Bayan (khan)

Bayan (or Buyan; Naiyan) (Kazakh: Баян хан) (r.1302-1309) was one of the most famous khans of White Horde. "Bayan" means "rich" and "buyan" means "good deed/act" (as in religion or belief) in the Mongolian language.

All the White and Blue Hordes /which is Golden Horde's issue/ were ruled by Mongols. And their upper classes were Mongols. Kazakhs were their slaves. When Bayan became the khan, his cousin and relatives revolted against him. The latter, under his cousin Kobluk, were supported by Khaidu and Duwa. Bayan fought his rebel cousin, Koblek, and Kaidu's forces several times. He asked help from Tokhta, ruler of the Golden Horde and the Blue Horde. Tokhta was angry with the situation, and warned Khaidu not to help the rebels. Buyan also tried to ally with Temür Khan of the Yuan dynasty, the suzerain of Mongol Empire, against the Chagatai Khanate and Khaidu. But the distance between them made it ineffective.^[1] Finally, Bayan defeated his enemies and ruled his Horde till 1309. It is claimed that Circassians, Russians and Hungarians (probably Bashkirs) served in his army.^[2]

References

1. René Grousset-The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia, p.211
2. Encyclopedia of Mongol Empire, see White Horde