Kan Altynbek Alan

Altynbek Alan, or Altyn Bek Alan, was a ruler of Volga Bulgaria. Unlike his predecessor Mir-Ghazi, Kan Altynbek began an aggressive anti-Mongol struggle that continued for decades. Around the time of his accession, the Mongol Empire was divided among Genghis Khan's sons: Ögedei, Hülegü, Jochi, Chagatai, Batu, Berke and others. In 1232, Altynbek Alan defeated Batu's Mongol troops. After this victory, however, Volga Bulgaria began to weaken externally, as some provincial governors voluntarily surrendered their lands to the Mongols, and internally, as a struggle for the country's throne arose between Altyn and Ghazi-Baraj Burundai. To overthrow Altynbek, Ghazi-Baraj Burundai allied himself with the Mongol khan Ögedei, and in 1236 they launched an attack.