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'''Nogai''', or '''Noğay''' ({{IPAc-en|n|oʊ|ˈ|ɡ|aɪ}}; also spelled '''NoghaiNogay''', '''Nogaj''', '''Nohai''', '''Nokhai''', '''Noqai''',{{sfn|Rashid Al-Din|1971|p=113}} '''Ngoche''', '''Noche''', '''Kara Nokhai''', and '''Isa Nogai''';<ref>G. V. Vernadsky, ''The Mongols and Rus''</ref> died 1299/1300) was a [[general]] and [[kingmaker]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Mongol World Empire|page=219|author=Paul D. Buell|author2=Francesca Fiaschetti|year=2003}}</ref> of the [[Golden Horde]] and a great-great-grandson of [[Genghis Khan]]. His grandfather was Bo'al/Baul/Teval, the seventh son of [[Jochi]]. Nogai was also a notable [[convert to Islam]].
Though he never formally ruled the Golden Horde himself, he was effectively the co-ruler of the state alongside whatever khan was in power at the time and had unrestricted control over the portions west of the [[Dnieper]]. At his height, Nogai was one of the most powerful men in Europe and widely thought of as the Horde's true head. The Russian chroniclers gave him the title of [[tsar]], and the [[Franciscan]] missionaries in the [[Crimea]] spoke of him as a co-emperor.<ref>J. J. Saunders, ''The History of the Mongol Conquests'', p. 162.</ref>
===War against the Byzantines===
In 1265, Nogai led his army across the [[Danube]], leading 20,000 men into Eastern RomanByzantine territory. He routed the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] forces before him, and devastated the cities of [[Thrace]]. In 1266, the Emperor [[Michael VIII Palaeologus]], anxious to make an alliance, gave his daughter [[Euphrosyne Palaiologina (daughter of Michael VIII)|Euphrosyne Palaiologina]] to Nogai as a wife. He gave much valuable fabric to the Golden Horde as tribute, and became an ally of the Horde, principally dealing with it through Nogai instead of the official khan.<ref>René Grousset The Empire of Steppes, page 399-400</ref> He also gifted Nogai pearls, jewels, and valuable garments, temporarily causing Nogai to abandon the animal skins he usually wore outside of battle. Nogai did however slyly ask if the jewels and clothes could ward off lightning bolts, prevent headache, or promote good health, before praising the practicality of the dog skins his people wore.<ref name="Henry Hoyle Howorth 1876"/>
==De facto rule: 1266–1294==
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