THE TUKA-TIMURIDS IN THE TAVARIKH-I GUZIDA-YI NUSRAT-NAME

Abstract

The history of the Tuka-Timurids remains underexplored in Golden Horde historiography, despite their significant role in the political life of the 13th–14th centuries. A key source for reconstructing this dynasty is the 16th-century chronicle “Tavarikh-i guzida-yi Nusrat-name” (manuscript No. 3222, British Museum, London).

Objective and tasks. The study aims to analyze the representation of the Tuka-Timurids in the “Nusrat-name” and to determine the role of Tokhtamysh within the framework of dynastic legitimacy. The tasks include examining genealogical data on the origins and possessions of Tuka-Timur’s descendants, comparing them with other sources, and clarifying the political significance of the dynasty in the Golden Horde. Scientific and practical significance. This research contributes to Golden Horde studies by reassessing the importance of collateral Jochid branches. Its practical value lies in using the translation of the “Nusrat-name” as a primary source, which provides a basis for further comparative and interdisciplinary investigations. Methodology. The main source is the translation of the “Tavarikh-i guzida-yi Nusrat-name”. Additional materials include Eastern chronicles (“Jamiʿ al-tawarikh”, “Chingiz-name”, “Umdat al-akhbar”, “Muiz al-ansab”), numismatic data, and population genetics studies. The methodological framework combines comparative source analysis with interdisciplinary approaches. Results and conclusions. The Tuka-Timurids controlled key regions such as Crimea, the Lower Volga, and Mangyshlak, and by the 14th century became one of the leading branches of the Jochid dynasty. The chronicle emphasizes their dynastic legitimacy through marital alliances with the Naiman and Qongrat tribes and portrays Tokhtamysh as the rightful heir and unifier of the Horde. Value of the research. The study shows that the Tuka-Timurids were not a peripheral branch of the Jochids but a central political force of the Golden Horde. Its contribution lies in clarifying their dynastic legitimacy and highlighting Tokhtamysh’s role as the culmination of this lineage’s political trajectory.