Tokh-Orda

The Tokh-Orda, also spelled Toqtamish Orda or simply Ak Orda (White Horde), was one of the successor states to the Mongol Empire, specifically the Golden Horde. It emerged in the mid-13th century, encompassing territory roughly corresponding to modern-day Kazakhstan, centered on the Syr Darya river basin.

Initially part of the larger Golden Horde ruled by the descendants of Batu Khan, the Tokh-Orda gradually asserted its autonomy under the descendants of Orda Khan, a son of Jochi, the eldest son of Genghis Khan. The extent of the Tokh-Orda's actual power and its relationship with the central Golden Horde government fluctuated throughout its existence. At times, the Tokh-Orda was a relatively independent entity, exercising its own policies and maintaining its own army. At other times, it was more closely integrated into the Golden Horde.

The political history of the Tokh-Orda is characterized by internal strife and conflict with neighboring powers, including the descendants of Shiban (another son of Jochi), who controlled territories further west, and later with the Timurids. Constant infighting weakened the Tokh-Orda and contributed to its eventual decline.

Over time, the Tokh-Orda fragmented into smaller Khanates, including the Uzbek Khanate and the Kazakh Khanate. The dissolution of the Tokh-Orda marked a significant shift in the political landscape of Central Asia, paving the way for the rise of new Turkic-Mongol successor states. The legacy of the Tokh-Orda is reflected in the ethnic and political makeup of the region, particularly within Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It represents an important period in the history of the Mongol Empire's fragmentation and the subsequent evolution of Central Asian societies.