According to Rashid-al-Din Hamadani (1247–1318), Genghis Khan's eldest son, Jochi, had 14 sons.

When he died, they inherited their father's dominions as fiefs under the rule of their brothers, Batu Khan, as supreme khan and Orda Khan, who, although the elder of the two, agreed that Batu enjoyed primacy as the Khan of the Golden Horde.

Orda, along with some of his younger brothers, rules the eastern wing of the Golden Horde (Jochid Ulus) while Batu and others rule the western part of it.

These Hordes are known as the "White", "Blue" and "Gray" (Shaybanid) Hordes in Slavic and Persian historiography.

The two main division are also known as Batu's Ulus (district) and Orda's Ulus.