How the descendants of Genghis Khan served Russia

The Chinggisids, as the descendants of the great conqueror are known, constituted the political elite of the powerful Mongol state of the Golden Horde. They belonged to the "Golden Clan" and could lay claim to the Khan's throne.

However, in the 15th century, the Golden Horde disintegrated into separate khanates, each monopolized by a single dynasty. Left without power, the Chinggisids were forced to seek a "cushy position" abroad, including within the Russian state.

The grand dukes of Moscow and, later, the tsars, readily accepted them into their service. This elevated their status and gave them something to boast about at diplomatic receptions. Moreover, some Chinggisids traveled at the head of detachments of several hundred warriors, which proved quite useful.

Their position at the Russian court was very high, only slightly lower than that of the tsar himself. Thus, in 1575, Ivan the Terrible made Simeon Bekbulatovich, a descendant of the khans of the Great Horde, ruler of the Russian state. This move was part of the tsar's political game against the boyars and Simeon wielded no real power. However, Ivan the Terrible could only pull off such a trick with a Chinggisid.

The main occupation of Genghis Khan's descendants in Russia was war. It’s known that, at the beginning of the 17th century, six "Siberian princes" – from the family of Khan Kuchum, ruler of the Siberian Khanate, conquered by Moscow in 1598 – fought in the ranks of the Russian army against the Poles.

In the 18th century, under Peter the Great, the Genghis Khans lost their "royal" status and became ordinary, albeit well-born, nobility. The most famous among them were the Mustafins, Chegodayevs, Chirikovs and Anichkovs.

You can learn more about the Chinggisids at the‘The Descendants of Genghis Khan. Rus' and the World’ exhibition, which is on display at the Moscow Kremlin Museums from March 20 to July 19, 2026.