Timur
(1336–1405), emperor of the Mongol empire. Born in what is now Uzbekistan, Timur, known as Temur-i-Lenk ("Timur the Lame," or in English, Tamerlane) because his right arm and leg were paralyzed from arrow wounds, was the last of the great nomadic Mongol emperors. He carved an empire from the remnants of the Mongol territories in Central Asia and spent his life campaigning throughout the Middle East, India, and Russia. He defeated the Golden Horde (a separate wing of the Mongol empire, which flourished in Russia in the latter half of the thirteenth century) in 1387 and 1391, sacked Delhi in 1398, and defeated Bayezid I (c.1360–1403), sultan of the Ottoman empire, in 1402. During his reign he was known as Emir (Amir) Timur.
Timur is remembered most for his conquests and cruelty. He orchestrated many massacres and left numerous towers of skulls as reminders to the conquered of his authority. Although today we remember him for his brutality, he was also noted for being very intelligent, an expert chess player, fluent in several languages—despite being illiterate—and well-versed in debate. Playwrights such as Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593) penned plays about him, inspired by his larger-than-life character. Timur died in 1404 while undertaking the conquest of Ming-dynasty China. Although his empire disintegrated after his death, his descendents established the Mughal empire in India.
Timothy May
Further Reading
Arabshah, Ahmed ibn. (1936) Tamerlane or Timur the Great Amir. Lahore, India: Progressive Books.
Gonzalez, Clavijo. (1928) Embassy to Tamerlane. London: George Routledge and Sons.
Hookham, Hilda. (1962) Tamburlaine the Conqueror. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Manz, Beatrice Forbes. (1991) The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane. New York: Cambridge University Press.
This complete Timur contains 267 words. This
article contains 308 words (approx. 1 page at 300
words per page).
