OZ BEG

flourished 14th century also spelled Uzbek, in full Ghiyath Al-din Muhammad z Beg Mongol leader and khan of the Golden Horde, or Kipchak empire, of southern Russia, under whom it attained its greatest power; he reigned from 1312 to 1341. z Beg was a convert to Islam, but he also welcomed Christian missionaries from western Europe into his realm. z Beg encouraged the predominance of the princes of Moscow among his Christian vassals; his name survives today in that of the Uzbek people and of Uzbekistan.