Editing Tokhtamysh (section)

==Opposition to Urus Khan==
Tokhtamysh's father, Tuy Khwāja, was the local ruler of the [[Mangyshlak Peninsula|Mangyshlak peninsula]]. He refused to join the forces of his cousin and suzerain, [[Urus Khan|Urus]], the khan of the former [[Orda (organization)|Ulus]] of [[Orda Khan|Orda]] centered on [[Sighnaq]], for a campaign to subdue [[Sarai (city)|Sarai]], the traditional capital of the Golden Horde. Offended and wary of any opposition to his authority, Urus had Tuy Khwāja executed. The young Tokhtamysh fled, then submitted to his father's murderer, and was forgiven on account of his youth.<ref>Howorth 1880: 221–222; Grousset 1970: 406; Seleznëv 2009: 182; Počekaev 2010: 156.</ref> In 1373, while Urus was asserting himself at Sarai, Tokhtamysh gathered a group of Urus' opponents and attempted to make himself khan in Sighnaq. Urus immediately advanced against them, and Tokhtamysh fled, only to return, submit, and be forgiven again.<ref>Počekaev 2010: 156–157.</ref> When Urus took over Sarai in 1375, Tokhtamysh took the opportunity to flee again. He sought refuge at the court of [[Timur]] (Tamerlane), where he arrived in 1376. Winning his favor and support, Tokhtamysh installed himself at [[Otrar]] and [[Sayram (city)|Sayram]] on the [[Syr Darya]] in 1376, raiding into Urus Khan's territory. Urus' son Qutluq Buqa attacked and defeated Tokhtamysh, although he himself suffered a fatal wound. Tokhtamysh fled to Timur once more, and returned with an army to fight his enemies. However, he was defeated again, this time by Urus' son [[Toqtaqiya]]. Wounded, Tokhtamysh escaped by swimming across the Syr Darya and once more went to Timur's court, at [[Bukhara]]. Here he discovered that Urus was advancing in his pursuit, and soon Urus' envoys arrived, demanding Tokhtamysh's extradition. Timur refused to do so and gathered his own forces to oppose Urus. Following a three-month standoff in the winter of 1376–1377, Urus returned home, while Timur's forces succeeded in taking Otrar. Learning of Urus' death, Timur declared Tokhtamysh the new khan, and returned to his own capital, [[Samarkand]].<ref>Howorth 1880: 222–223; Grousset 1970: 406, 435; Seleznëv 2009: 182; Počekaev 2010: 157–159.</ref>