The Horde's Steppe Plague: How the Black Death Hit Sarai

In 1346, the Black Death arrived at the frontiers of the Golden Horde, and by 1347 it was ravaging the capital Sarai. This episode follows the plague's trajectory from the siege of Caffa — where the Mongols catapulted infected corpses over the walls, a story often cited as early biological warfare — to the heart of the Jochid ulus. We examine the toll on the Horde's military, trade, and political stability, drawing on accounts from Ibn al-Wardi, Gabriele de' Mussi, and Russian chronicles. The plague devastated Sarai's population, disrupted yam relay routes, accelerated the Great Troubles, and shifted the balance of power toward Moscow. We also explore the debate among historians about whether the Caffa incident actually happened or is a later embellishment. A focused, specific look at how Yersinia pestis reshaped the Mongol-Russian world. #BlackDeath #GoldenHorde #Sarai #Caffa #YersiniaPestis #MongolEmpire #BiologicalWarfare #IbnAlWardi #GabrieleDeMussi #GreatTroubles #PaxMongolica #Plague #MedievalHistory #CentralAsia #Russia #JochidUlus #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo