Khan Dzhanibek - "soft" ruler of the Golden Horde

The Khans of the Golden Horde were distinguished by a rigid style of government and ruthlessness even to the closest people. Despite these well-known facts, the years of Dzhanibek Khan's rule were considered one of the quietest in the Mongolian state, and Dzhanibek himself was a soft person. Let's look at the facts of his biography and check the assessment of the character of the commander and man from the point of view of modern morality.

Biography

Khan of the Golden Horde Dzhanibek (Tatar name - Җанибәк) was the third son from the numerous offspring, which Uzbek left behind. Like many before him, let him pour his own blood into the throne, killing two older brothers, Tinibek and Khizra. As you can see, this his act does not characterize the future khan as a kind and law-abiding person. Perhaps, in the future, his character will be softer?

Khanate

In 1342 he became a khan of the Golden Horde. His goal Janibek saw the strengthening of statehood and the strengthening of centralization. But the methods used by Uzbek Khan seemed to him ineffective - what could be simpler than pouring blood on remote uluses? Richer from this you will not. And Khan Dzhanibek chose a different policy.

He still cruelly dealt with his enemies and did not trust his friends. But the tactics of the board of Dzhanibek changed radically. The Golden Horde Khan decided to win over religion. With him, mosques and madrassas began to ascend to the sky in all the territory of the Horde. He continued to preach Islam and attract interpreters of Islam and sacred surahs to his office. Such Islamization, fortunately, did not touch the northern ulus and did not have a proper influence on the religion of the inhabitants of the Moscow principality.

Written information

Chroniclers call this Golden Horde khan "the good king Janibek." This emphasizes his complete opposition to his father, who in the annals called "formidable Uzbek Khan." Indeed, the word "formidable" in ancient times meant fierce, ferocious, soulless. When compared to his own father Khan Janibek really seemed kind.

Metropolitan's acquaintance with Khan

Despite the spread of Islam, the ruler did not prevent the strengthening of Orthodoxy on Russian lands. With it, construction of temples and monasteries was resumed, there were no persecutions against priests and desecration of Orthodox shrines. Therefore, in the church literature, the period of Janibek's rule is characterized with a positive side.

Perhaps this was manifested in the "softness" of the ruler? Alas and ah - it was a simple vision. The Orthodox Church coped well with the role of peacekeeper, and there was no need to change it. In addition, we should not neglect the worldview of a man of the Middle Ages - faith for him was more valuable than life. Do not take their slaves from the slaves - so Dzhanibek reasoned and turned his gaze to the south.

Trekking in Russia

The only trip to the northern lands of Khan Dzhanibek was undertaken in 1347. Suffered villages and villages near the town of Aleksin. Compared with the avalanche of pogroms and murders, which always turned the campaigns of Uzbek Khan, Janibek acted much more modestly. A small campaign was undertaken to demonstrate its own power, and not for terror. There were no repressions and pressures-the atrocities and murders that Uzbek-Khan and his horde were repairing on Russian soil were too fresh, the price of new disobedience was too high.

Perhaps the only trip to the Russian lands gave the Moscow chroniclers a "soft" description of Khan Janibek. In the face of Moscow and neighboring principalities, Janibek really looked like a soft ruler. But what other peoples will say about him?

Trek to Azerbaijan

In 1357, Janibek undertook an aggressive campaign against Azerbaijan. The population of this country was dissatisfied with the domestic politicians of the tyrant Malik-Ashref. The grandiose campaign ended in the defeat of government troops and the seizure of land. Janibek Khan leaves his son Berdibek as governor of the new ulus, and he returns to the Horde.

In the treasure found in Azerbaijan, the coin of Janibek Khan was discovered. This indirectly confirms his long voyages far to the south. Indirect evidence finds confirmation in the annals and notes of random travelers.

The Decline of the Golden Horde

A long absence in the south of the country weakened the reins of vertical rule. The Golden Horde began to ferment, which threatened to end in disintegration. But Khan Dzhanibek returns to the Horde unhealthy and has no strength to stabilize the situation in the country. In Russian sources there is information about the same disease, which affected the khan and his mother - hanishi Taidula. Moscow Metropolitan Alexei arrived on a visit to the Horde and undertook to heal high-ranking patients from an unknown disease. Taydula took the Metropolitan and healed thanks to his prayers. Janibek persisted in his faith and did not receive the metropolitan. In the end, he died of illness in 1359. Although other sources claim that he did not pass the cups of betrayal and was killed by his own son.

Results

Does the rich biography of Janibek's soft character speak? Unfortunately no. He was no better or worse than other rulers, except that he preferred to replace senseless cruelty with far-sighted political actions. Strengthening the Orthodox Church, a peaceful life without raids (40 years of silence) meant for the Golden Horde khan to increase the flow of money and strengthen its own power. He achieved the same thing as his father - he simply used other methods for this.