Temür Qutlugh, a son of Timur-Malik, khan of the White Horde, who had struggled against Toqtamysh and lost his life in 1379, had been reared at Toqtamysh's court.

After an unsuccessful revolt against Toqtamysh in 1388, he, along with Edigu, the son of Baltychak, a Mongol noble who had been defeated and killed by Toqtamysh, fled to Timur.

During the Tokhtamysh-Timur war in 1391-1395, they had founded an independent ulus in the region of the lower Volga and Ural Rivers, placing their capital in Saray-Jük.

After the defeat of Tokhtamysh, Qutlugh, with Edigu's help, had been crowned as Khan of the Golden Horde, although Edigu is the real holder of power.