Timur and the Timurids Uzbekistan

Timur and the Timurids Timur (1336-1405) was born in Kesh, present-day Shakhrisabz. His father, Mukhammad Taragai, was chief of the Barlas clan. Shakhrisabz is located about 80 km south of Samarkand. The name Tamerlane means "Timur the Lame" in Persian. Amir Timur was a great warlord and patron of art and literature. He was a distant relative of Genghis Khan. Timur married Aljay, granddaughter of Emir Qazghan, and became governor of Kesh in the 1360s. He allied himself with Amir Hussein, Qazgan's grandson. Aljay died before 1370. In 1370, he became Grand Emir of Mawara al-Nahr. His capital was Samarkand. The era of Timur and the Timurids was the golden age of Samarkand. He revived Samarkand, destroyed in 1220 by the Mongols. The riches and artists, artisans, scholars, and men of letters captured during his countless campaigns to Upper Asia, East Turkestan, and India were brought to Samarkand. He put an end to feudal squabbles. The Russians were able to liberate their country from the Mongols in 1395 thanks to his victory over the Golden Horde. Europe preserved peace thanks to his victory near Ankara in 1402. After the death of his brother-in-law Mir Husayn, he married his widow, Saray Mulk Khanum, daughter of the late Khan Qazan, and he obtained the title of kuragon ("imperial son-in-law"). Saray Mulk Khanum is known worldwide as Bibi Khanum ("elder princess"). A mosque in Samarkand bears Bibi Khanum's name. At the age of 71, Amir Timur decided to invade China. However, he died on January 19, 1405, in Otrar, on the Syr Darya River, while en route to China. He is buried in the Gur Emir Mausoleum in Samarkand. Timur made Samarkand the most beautiful city in the world of its time. Samarkand became a major center of commerce. Countless palaces, mosques, and gardens were built under Timur's orders in Samarkand. Science and culture flourished. Power was centralized. Amir Timur established several cities around Samarkand. These cities were named Forish-Paris, Shiraz, Sultaniya, Baghdad, and Merv. Amir Timur paid great attention to diplomacy. Diplomacy was developed during the time of Timur and Shah Rukh. There are notes in Chinese documents about embassies from Beijing to Samarkand in 1391, 1395, 1404 and Timurid embassies to China in 1388, 1391, 1394, 1412. John of Syltania, an Italian Dominican, left for Genoa in 1398 under the orders of Amir Timur. On August 17, 1401, Timur received a diplomatic letter from Charles VI. Under the orders of Henti III of Castile, Gomes de Satamayor and Hernan Sanchez left to establish contacts with the Ottomans and the Timurids. They witnessed the battle between Timur and Bajazet in the spring of 1402. Timur received them very well after the battle. He sent a Timurid diplomatic mission headed by Muhammad al-Ghazi to Castile with them. John of Syltania carried Timur's replies to Charles VI's letters in 1403. Henry of Castile's second embassy included Ruy Gonzales de Clavijio. He became famous for his account of his journey to the East. After the death of this great conqueror, Shahroukh put an end to the fraternal quarrels. During Shahroukh's time, the capital was Herat. This city became a center of "Timurid renaissance." The best architects, musicians, miniaturists, and poets found shelter there.