Timur

c. 1336 – February 1405

Timur (c. 1336-1405), also known as Tamerlane, was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire from his capital at Samarkand. Through relentless campaigns across Central Asia, Persia, India, and the Middle East he built one of history's largest empires, and he is regarded as one of the most formidable military commanders of the medieval world.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Timur.

Life events

Birth of Timur near Kesh in Transoxiana
c. 1336

Timur was born around 1336 near the city of Kesh (modern Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan) into the Barlas tribe.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Wounded by arrows, leaving him lame in the right leg
c. 1363

In the early 1360s Timur received wounds to his right leg and hand that left him partially crippled, giving rise to the name Tamerlane, from Timur the Lame.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Marriage to Saray Mulk Khanum, gaining the title Gurkani
c. 1370

By marrying a princess descended from Genghis Khan, Timur took the title of imperial son-in-law, which lent Chinggisid legitimacy to his rule.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became effective ruler of Transoxiana with his capital at Samarkand
1370

In 1370, after defeating his rival Amir Husayn at Balkh, Timur became the supreme power in Transoxiana and made Samarkand his capital.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Decisive defeat of Tokhtamysh and the Golden Horde
1395

In 1395 Timur crushed Tokhtamysh at the Battle of the Terek River and sacked the Golden Horde's capital of Sarai, breaking its power.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Invasion of India and the sack of Delhi
17 December 1398

Timur defeated Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq outside Delhi on 17 December 1398, after which his army sacked the city.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Sack of Baghdad
1401

In 1401 Timur captured and devastated Baghdad, massacring much of its population.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Victory over the Ottomans at the Battle of Ankara
20 July 1402

On 20 July 1402 Timur defeated and captured the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I, plunging the Ottoman state into a decade of civil war.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Death of Timur at Otrar during a campaign against Ming China
February 1405

Timur fell ill and died at Otrar in February 1405 while leading an expedition to invade China, and was buried in the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓