[3] Bored with his status, around 1266 Theodore left his family and on his own initiative went to Sarai, the capital of the Golden Horde.

Theodore the Black took part in Mengu-Timur invasion in Ossetia, in 1277–1278 he headed the punitive campaign in the Volga Bulgaria.

Three years later he received a message about Maria's death and came back to Yaroslavl, trying to regain the power.

With the marriage Theodore received a huge dowry (according to the fasti, 36 towns) and rose to prominence in the Horde.

In 1290 Michael Theodorovich died in Yaroslavl, so Theodore the Black with his Jarlig from the Mongols returned in the city to rule.