GOLDEN HORDE, a body of Tatars who in the middle of the 13th century overran a great portion of eastern Europe and founded in Russia the Tatar khanate, known as the Empire of the Golden Horde or Western Kipchaks. They invaded Europe about 1237 under the leadership of Batt] Khan, a grandson of Jenghiz Khan, passed over Russia with slaughter and destruction, and penetrated into Silesia, Poland and Hungary, finally defeating Henry II., duke of Silesia, at Liegnitz in the battle known as the Wahlstatt on April 9, 1241. So costly was this victory, however, that Batt], finding he could not reduce Neustadt, retraced his steps and established himself in his magnificent tent (whence the name "golden") on the Volga. The new settlement was known as Sir Orda ("Golden Camp,". whence "Golden Horde") . Very rap idly the powers of Bata extended over the Russian princes, and so long as the khanate remained in the direct descent from Bata nothing occurred to check the growth of the empire. But the death of Jani-Beg, in 1357, threw everything into confusion until in 1378 Toktamish, of the Eastern Kipchaks, succeeded in oust ing all rivals. For a short time the glory of the Golden Horde was renewed, but it was finally crashed by Timur in (See MON GOLS and RUSsIA. )