Baiju was a Mongol commander in Persia (fl. 1230-1260, also known as Bayju Noyon or Baichu) appointed by Ögedei Khan to succeed Chormagan, and expand Mongol power further in that area. Baiju took over command in 1241 or 1242, and immediately moved against the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm, shattering its power at the Battle of Köse Dag in 1243. After this battle, the Sultanate became a vassal state of the Mongol empire and was forced to release David VI Narin. He installed his protégé David Narin to the throne of Georgia to oppose Queen Rusudan's decision. However, the Mongols had few forces in the area, and were content to maintain their vassals with punitive raids. Baiju led Mongol tumens to raid Syria in 1246. Despite his small successes there, his next two attempts to invade the Abbasid Cali