BERKE

died 1267 also called Barakah Mongol ruler of the Golden Horde (125767), great-grandson of Genghis Khan. The first Mongol ruler to embrace Islam, Berke succeeded to the khanate soon after the death of his brother Batu. His conversion, as well as the rising power of his cousin Hleg in Persia, led him to seek alliance with the Mamluks of Egypt and resulted in war with Hleg, conqueror of the Caliphate. He also became involved in the dispute over the great khanate between Kublai and Arigbge. Nominally a suzerain of the great khan, Berke became increasingly autonomous and died virtually independent.