This article examines the three major military campaigns (1388–1389, 1391, and 1395) waged by the founder of the Timurid Empire, Amir Timur, against Tokhtamysh Khan, the ruler of the Golden Horde. Initially allies, their relationship devolved into a fierce rivalry for dominance over the Eurasian steppe and control of key trade routes. The study highlights Timur’s strategic and tactical genius, including his use of the decimal military system, feigned retreats, and the systematic destruction of the Golden Horde’s economic infrastructure. The conflict culminated in the Battle of the Terek River in 1395, which led to the decisive defeat of the Golden Horde and its subsequent fragmentation. This research, based on a synthesis of Persian, Arab-Persian, and Russian chronicles, argues that these campaigns were a pivotal turning point in Eurasian history, contributing to the decline of the Golden Horde and the rise of the Muscovy state.

Amir Timur, Tokhtamysh, Golden Horde, Timurid Empire, Battle of the Terek River, steppe warfare, military strategy.

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