Who was Tamerlane and why is he important?
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Who was Tamerlane and why is he important?
Tamerlane (April 8, 1336–February 18, 1405) was the ferocious and terrifying founder of the Timurid empire of Central Asia, eventually ruling much of Europe and Asia. Throughout history, few names have inspired such terror as his.
Who was Timur in history?
Timur, also spelled Timour, byname Timur Lenk or Timurlenk (Turkish: “Timur the Lame”), English Tamerlane or Tamburlaine, (born 1336, Kesh, near Samarkand, Transoxania [now in Uzbekistan]—died February 19, 1405, Otrar, near Chimkent [now Shymkent, Kazakhstan]), Turkic conqueror, chiefly remembered for the barbarity of …
Who was a contemporary of Tamerlane?
| Timur | |
|---|---|
| Reign | 9 April 1370 – 14 February 1405 |
| Coronation | 9 April 1370, Balkh |
| Predecessor | Amir Hussain (as the ruler of Transoxiana) |
| Successor | Khalil Sultan |
Why is Timur called Tamerlane?
Timur, or, as he is known in the West, Tamerlane (a Westernization of what he was called in Persian: “Timur-i-lang” or “Timur the Lame” due to the limp caused by a deep wound to his leg) was responsible for conquering more land while he lived than any other man in the pre-gunpowder era (with the exception of Alexander the Great).
Was Tamerlane a good person?
The name “Tamerlane” comes from “Timur the Lame.” He was said to have received crippling arrow wounds for stealing sheep as a child. He grew to become a Turkic-Mongol warlord whose power base arose from the smoldering ashes of the disintegrating Mongol Empire in the late 14th century. He was extremely cruel and highly intelligent.
Who was the most successful Timurid ruler?
The most successful Timurid ruler, Timur’s grandson Ulegh Beg (1393–1449, ruled 1447–1449), gained fame as an astronomer and scholar. Ulegh was not a good administrator, however, and was murdered by his own son in 1449. Timur’s line had better luck in India, where his great-great-grandson Babur founded the Mughal Dynasty in 1526.
How many people did Timur kill in his wars?
Timur’s armies were inclusively multi-ethnic and were feared throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, sizable parts of which his campaigns laid to waste. Scholars estimate that his military campaigns caused the deaths of 17 million people, amounting to about 5\% of the world population at the time.