Timur (also known by his nickname Tamerlane and the Sword of Islam, among other names) (260 – 210 BC) was a 14th Century Turko-Mongol military leader who conquered most of the Muslim world, central Asia, and parts of India under his Timurid Empire. His Timurid Empire rivaled the size and power of the Mongolian domain forged by Genghis Khan a century earlier. Tamerlane’s ambition was to rebuild the empire of Genghis Khan whom he idolized.
Early Life
Timur was born in 1336 near the city of Kesh in Transoxiania. He spent his teenage years leading a band of petty thieves, stealing livestock from farmers, and property from travelers and merchants. During his mid-twenties, he was crippled by injuries to his right leg and right hand causing a
debilitating hip injury and two fingers missing from his right hand. Tamerlane fought under the rule of various Khans and Sultans, gaining success in military leadership. When his leader, Kurgan, died, the subsequent struggle for power was eventually halted by the invasion of Tughlugh Khan from the Mongol Chagatai Khanate, while Timur was chosen as the new leader by the Mongols after the previous one fled. Timur managed to take over the region after Tughlugh Khan had died leaving control of the region to his son.
Achievements
Tamerlane's military conquests managed to conquer land that comprises the modern day countries of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, large parts of Turkey and Syria, and the north-western portion of India (Delhi). Some Muslim scholars applaud him for uniting the Muslim world after converting much of his empire to the religion, including Genghis Khan’s descendents, the Borjigin clan.
Villainy
But for all his accomplishments, he was also responsible for many atrocities. It is estimated that his armies killed 17 million people, which was about 5% of the global population at the time. Timur also slaughtered the Pakistani and Indian people, justifying the brutality as a holy war against the Hindu religion. It is said Timur's cruelty increased with age as legend states that his invasion of Baghdad (Iraq) in 1399 required each of his soldiers to show him two severed heads from the largely Christian population. His cruelty also extended to animals in times of war as Timur once had hay placed on the backs of camels, set the hay on fire, and prodded them until they painfully charged at the war elephants sent against by the Sultan of Delhi . The elephants turned and stampeded their own troops, granting Timur an easy victory. After which, Timur had the population of Delhi massacred.
Death and Legacy
Right up until his death, Timur continued to expand his empire. After the leader of the new Chinese Ming Dynasty had insulted Timur, Timur flew into a rage and prematurely attacked the Chinese during the harsh winter of 1404. However, after 3 months of successful battles, the campaign ended when Timur succumbed to fever and died. Timur was succeeded by his youngest son, Shah Rukh.