Biography. Great commanders

II. TIMUR'S YOUNG YEARS As already noted in official sources, there is no information about Timur's childhood and youth. Detailed information about his life begins only with the campaign of Toklug-Timur (1360). However, Ibn Arabshah, the Russian chronicle and Ori Gonzales de Clavijo have

III. TIMUR'S SOLE POWER (1370-1405) The capture of Balkh and the death of Hussein in 1370 were the largest and most decisive events in Timur's life. Even before the capture of the Balkh citadel, Sheikh Bereke, a native of Mecca, who later became his chief confessor, appeared to Timur and handed him a drum and

IV. INTERNAL LIFE IN TIMUR'S STATE Timur was distinguished by his great military organizational talent, strong will and statesmanship. At the same time, he was, in the full sense of the word, a son of his era and did not rise above it at all. Living in the conditions of maturing classical

THE DEATH OF TIMUR To my children, happy conquerors of states, my descendants - the great rulers of the world. Let it be known to them that, in full hope of the mercy of the Almighty, I am convinced that many of them will inherit my powerful throne. It motivates me

Giyasaddin Ali. Diary of Timur's campaign in India PREFACE In the name of Allah, the merciful, merciful, to whom we turn for help! Praise be to the ruler of the world - may his name be magnified and may his mention be glorified! - who at this happy time introduced the globe of the earth into

Langley L. LIFE OF TIMUR Timur was born in Syabza, a place located near the walls of Kesh, the city of Transoxania, on the night of Tuesday, May 7, 1336. He was born with clenched hands and full of blood: the same is said about Genghis Khan. His father, Amir Taragay, was minor

Vambery G. CHARACTERISTICS OF TIMUR Professor of Oriental languages ​​and literature at the University of Pest, Herman Vambery, in Chapter XI of his book “History of Bukhara” makes a fairly complete sketch of the personality of Timur, his court and residence. From this chapter we borrow the following

Bartold V. THE REIGN OF TIMUR The twelve-year reign of Emir Kazagan (he was killed in 1358 by his son-in-law), unlike all subsequent times, was without internal unrest and without wars between the Chaghatais and the Mughals. Kazagan led the life of a leader of a nomadic people,

Bartold V. ABOUT THE BURIAL OF TIMUR Clavijo and his companions left Samarkand on Friday, November 21; on Thursday the 27th, Timur set out from Samarkand in the opposite direction and began his last military enterprise - a campaign against China. It is known that he only reached Otrar,

Zimin L. DETAILS OF TIMUR'S DEATH The objectives of this message do not include a presentation of preparations for the campaign and the campaign itself, and therefore we will limit ourselves to the story of Timur's stay in Otrar, i.e. in the place where he ended his life. Let us only point out that almost all

Tamerlane (Timur; April 9, 1336, village of Khoja-Ilgar, modern Uzbekistan - February 18, 1405, Otrar, modern Kazakhstan; Chagatai تیمور (Temür‎, Tēmōr) - “iron”) - Central Asian conqueror who played a significant role in history . Outstanding commander, emir (since 1370). Founder of the Timurid empire and dynasty, with its capital in Samarkand.

Tamerlane was born into a family of hereditary Mongol warriors. Since childhood, he had a limp on his left leg. Despite the fact that he came from a completely unremarkable and not noble family, and even had a physical disability, Timur achieved high ranks in the Mongol Khanate. The year was 1370. Tamerlane became head of government. He overthrew the khan and seized power over the Dzhagatai ulus. After this, he openly declared that he was a direct descendant of Genghis Khan. For the next thirty-five years he conquered new lands. He suppressed riots and expanded his power.

Tamerlane differed from Genghis Khan in that he did not unite all the captured lands together. However, he left behind colossal destruction. Tamerlane erected pyramids from enemy skulls. This showed his strength and power. Tamerlane decided to take all the loot to the fortress in Samarkand. Timur turned Samarkand into a cultural center. The conqueror greatly appreciated literature and art. However, this did not lessen his cruelty. He and his army were bloodthirsty barbarians.

Tamerlane began to seize lands from nearby tribes. Then he started a war with Persia. In nine years he conquered Iran, Mesopotamia, Armenia and Georgia. An uprising broke out in Persia, but Timur quickly suppressed it. He killed all opponents. He burned women and children, devastated cities. Tamerlane was an excellent tactician, strategist and commander. He knew how to raise the morale of soldiers. By the way, his army numbered about a hundred thousand people. The military organization was a bit like that of Genghis Khan's time. The main ones were cavaliers, armed with bows and swords. Spare horses carried supplies in case of a long trip.

In 1389, Tamerlane invaded India. Most likely due to a love of war and killing, as well as imperial ambitions. He captured Delhi. He carried out a massacre there and destroyed what he could not take to Samarkand. It took a century for India to recover from this senseless massacre and loss. Tamerlane was still out for blood and killed one hundred thousand captured soldiers in India.
In 1401 Timur captured Syria. Killed twenty thousand inhabitants of Damascus. A year later he defeated Sultan Bayezid I. Even then, the countries that were not conquered by Timur recognized his power. Byzantium and Egypt paid him so that he would not destroy their countries.

Tamerlane's empire was even larger than Genghis Khan's empire once upon a time. The conqueror's palace was full of riches. And although Timur was over sixty, he decided to conquer China. However, this plan failed. Before the campaign, the conqueror died. According to the will, the empire was divided between his grandchildren and sons. Tamerlane was, of course, a talented leader and warrior, but he left behind nothing but scorched earth and pyramids of skulls.

Tamerlane was called "ruler of the world." He was one of the greatest conquerors in world history. This man combined incredible ruthlessness and a keen understanding of art and science.

"The Iron Lame"

The great Emir Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire, went down in history under the name “Timur-e Leng or Tamerlane,” which translates as “iron lame.” According to legend, there was dried blood in the clenched fist of the newborn Tamerlane. The boy’s father, a former warrior Taragai (“Lark”), immediately realized that the path of a great warrior awaited his son, and named the newborn Timur (the Turkic version of the Mongolian Temur - “Iron”).

This name contains a deep sacred meaning and is rooted in the religious traditions of the Turkic peoples, for whom iron has always been a sacred matter. According to some Asian legends, there is an iron mountain at the center of the world, and the “eternal kingdom” in Mongolian mythology is called “like iron.” In addition, it is important to take into account that Timur was born into the Barlas tribe, where pagan beliefs were still preserved, and the name given at birth determined the future path of life.

The nickname Leng (lame) stuck to Timur after the Persian campaign and was offensive in nature, indicating the warrior’s injury - improperly fused bones of his right leg after one of the battles. Since then, the invincible emir was proudly called the derogatory name Tamerlane.

Educated Tyrant

Timur, despite his reputation as a “bloody barbarian,” was a very educated ruler. According to the memoirs of his contemporaries, he was fluent in spoken Turkic, Persian and Mongolian languages. According to other sources, he did not know how to read and write, but loved the arts and fine literature, attracted scientists, artists, artisans and engineers with his convictions and by force, considering them the best prey.

It was under Timur that Samarkand became the “Shining Star of the East” - one of the main cultural centers in Asia. Surprisingly, Tamerlane loved his capital, despite the fact that he was from the steppe Normads, who preferred not to confine themselves to city walls.

Biographers of the great emir say that the active construction that he carried out in Samarkand was a way for him to forget everything that he destroyed and ruined. Through his efforts, a huge library, the Koksarai Palace and many other attractions of the city that have survived to this day appeared in Samarkand. As if confirming the unshakable power of its founder, the inscription on the door of Tamerlane’s palace read: “If you doubt our power, look at our buildings.”

Spiritual teacher of Tamerlane

Tamerlane’s thirst for knowledge did not appear out of nowhere. Even as a child, he was surrounded by wise mentors, among whom was the descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, the Sufi sage Mir Said Barak. It was he who handed Tamerlane the symbols of power (drum and banner), predicting a great future for him.

The “Guru” was almost always close to the great emir, accompanying him even on military campaigns. He blessed Timur for the decisive battle with Tokhtamysh. There is a legend that already during the battle, when the latter began to gain the upper hand over Timur, Said Barak poured sand in front of the khan’s army and he was defeated. They say that he warned his student against the battle with Dmitry Donskoy, and, as you know, Timur turned his troops around and went to the Crimea, without going further into the territory of Rus'.

Tamerlane deeply respected his teacher. He bequeathed to him his place of honor in the family mausoleum Gur-Emir Said Barak, and ordered himself to be buried at his feet, so that he would intercede for him, a great sinner, at the Last Judgment.

Banner of Timur

The banner, a symbol of Tamerlane's power, had enormous religious significance. In the Turkic tradition they believed that this was the spirit of the army. Losing it meant losing the opportunity to resist the enemy.

The banner also served as a call to war. If the emir posted him at his tent - there would be war, immediately his entire family hurried to arm themselves, and messengers flew to the allied villages.

Tamerlane's banner featured three rings arranged in the shape of an equilateral triangle. Their meaning is still not clear. Some historians believe that it could symbolize earth, water and sky. Perhaps the circles represent the three parts of the world (according to those ideas - all parts of the world), which Tamerlane owns, that is, the banner meant that the whole world belongs to Tamerlane. The Spanish diplomat and traveler Clavijo testifies to this in the 16th century.

There is a legend that in the battle of Ankara with the Ottoman Sultan Bayazid, the latter exclaimed: “What audacity to think that the whole world belongs to you!”, to which he received the answer: “Even greater audacity to think that the moon belongs to you.”
There were also more mythological interpretations of this symbol. Nicholas Roerich saw in it a sign of the “trinity”, which is quite universal in many cultures: Turkic, Celtic, Indian and many others.

Beloved wife

Tamerlane had eighteen wives - in the best traditions of the Muslim world. One of the favorites was Saray-mulk khanum, which once belonged to Timur’s closest ally, and then to his worst enemy, Emir Hussein. The woman became Tamerlane's prey after the death of her first husband, but fell in love with the conqueror and soon became his main wife. She was by no means a quiet wife - at court her role was significant, she could save a person with her grace or kill him. For a while, only she could meet her husband from his hikes, which was considered a great privilege. At the same time, she never gave birth to children to the great conqueror.

In many ways, it was the influence of Saray-mulk khanum that ensured the “golden age” of culture in the era of Tamerlane. She was a true patroness of the sciences and arts. It is Mulk Khanum who will raise Tamerlane's grandson Timur Ulugbek into a wise ruler. Under her, active construction will be carried out in Samarkand. The cathedral mosque Bibi-Khanym is named after her, which means “Lady Grandmother” - one of the names of Saray-mulk Khanum.

Merciful executioner

If we dwell on the above, then we would see a great ruler for whom everyone smiles. He is wise, talented, and his deeds are always good. He created a peaceful, stable, prosperous and rich state. But this is an unfinished portrait of Tamerlane.

Sources have brought to us many references to his bloody deeds, which at one time inspired Vereshchagin to create his famous painting “The Apotheosis of War”. One day Timur decided to erect a monument to his own victories, ordering the construction of a ten-meter pyramid of severed heads. He became the executioner of the flourishing cities of the East: Isfahan, Delhi, Damascus, Baghdad, Astrakhan.

It is still completely unknown to which people Tamerlane belonged. According to the most common version, he belonged to the Turkic Barlas tribe. But the few surviving descriptions of his appearance do not correspond to his image as a Mongol. Thus, the historian Ibn Arabshah, captured by the emir, reports that Timur was tall, had a large head, a high forehead, was very strong and brave, strongly built, with broad shoulders. The historian describes the skin color of the conqueror as “white.”

The anthropological reconstruction of the remains of Tamerlane, which was carried out by the famous Soviet anthropologist Gerasimov, concludes: “The discovered skeleton belonged to a strong man, too tall for an Asian (about 170 cm). The fold of the eyelid, the most characteristic feature of the Turkic face, is relatively weakly expressed. The nose is straight, small, slightly flattened; lips are thick, contemptuous. Hair is gray-red in color, with a predominance of dark chestnut or red. The type of face is not Mongoloid." The results of this paradoxical study were published in Gerasimov's article "Portrait of Tamerlane." We won’t risk judging how true this portrait is to reality; one thing is clear - not all the secrets of the “iron lame” have yet been revealed.

5 565

680 years ago, on April 8, 1336, Tamerlane was born. One of the most powerful world rulers, famous conquerors, brilliant commanders and cunning politicians. Tamerlane-Timur created one of the largest empires in human history. His empire stretched from the Volga River and the Caucasus Mountains in the west to India in the southwest. The center of the empire was in Central Asia, in Samarkand. His name is shrouded in legends, mystical events and still inspires interest.

The “Iron Lame” (his right leg was affected in the area of ​​the kneecap) was an interesting person in whom cruelty was combined with great intelligence and a love of art, literature and history. Timur was a very brave and reserved man. He was a real warrior - strong and physically developed (a real athlete). His sober mind, ability to make the right decisions in difficult situations, foresight and talent as an organizer allowed him to become one of the greatest rulers of the Middle Ages.

Timur's full name was Timur ibn Taragai Barlas - Timur son of Taragai from Barlas. In Mongolian tradition, Temir means “iron”. In medieval Russian chronicles he was called Temir Aksak (Temir - “iron”, Aksak - “lame”), that is, the Iron Lame. In various Persian sources, the Iranianized nickname Timur-e Liang - “Timur the Lame” - is often found. It passed into Western languages ​​as Tamerlane.

Tamerlane was born on April 8 (according to other sources - April 9 or March 11), 1336 in the city of Kesh (later called Shakhrisabz - “Green City”). This entire region was called Maverannahr (translated as “that which is beyond the river”) and was located between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. It has been part of the Mongol (Mughal) empire for a century. The word "Mongols", in the original version "Moguls" comes from the root word "mog, mozh" - "husband, mighty, mighty, mighty." From this root comes the word “Mughals” - “great, powerful”. The family of Timur was also a representative of the Turkified Mughal Mongols.

It is worth noting that the Mughal Mongols of that time were not Mongoloids, like the modern inhabitants of Mongolia. Tamerlane himself belonged to the so-called South Siberian (Turanian) race, that is, a mixture of Caucasians and Mongoloids. The mixing process then took place in southern Siberia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Mongolia. The Caucasoids (Aryan-Indo-Europeans), who inhabited these areas for many millennia and gave passionate impetus to the development of India, China and other regions, mixed with the Mongoloids. They completely dissolve in the Mongoloid and Turkic ethnomass (Mongoloid genes are dominant), passing on to them some of their characteristics (including belligerence). However, in the 14th century the process was not yet completed. Therefore, Timur had blond (red) hair, a thick red beard, and anthropologically belonged to the South Siberian race.

Timur's father, the petty feudal lord Taragai (Turgai), came from the Barlas tribe, which at one time was among the first united by Temujin-Genghis Khan. However, he did not belong to the direct descendants of Temujin, so Tamerlane could not subsequently lay claim to the khan’s throne. The founder of the Barlas family was considered to be the large feudal lord Karachar, who at one time was an assistant to Genghis Khan's son Chagatai. According to other sources, Tamerlane’s ancestor was Irdamcha-Barlas, allegedly the nephew of Khabul Khan, the great-grandfather of Genghis Khan.

Little is known about the childhood of the future great conqueror. Timur spent his childhood and youth in the Kesh mountains. In his youth, he loved hunting and equestrian competitions, javelin throwing and archery, and had a penchant for war games. There is a legend about how one day ten-year-old Timur drove sheep home, and with them he managed to drive a hare, preventing him from straying from the herd. At night, Taragai, who was afraid of his too quick son, cut the tendons on his right leg. Allegedly, it was then that Timur became lame. However, this is only a legend. In fact, Timur was wounded in one of the skirmishes during his turbulent youth. In the same fight, he lost two fingers on his hand, and all his life Tamerlan suffered from severe pain in his crippled leg. Perhaps outbursts of rage could be associated with this. Thus, it is known for sure that the boy and youth were distinguished by great dexterity and physical strength, and from the age of 12 he took part in military skirmishes.

Beginning of political activity

The Mongol Empire was no longer a single state, it broke up into uluses, there were constant internecine wars, which did not spare Maverannahr, which was part of the Chagatai ulus. In 1224, Genghis Khan divided his state into four uluses, according to the number of sons. The second son Chagatai inherited Central Asia and nearby territories. The Chagatai ulus covered primarily the former power of the Karakitai and the land of the Naiman, Transoxiana with the south of Khorezm, most of Semirechye and Eastern Turkestan. Here, since 1346, power actually belonged not to the Mongol khans, but to the Turkic emirs. The first head of the Turkic emirs, i.e., the ruler of the area between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, was Kazgan (1346–1358). After his death, serious unrest began in Transoxiana. The region was invaded by the Mongolian (Mogul) Khan Toglug-Timur, who captured the region in 1360. Soon after the invasion, his son Ilyas-Khoja was appointed governor of Mesopotamia. Some of the Central Asian nobles took refuge in Afghanistan, while others voluntarily submitted to Toglug.

Among the latter was the leader of one of the detachments, Timur. He began his activities as the chieftain of a small detachment (gang, gang), with whom he supported one side or the other in civil strife, committed robbery, and attacked small villages. The detachment gradually grew to about 300 horsemen, with whom he entered the service of the ruler of Kesh, the head of the Barlas tribe, Haji. Personal courage, generosity, ability to understand people and choose assistants, and pronounced leadership qualities brought Timur wide popularity, especially among warriors. Later, he received support from Muslim merchants, who began to see in the former bandit a protector from other gangs and a true Muslim (Timur was religious).

Timur was confirmed as the commander of the Kashkadarya tumen, the ruler of the Kesh region and one of the assistants of the Mogul prince. However, he soon quarreled with the prince, fled beyond the Amu Darya to the Badakhshan mountains and joined with his forces the ruler of Balkh and Samarkand, Emir Hussein, the grandson of Kazgan. He strengthened his alliance by marrying the emir's daughter. Timur and his warriors began to raid the lands of Khoja. In one of the battles, Timur was crippled, becoming the “Iron Lame” (Aksak-Timur or Timur-leng). The fight with Ilyas-Khoja ended in 1364 with the defeat of the latter’s troops. The uprising of the inhabitants of Transoxiana, who were dissatisfied with the brutal eradication of Islam by pagan warriors, helped. The Mughals were forced to retreat.

In 1365, the army of Ilyas-Khoja defeated the troops of Timur and Hussein. However, the people revolted again and drove out the Mughals. The uprising was led by the Serbedars (Persian: “gallows”, “desperate”), supporters of the dervishes who preached equality. People's rule was established in Samarkand, the property of the rich sections of the population was confiscated. Then the rich turned to Hussein and Timur for help. In the spring of 1366, Timur and Hussein suppressed the uprising by executing the Serbedar leaders.

"Great Emir"

Then there was discord in the relationship between the two leaders. Hussein had plans to take the position of supreme emir of the Chagatai ulus, like his grandfather Kazagan, who forcibly seized this position during the time of Kazan Khan. Timur stood on the path to sole power. In turn, the local clergy took Timur’s side.

In 1366, Tamerlane rebelled against Hussein, in 1368 he made peace with him and again received Kesh. But in 1369 the struggle continued, and thanks to successful military operations, Timur strengthened himself in Samarkand. In March 1370, Hussein was captured in Balkh and killed in the presence of Timur, although without his direct orders. Hussein was ordered to be killed by one of the commanders (due to blood feud).

On April 10, Timur took the oath of all the military leaders of Transoxiana. Tamerlane declared that he was going to revive the power of the Mongol Empire, declared himself a descendant of the mythical ancestor of the Mongols, Alan-Koa, although, being a non-Chinggisid, he was content with only the title of “great emir.” With him was “Zits Khan” - the real Genghisid Suyurgatmysh (1370–1388), and then the latter’s son Mahmud (1388–1402). Both khans played no political role.

The capital of the new ruler was the city of Samarkand; for political reasons, Timur moved the center of his state here, although initially he was inclined to the Shakhrisabz option. According to legend, when choosing a city that was to become the new capital, the great emir ordered the slaughter of three sheep: one in Samarkand, another in Bukhara and a third in Tashkent. Three days later, the meat in Tashkent and Bukhara went rotten. Samarkand became “the home of saints, the homeland of the purest Sufis and a gathering of scientists.” The city has truly turned into the largest cultural center of a huge region, the “Shining Star of the East”, the “Pearl of Great Price”. The best architects, builders, scientists, writers from all the countries and regions conquered by the emir were brought here, as well as to Shakhrisabz. On the portal of the beautiful Ak-Saray palace in Shakhrisabz there was an inscription: “If you doubt my power, look what I built!” Ak-Saray was built for 24 years, almost until the death of the conqueror. The arch of the entrance portal of Ak-Saray was the largest in Central Asia.

In fact, architecture was the passion of the great statesman and commander. Among the outstanding works of art that were supposed to emphasize the power of the empire, the Bibi Khanum Mosque (aka Bibi Khanum; built in honor of Tamerlane’s wife) has survived to this day and amazes the imagination. The mosque was erected by order of Tamerlane after his victorious campaign in India. It was the largest mosque in Central Asia; 10 thousand people could pray simultaneously in the courtyard of the mosque. Also worth noting is the Gur-Emir mausoleum - the family tomb of Timur and the heirs of the empire; the architectural ensemble of Shakhi-Zinda - an ensemble of mausoleums of the Samarkand nobility (all this in Samarkand); The Dorus-Siadat mausoleum in Shakhrisabz is a memorial complex, first for Prince Jahongir (Timur loved him very much and prepared him to be the heir to the throne), later it began to act as a family crypt for part of the Timurid dynasty.

Bibi-Khanim Mosque

Mausoleum Gur-Emir

The great commander did not receive a school education, but had a good memory and knew several languages. A contemporary and captive of Tamerlane, Ibn Arabshah, who knew Tamerlane personally since 1401, reports: “As for Persian, Turkic and Mongolian, he knew them better than anyone else.” Timur loved to talk with scientists, especially listen to the reading of historical works; at court there was even a position of “reader of books”; stories about valiant heroes. The great emir showed honor to Muslim theologians and dervish hermits, did not interfere in the management of the property of the clergy, and mercilessly fought against numerous heresies - among them he included philosophy and logic, which he forbade to practice. The Christians of the captured cities should have rejoiced if they remained alive.

During the reign of Timur, a special cult of the Sufi teacher Ahmed Yasawi was introduced in the territories subordinate to him (primarily Transoxiana). The commander claimed that he introduced special worship to this outstanding Sufi, who lived in the 12th century, after a vision at his grave in Tashkent, in which the Teacher appeared to Timur. Yasawi allegedly appeared to him and ordered him to memorize a poem from his collection, adding: “In difficult times, remember this poem:

You, who are free to turn the dark night into day at will.
You, who can turn the whole earth into a fragrant flower garden.
Help me in the difficult task that lies ahead of me and make it easy.
You who make everything difficult easy.”

Many years later, when Tamerlane's cavalry charged during a fierce battle with the army of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid, he repeated these lines seventy times, and the decisive battle was won.

Timur took care of his subjects' observance of religious regulations. In particular, this led to the appearance of a decree on the closure of entertainment venues in large trading cities, although they brought large income to the treasury. True, the great emir himself did not deny himself pleasures and only before his death he ordered the destruction of the feast supplies. Timur found religious reasons for his campaigns. So, it was urgently necessary to teach the heretics a lesson in Shiite Khorasan, then to take revenge on the Syrians for the insults inflicted on the family of the prophet at one time, or to punish the population of the Caucasus for drinking wine there. In the occupied lands, vineyards and fruit trees were destroyed. Interestingly, subsequently (after the death of the great warrior) the mullahs refused to recognize him as a devout Muslim, since he “honored the laws of Genghis Khan above religious ones.”

Tamerlane devoted the entire 1370s to the fight against the khans of Dzhent and Khorezm, who did not recognize the power of Suyurgatmysh Khan and the great emir Timur. It was restless on the southern and northern borders of the border, where Mogolistan and the White Horde were causing concern. Mogulistan (Ulus of the Mughals) is a state formed in the middle of the 14th century on the territory of South-Eastern Kazakhstan (south of Lake Balkhash) and Kyrgyzstan (the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul) as a result of the collapse of the Chagatai ulus. After Urus Khan captured Sygnak and moved the capital of the White Horde to it, the lands subject to Timur found themselves in even greater danger.

Soon the power of Emir Timur was recognized by Balkh and Tashkent, but the Khorezm rulers continued to resist the Chagatai ulus, relying on the support of the rulers of the Golden Horde. In 1371, the ruler of Khorezm attempted to capture southern Khorezm, which was part of the Chagatai ulus. Timur made five campaigns against Khorezm. The capital of Khorezm, rich and glorious Urgench, fell in 1379. Timur waged a stubborn struggle with the rulers of Mogolistan. From 1371 to 1390, Emir Timur made seven campaigns against Mogolistan. In 1390, the Moghulist ruler Kamar ad-din was finally defeated, and Mogholistan ceased to threaten Timur's power.

Further conquests

Having established himself in Transoxiana, the Iron Lame began large-scale conquests in other parts of Asia. Timur's conquest of Persia in 1381 began with the capture of Herat. The unstable political and economic situation in Persia at that time favored the invader. The revival of the country, which began during the reign of the Ilkhans, slowed down again with the death of the last representative of the Abu Said family (1335). In the absence of an heir, rival dynasties took turns taking the throne. The situation was aggravated by the clash between the Mongol Jalayrid dynasties that ruled in Baghdad and Tabriz; the Perso-Arab family of the Muzafarids, who were in power in Fars and Isfahan; Kharid-Kurtami in Herat. In addition, local religious and tribal alliances, such as the Serbedars (rebels against Mongol oppression) in Khorasan and the Afghans in Kerman, and petty princes in the border areas took part in the internecine war. All these warring dynasties and principalities could not jointly and effectively resist Timur’s army.

Khorasan and all of Eastern Persia fell under his onslaught in 1381–1385. The conqueror made three large campaigns in the western part of Persia and the adjacent regions - a three-year campaign (from 1386), a five-year campaign (from 1392) and a seven-year campaign (from 1399). Fars, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Armenia were conquered in 1386–1387 and 1393–1394; Mesopotamia and Georgia came under Tamerlane's rule in 1394, although Tiflis (Tbilisi) submitted as early as 1386. Sometimes local feudal lords took vassal oaths; often close military leaders or relatives of the conqueror became the leaders of the conquered regions. So, in the 80s, Timur’s son Miranshah was appointed ruler of Khorasan (later Transcaucasia was transferred to him, and then the west of his father’s empire), Fars was ruled for a long time by another son, Omar, and finally, in 1397, Timur was the ruler of Khorasan, Seistan and Mazanderan appointed his youngest son, Shahrukh.

It is unknown what prompted Timur to conquer. Many researchers are inclined to the psychological factor. They say that the emir was driven by irrepressible ambition, as well as mental problems, including those caused by a wound in his leg. Timur suffered from severe pain and it caused outbursts of rage. Timur himself said: “The entire space of the populated part of the world is not worth having two kings.” In fact, this is a call for globalization, which is also relevant in the modern world. Alexander the Great and the rulers of the Roman Empire, Genghis Khan, also acted.

It is worth noting such an objective factor as the need to feed and maintain a large army (its maximum number reached 200 thousand soldiers). In peacetime it was impossible to maintain a large army, tens of thousands of professional warriors. The war fed itself. The troops ravaged more and more regions and were satisfied with their ruler. A successful war made it possible to channel the energy of the nobility and warriors and keep them in obedience. As Lev Gumilyov wrote: “Having started the war, Timur had to continue it - the war fed the army. Having stopped, Timur would have been left without an army, and then without a head.” The war allowed Timur to gain great wealth, export the best craftsmen from various countries and equip the heart of his empire. The emir brought not only material loot to the country, but also brought with him prominent scientists, artisans, artists, and architects. Timur cared primarily about the prosperity of his native Maverannahr and about enhancing the splendor of his capital, Samarkand.

Tamerlane, unlike many other conquerors, did not always strive to create a strong administrative system in the conquered lands. Timur's empire rested solely on military might. He chose, apparently, much worse civil officials than military leaders. This can be evidenced by at least numerous cases of punishment for extortion of high dignitaries in Samarkand, Herat, Shiraz, and Tabriz. As well as uprisings of the local population caused by the arbitrariness of the administration. In general, the inhabitants of the new conquered regions of Tamerlane were of extremely little interest. His armies smashed, destroyed, robbed, killed, leaving a bloody trail of tens of thousands of killed people. He sold the population of entire cities into slavery. And then he returned to Samarkand, where he brought treasures from all over the world, the best masters and played chess.

Name: Timur Tamerlan

Age: 68 years old

Place of Birth: Khoja-Ilgar, Kesh, Uzbekistan

A place of death: Otra, Kazakhstan

Activity: commander and conqueror

Family status: was married

Timur Tamerlan - biography

March marked the 680th anniversary of the birth of the man who defeated the Golden Horde. Timur Tamerlane was not a descendant of Genghis Khan, but continued his work. He was lame, but he walked halfway around the world. His armies wreaked havoc from the Bosphorus to the Ganges, building walls of corpses and pyramids of skulls. Six centuries later, his deeds were almost forgotten, but his name remained in the memory of all peoples, short and stern, like the blow of a scimitar - Timur-Leng, the Iron Lame.

Women of the Barlas clan lived in houses, but according to the law of their ancestors, they went to felt yurts to give birth. The future conqueror of Asia was born in such a yurt. This happened in March 1336 near the city of Shakhrisyabz, which was then called Kesh. Its ruler, Taragai, was the father of the child; history has not preserved the mother’s name - the Turkic emir had many wives and concubines. A hundred years earlier, the Mongol hordes captured the lands of Central Asia, dividing them between the three Genghisid khans - Jochi, Chagatai and Hulagu.

The nomadic nobility mercilessly robbed the settled population and called them “sarts” - slaves. At the same time, the Mongols quickly adopted the customs of more cultured local peoples. After just a couple of generations, nomads in China could not be distinguished from the Chinese, in Iran - from the Persians, and in Maverannahr, present-day Uzbekistan, from the local Turks. Therefore, the newborn son of Taragai received the Turkic name Timur - “iron”. But his hair was red, like Genghis; it seems that both had European Scythian ancestors.

Since childhood, Timur lived up to his name, showing strength and courage in boyish games. The ruler's son learned to wield all types of weapons, hunt, and ride bareback. At the same time, he - an unprecedented thing - learned to read and attended lessons from learned ulema. They told him about the vast world outside Transoxiana - about the great city of Constantinople, about the wonders of India and China. Perhaps even then he had a dream to conquer this world. But in any case, military service had to start from the basics.

At the age of 12, Timur entered service in the army of the Chagatai Khanate, which at that time was ruled by Khan Bayan-Kuli. Year after year, the young man mastered military science, became a centurion, and then a thousand-man minbaschi. He selected the best warriors for his detachment, selflessly devoted to him. When the ruler of neighboring Mogolistan (present-day Kyrgyzstan) Togluk-Timur invaded the country in 1359, Bayan-Kuli expected the faithful thousand-man to drive back the enemy.

However, Timur was not only brave, but also calculating. He knew that the khan had no chance of winning, and in time he chose the side of the strongest. A couple of weeks later, Bayan’s head stuck out on a peak in front of the palace, and the captain of a thousand with rich gifts was visiting Togluk-Timur’s yurt. This allowed Timur to maintain his detachment and possessions inherited after the death of his father.

But the peace was short-lived. In those years, all of Asia was in motion. China overthrew the Mongol khans, in Iran the descendants of Hulagu were pressed by rebel sarbadars (that is, “hanged men”). Moscow Prince Dmitry accumulated strength to overthrow the power of the Golden Horde. At that moment, the road to power was open to the strong and dexterous, and Timur did not miss his chance. To begin with, he became related to the ruler of Samarkand, Emir Hussein, taking his sister Uljay-Turkan as his wife. Together they rebelled against Togluk-Timur, but were defeated.

Timur fled to the Tajik mountains, taking his beloved wife with him; He hid his two sons in a safe place, placing them in the care of a deaf-mute servant. For several years he, with a small detachment, served as a mercenary for various eastern sovereigns. During one of his campaigns in Sistan, enemies fired at him with arrows. He survived, but was seriously injured - his right arm lost half of its strength, and a ligament in his leg, broken by an arrow, left him lame forever. Since then, his name was Lame Timur - Temir-Aksak in Turkic, Timur-Leng in Persian. In European languages ​​he became Tamerlane.

Despite the injuries, Timur did not lose influence over his soldiers. He was strict but fair, generously rewarded the faithful, and the blacksmiths defeated the Mongols. Right at the feast in honor of the victory, Timur killed his “agitators” - the Sarbadar leaders - he did not need rivals. However, it turned out that Hussein did not really need him either, who did not very politely expel his ally from the city. After the death of Tamerlane's wife Uljay-Turkan, who somehow reconciled her brothers-in-arms, open war began between them. As a result, after many campaigns and skirmishes in 1370, Hussein was stabbed to death by two of his close associates at night. When they came to Timur for a reward, he ordered to strangle them, saying: “He who betrays once will betray again.”

According to Eastern custom, Timur took all the property of the killed enemy, including his wife Mulk Khanum. He made Samarkand his capital, from where he began the conquest of Central Asia. First, a battle-hardened army moved against Togluk Timur and captured his country. Then Timur achieved the subjugation of Khorezm by marrying his eldest son Jahangir to the daughter of the Khorezm ruler. Then it was the turn of the ruler of Semirechye Kamar Addin - he had to give his beautiful daughter Dilshod-aga as a wife to the winner.

At the same time, Timur helped the Siberian prince Tokhtamysh to overthrow Mamai, defeated on the Kulikovo field, and take the throne of the Golden Horde. When the North fell into Timur's power, he turned his troops south to Iran and Afghanistan. After three campaigns, these countries were conquered. Meanwhile, Timur managed to catch the warrior who had once crippled him. The unforgiving Iron Lame ordered the enemy to be tied to a tree and shot with bows.

Having become the ruler of a vast territory, Timur did not accept the title of khan: according to custom, only a descendant of Genghis Khan could become one. He himself limited himself to the more modest title of emir, but in reality his power was unlimited. Timur made a huge 500,000-strong army the backbone of the state - in every family one of the men had to go to military service. He distributed to brave warriors for hereditary possession the lands taken from rebels and cowards. His associates and relatives were given control of provinces and even entire countries.

The affairs of the entire state were managed by the Divan (council), which included viziers, military leaders and theologians. Once a week, Timur attended council meetings, participating in resolving all issues. When appointed to high positions, he did not pay attention to birth - one of his viziers was Hamid Agha, the son of a baker. The main criteria were diligence and devotion. But even the most devoted ones faced death if they robbed the population in peacetime or put their hand into the treasury. “My law is the same for everyone,” the emir said, and this was actually true.

Timur's main hobby was decorating his capital. He called experienced architects, engineers, and artists from all over the world to Samarkand. Through their efforts, such magnificent buildings were erected as the ensemble of the main Registan square, the Gur-Emir tomb and the huge Bibi-Khanym mosque, which was later destroyed by an earthquake. Timur regularly visited construction sites and monitored the progress of work. Even more often, he gathered learned people who gave him lectures on a variety of topics.

Historian Hafizi Abru states: “Timur deeply knew the history of the Persians and Turks. He valued all knowledge that could be of practical use, that is, medicine, astronomy and mathematics, and paid special attention to architecture.” He is echoed by his contemporary Arabshchakh: “Timur revered scientists and poets and showed them special favor... He entered into scientific discussions with them, and in disputes he was fair and courteous.” It is worth noting that he was the first of the eastern rulers to write (or, more precisely, dictate) his autobiography. In addition to scientific disputes, Timur loved the game of chess and gave his beloved youngest son the name Shahrukh - “chess rook”.

But one should not imagine him as a kind and fair “father of nations.” Taking care of the center of his state, Timur mercilessly ravaged its outskirts. After the relative tolerance of the Mongol khans, he raised the banner of Muslim fanaticism. Having assigned himself the title of “ghazi” (defender of the faith), he declared war on all “infidels” - subjects had to convert to Islam or die. His anger also fell on the Iranian shields, whom he considered heretics.

In 1387, he attacked the city of Isfahan and killed 70 thousand people there. A high tower was subsequently erected from their heads. Timur henceforth used this barbaric custom in all conquered countries in order to intimidate the local population. But such cruelty cannot be explained by political calculations alone; there is something sadistic in it. Perhaps the influence of schizophrenia - all the sons of Timur, except Shahrukh, suffered from this disease. However, it could also be that the emir was simply infuriated by the stubborn disobedience of his subjects - he had to take Isfahan three times, and make as many as four campaigns against Khorezm.

Meanwhile, while Timur was plundering Iran, his empire was attacked by the ruler of the Horde, Khan Tokhtamysh. Rus' almost stopped paying tribute, and the khan urgently needed rich booty. Attacking from the north, he plundered many cities and almost took Samarkand, which Prince Miranshah barely managed to defend. Having returned, Timur made a return campaign against the Volga, but the Horde easily escaped from the clumsy foot army. Then Timur turned back to Iran and finally conquered it, reaching Baghdad. At this time, the restless Tokhtamysh attacked from the other side, from behind the Caucasus Mountains.

In 1395, Timur's huge army moved north to put an end to the khan once and for all. One after another, the cities of the Caucasus and Volga region turned into ruins, and in August the emir’s army approached the borders of Russia. Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich began hastily gathering an army, but the forces were unequal. The first on the path of the conquerors was little Yelets - it fell after two days of resistance. Timur ordered to kill all men and boys taller than the cart axle (approximately 70 cm), and took the rest into captivity. Other cities awaited the same fate with trepidation, but Timur unexpectedly turned his army back.

For this miracle they thanked the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God brought to Moscow - since then it has become one of the most revered in Rus'. But in fact, Timur had no intention of moving on, and besides, he was in a hurry to leave a foreign country before the cold weather. The goal of his campaign - to defeat the enemy troops - was achieved. Tokhtamysh fled to Siberia, where he died.

After this, Timur attacked rich and populous India. The Muslim Tughlaqid dynasty ruled there, which the emir accused of conniving with the “infidel” Hindus. In the summer of 1398, his army launched an offensive from the west, one after another, destroying the fortresses of the warlike Rajputs. Before they died, Hindus threw their wives and children into the flames so that they would not fall to their enemies. Timur's warriors cut off the heads of the living and the dead and methodically built pyramids from them. In December, the emir approached Delhi, where he was met by hundreds of Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq's war elephants.

Timur ordered to shower them with a hail of arrows wrapped in burning tow; Frightened, the animals rushed back and trampled their own army. The city surrendered without resistance, but Timur still gave it up for plunder. It all ended in a fire, after which only the spiers of the minarets remained from the huge city - they, along with the mosques, were forbidden to touch under pain of death. Then the army moved at a snail's pace, burdened with a huge number of prisoners. When Timur realized that the prisoners were depriving the army of mobility, he ordered them all to be killed - 100 thousand people died.

Having reached the border of the jungle, the army turned back. Thousands of camels carried looted loot to Samarkand. On the way, we passed a huge pile of stones - when going to India, each warrior threw a stone on the ground. On the way back, the survivors took away one stone at a time, and the losses could be judged from those that remained. It must be said that Timur always tried to establish accounting and control in his possessions. He sold the goods exported from India, primarily spices, with enormous profit in the markets of the Middle East.

The emir planned to establish relations with Europe, sending proposals to the kings of England and France to establish trade relations. At the same time, the emir proposed that European rulers unite in an alliance against Ottoman Turkey, which was now Timur’s main opponent. The Turkish Sultan Bayezid, having defeated Christians in Eastern Europe, turned his weapons against his co-religionists and threatened Iraq. His ally, the Egyptian Sultan Barkuk, killed Timur's ambassadors, which in the East was considered a grave insult. The emir's reaction, as always, was quick. Soon Barkuk was poisoned, and Tamerlane's 400,000-strong army moved from Samarkand to the west.

The western provinces were ruled by Timur's son Miranshah, but he suffered from seizures and eventually went completely mad. Taking advantage of this, residents of Iraq and Syria refused to pay taxes and threatened to go over to Bayezid's side. With the appearance of Timur, a bloody massacre awaited them. Baghdad was burned, and the heads of 90 thousand of its inhabitants were placed in another tower. Syrian Aleppo surrendered after the emir promised not to shed the blood of Muslims. Timur kept his word: only the Christian population was slaughtered, and the Muslims were buried alive in the ground.

The conquerors were especially atrocious in Georgia and Armenia, where churches were burned or converted into mosques. Two thousand Armenians were burned in the city of Dvin. In the spring of 1402, Timur invaded Anatolia and besieged the Sivas fortress. After its capture, the Muslims were pardoned for a change, and the Christians were buried alive. In July of the same year, the armies of Timur and Bayezid met near the current Turkish capital of Ankara. The Sultan's army, into which the Greeks and Serbs were forcibly mobilized, was even larger than that of his enemy.

In total, about a million people took part in the battle, of whom 150 thousand died. The massacre continued for more than a day, until Timur’s more experienced and organized army put the enemy to flight. Bayezid himself was captured and led to the victor in chains. Timur looked at the hunched figure of the Sultan and his yellow face - Bayazid had a diseased liver. “Great is Allah! - said the emir. “He wanted to divide the world between a cripple and an ailing old man.”

The Sultan was put in a cage and sent to Samarkand - according to rumors, Timur planned to set up something like a zoo for the overthrown rulers there. Bayezid died on the road, and his heirs fought with each other for a long time. Against his will, the “defender of the Muslim faith” Timur became an ally of Christian Byzantium: having defeated the Turkish army, he delayed the fall of Constantinople for half a century.

In 1403, the Iron Lame returned to Samarkand. The city still flourished, but this did not please the aging ruler. He was tormented by pain in his wounded leg and was tormented by thoughts about the fragility of his power. Who should leave a huge empire, in different parts of which riots broke out every now and then? The eldest son Jahangir died before he turned eighteen, and his two brothers also went to the grave. The mad Miranshah lived out his days under strict supervision. Shahrukh remained - soft, compliant, not at all like his father. His mother, the young nomadic princess Dilshodaga, also died. How fleeting is human life! But Timur has not yet realized all his plans.

At the very beginning of 1405, the armies set out on the campaign again. Their goal was China - there awaited riches that had not yet been plundered and millions of “infidels” who needed to be converted to Islam. To lead the campaign, Timur arrived in the city of Otrar on the border of the steppes, but unexpectedly fell ill and died on February 18 in terrible agony. His body was taken to Samarkand and buried in the Gur-Emir mausoleum.

For many centuries in the East there was a belief: whoever disturbs the ashes of the conqueror will cause a terrible, unprecedented war. But Soviet archaeologists, led by Mikhail Gerasimov, did not pay attention to these warnings. Scientists began opening the tomb of Tamerlane early in the morning June 22, 1941!

After the Victory, the work was completed. Using a cast from the skull bones, Gerasimov was able to restore the appearance of Tamerlane. Visitors to the Moscow Historical Museum saw high cheekbones, narrow tiger eyes, and sternly compressed lips. This was a real god of war, the ruler of a huge empire, for the greatness of which its subjects paid with millions of lives.