[2] A year later, Talabuga led the second Mongol invasion of Poland[3] alongside Nogai Khan, both again under the overall command of Burundai.

The Khan of the Golden Horde at that time was Tode Mongke, who did not participate in the campaign, but remained in his winter quarters with his court and entourage.

Heavy rains and snow caused the rivers to overflow, turning the land into a vast swamp, and the Mongol forces lost many men in their advance before the invasion was fully underway.

Although Nogai and his Tatars plundered villages and some towns, they were beaten back on their return by the Hungarian royal army and the Vlachs.

[6] Although greatly weakened by environmental factors, Talabuga's forces sacked and destroyed the fortified monastery of Sarivar (Sarvar?

Talabuga then ordered his starving forces to attack the cities of the Kingdom of Ruthenia, then ruled by King Leo I of Galicia.

Talabuga and his forces overran the Volhynian defenders and sacked their cities, even though they were loyal to his allies within the Golden Horde, including Nogai.

[20] Talabuga Khan left a detachment of Tatar warriors in Volhynia to guard his rear against any vengeful Rus forces or hostile Lithuanians.

[21] In December 1287, Talabuga Khan, Alguy, and Nogai crossed into Polish lands and entered the Duchy of Lesser Poland with 30,000 cavalry, according to modern estimates.

[23] In Poland, Talabuga Khan personally commanded an army of 20,000 men, mostly his own Mongol troops but also including Rus auxiliaries.

[28][29] This was to be followed by a second phase of riding out from these fortified places to meet weakened or isolated Mongol units in skirmishes and pitched battles.

Although Krakow now had a stone castle and improved defenses, the Mongols knew of the considerable riches inside, and stormed the walls.

Talabuga Khan probably decided to leave his Rus regiments encamped around Sandomierz to immobilize the Polish forces inside.

There is also some evidence that at some point during the invasion, Talabuga Khan and/or his entourage stayed in a small castle or manor house in the village of Goślice.

[40] At this time, Talabuga decided to invade the Kingdom of Ruthenia again with the remaining Mongol and Turkic forces, even though King Leo I had helped him in the failed Polish invasion.

[41] Thus, after leaving the Polish lands, Talabuga Khan and his army again invaded the neighboring kingdom of Ruthenia, including the capital city of Lviv, which they successfully looted and devastated.

According to the Galician-Volhynian Chronicle, in the immediate aftermath of Talabuga Khan and Nogai's brutally effective 1288 invasion of the Kingdom of Ruthenia, King Leo I conducted a census to count his losses.

[47] Also in 1288, Prince Vladimir, in the presence of Tulabuga Khan and Alguy, decided to give his throne to Mstislav, the son of Danylo.

Prince Mstislav forced him to withdraw, explaining that the transfer of power had already been made and agreed upon by the rulers of the Golden Horde and their advisors.

[48] In 1290, Talabuga Khan ordered Nogai to join his forces in a great raid, and attacked the Kingdom of Zichia (Circassia).

The campaign was militarily successful, as the Mongol armies under Talabuga Khan's command slaughtered the local defenders and acquired much loot.

Talabuga Khan blamed Nogai (whose forces had split off earlier and arrived safely at their winter quarters), and a rift grew between the two men.

[51] The Ilkhanate armies were slow to react, and when they set out for Shaburan, they found that the Golden Horde cavalry had already retreated with their loot.

Talabuga Khan was then strangled by several of Nogai's men to avoid shedding his blood, as was the Mongol custom of killing royalty.