Sartaq Khan

Names
	Sartaq Khan

Sartaq
Sartaq
Khan
Khan of the Golden Horde; Western Half (Blue Horde)
Coronation	1256
Reign	1256–1257
Predecessor	Batu Khan
Successor	Ulaghchi
Born	unknown
Died	1257
Issue	Tughdua; Qughchi; Feodora
Names
Names
	Sartaq Khan
House	Borjigin
Dynasty	Golden Horde
Father	Batu Khan
Mother	Boraqchin Khatun of the Alchi-Tatar
Religion	Orthodox Christianity

Sartaq (or Sartak, Sartach, Mongolian: Сартаг, Tatar: Сартак) Khan (died 1257) was the son of Batu Khan and his senior wife Boraqchin of Alchi Tatar.^[3] Boraqchin acted as regent Dowager before Sartaq eventually succeeded Batu as khan of the Golden Horde.

Reign

In 1252, Alexander Nevsky met with Sartaq at Sarai. Alexander received yarlyk (license) to become Grand Duke of Vladimir in vassalage to the Mongol Khanate. According to Lev Gumilev he became Sartaq's anda (sworn brother, akin to blood brother) and an adopted son of Batu Khan.^[4]

His reign as khan of the Golden Horde was short-lived. He died in 1256 before returning from Great Khan Möngke's court in Mongolia, less than one year after his father, probably having been poisoned by his uncles Berke and Berkhchir. Sartaq was succeeded by Ulaqchi briefly in 1257, before his uncle Berke succeeded to the throne. It is not clear whether Ulaqchi was his brother or his son.

Sartaq's daughter Feodora (or Theothiure) was the wife of Gleb Vasilkovich, first Prince Belozersky of Beloozero and Rostov, a grandson of Konstantin of Rostov. Their daughter Maria Glebovna Belozerskaya married Daniel Alexandrovich (the son of Alexander Nevsky), and was the mother of Ivan Kalita.

Books

Grousset, René (1938). L'Empire des Steppes.

References

^ "Early in 1253 a report reached Acre that one of the Mongol princes, Sartaq, son of Batu, had been converted to Christianity", Runciman, p. 280. See Alexander Nevsky for details.
^ "Sartach examined the bible, and the cross with the image on it, putting some questions respecting both ; but our traveller was dismayed to hear nothing that favoured the report, upon which this painful journey had been undertaken, of his being a believer in the gospel. He never even seemed to refer to the subject, except in a tone of scoffing and derision. On inquiry, the sole ground of the rumour was found to be, that when christian merchants, many of whom passed this way, brought liberal presents, they were graciously accepted ; but when Mohammedans offered larger gifts, they met a welcome still more cordial." Travels of Marco Polo, by Hugh Murray, p. 70.
^ Rashid al-Din - Universal History, see: Tale of Jochids
^ Searching for an Imaginary Kingdom

External links

Michael Marcotte: Marcotte Genealogy - Khan genealogy chart (shows part of Sartaq's family; Sartaq is called Sartuk Khan of the Blue Horde)

Regnal titles
Sartaq Khan House of Borjigin (1206–1634) Died: 1256
Preceded by Batu Khan	Khan of the Blue Horde and Golden Horde 1255–1256	Succeeded by Ulaghchi