Black Death across the steppe and its role in weakening the Horde's economy. Listeners will come away understanding how the Great Troubles set the stage for the eventual rise of Moscow and the fragmentation of Mongol power in Eastern Europe. #GoldenHorde #GreatTroubles #BerdiBeg #Mamai #Sarai #JochidUlus #MongolEmpire #BlackDeath #VolgaTrade #Moscow #KhanQulpa #NawruzBeg #KhizrKhan #CrimeanGenoese #CivilWar #FexingoHistory #CentralAsia #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo