Tokhta (also spelled Toqta, Toktu, Tokhtai, Tochtu or Tokhtogha; died c. 1312) was Khan of the Golden Horde from 1291 to 1312. He was a son of Mengu-Timur and a great-grandson of Batu Khan.
His name "Tokhtokh" means "hold/holding" in the Mongolian language. He was known with another name Külüg among his family.
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Early reign under Nogai
Nogai Khan orchestrated a palace coup that ended with the ousting and execution of Talabuga. Tokhta became khan in 1291 and at first he was subordinate to Nogai. However, Tokhta eventually united his supporters against Nogai and he challenged Nogai's authority in 1297, leading to a civil war. In 1299, Tokhta finally defeated Nogai and stabilized the Golden Horde.
Tokhta wanted to eliminate the Russian princes' semi-independence and the Russian princes grew increasing restive. As a form of submission, military service was used by the khans, but Russian auxiliary troops were only used in rare attacks in Poland and Hungary, as well as in military campaigns in the Caucasus. Russian troops remained effective when the khan intervened in Russian affairs. In 1293, Tokhta sent his brother Tudan to provide military support for Andrei against Dmitry, who had supported the cause of Nogai. Tudan's army would go on to devastate fourteen towns. Tokhta himself (known here as Tokhta-Temur) went to Tver, and forced Dmitry Alexandrovich, Nogai's ally, to abdicate. The Russian chroniclers depicted these events as "The harsh-time of Batu returns". Some sources have suggested that Tokhta and Nogai had worked together.
