GOLDEN HORSES OF KHAN BATYA are legendary treasures, the exact location of which is still unknown. The history of the horses is approximately as follows: After Khan Batu ravaged Ryazan and Kiev, he returned to the lower reaches of the Volga and with the help of skilled craftsmen gathered in the countries subject to and subjugated to him (among whom were Russians), to the surprise of all neighboring peoples in the middle of the steppes, he built his the capital Saray is a beautiful city with palaces, mosques, running water, fountains and shady gardens. Batu ordered all the tribute collected in a year to be turned into gold, and two horses were cast from this gold. The order was carried out exactly, but until now, human rumor differs on the question - were those horses hollow or completely golden. Cast shiny horses with glowing ruby eyes were placed at the entrance to the capital of the Golden Horde Khanate at the city gates. Khans were replaced, but the golden statues were still the personification of the power of the state.
When the capital was moved to the new Sarai (near the present village of Tsarev, Volgograd region), built by Khan Berke, the golden horses were also transported. When Mamai became the khan, the former prosperity of the khanate came to an end. Russian troops defeated Mama's army on the Kulikovo field, and Mamai was forced to flee …
The fate of the golden horses is not known for certain. Legends say that one horse was buried along with Mamai's body, the exact location of the grave is unknown. They say that somewhere on one of the hills near Akhtuba [in the 6th volume of the major historical and geographical work "Russia" it is mentioned that there are several "Mamaevka kurgans" near the village of Rastegaevka near Prishib, in one of which "living Mamai" is sleeping]. In all the numerous versions of the retelling of this legend (which are told by the old people in Leninsk, the former Prishib, Kharabol, Sasykolye, Cherny Yar, Selitrenny and other villages of the Trans-Volga region), only one golden horse appears (and Mamai is guarding it). But where is the other?
As the old men used to say in the Trans-Volga Cossack villages (which is near the Astrakhan Way), pursuing the retreating Horde troops, the Cossack patrols became so bold that they began to penetrate in small groups deep into the territory of the horde that was decreasing every day. One such detachment, taking advantage of the panic in the enemy camp, broke through directly into the capital Sarai. And, as the Cossack Alekseevich once said, this detachment captured the city for several whole hours. [Lashchilin B. "It was." Nizhne-Volzhskoe book publishing house, Volgograd, 1982, p.12]. Now it is difficult to say whether the golden horses were the real target of the raid or they accidentally caught the eye of the Cossacks. In any case, it is pointless to plan such a daring action in advance - to steal heavy statues, which are the pride of the khan and the entire nation, is tantamount to suicide. Nevertheless,the daring Cossack patrol broke off the base of one of the golden horses and turned back. Overloaded convoy
moved very slowly, so the Horde had time to come to their senses and organize a chase. Sensing something was wrong, the Cossacks turned around and took an unequal battle. Those who were catching up were hundreds of times more than those who were being pursued, so the outcome of the battle was a foregone conclusion: the Cossacks died, no one surrendered, the Horde horsemen died many times more. But despite the losses incurred, the Horde never regained their golden horse.
The Horde never found out the truth, for not one of the Cossacks surrendered or betrayed their comrades. There was no statue near the pile of corpses. The Cossacks did not have time to take her far away, which means they hid her and the rest of the treasures somewhere nearby. To bury in the steppe - it also takes time.
So - they drowned? …
So where is the first and where is the second golden horse? Several centuries later, there are no answers to this question …
Promotional video: