Toqtamish, historical khan of the Golden Horde who briefly reunited it before his defeat by Timur, is the great royal antagonist of the Edige epic. In the songs he is the overreaching sovereign whose tyranny sets the tragedy in motion: he executes the loyal bey Qutlı-Qıya and covets the peri-woman, and so earns the undying enmity of Edige, who allies with Timur, breaks the khan's power and drives him to his death. He embodies the epic theme of the just revolt against an unjust ruler.