Taimurlang (1336-1405)
Size: 19.3 x 14.3 in (49 x 36.3 cm)
Date of printing: 1880s-1890s
‘Shoujo Ud Ain Taimur Bin Taraghay Barlas’ was the founder of the Timurid Empire & Timurid Dynasty, which survived until 1857. He was born to Amir Taraghay and Tekina Khatun and popularly known as Taimurlang. He is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest military commanders in history and for conquering many countries.
He became crippled when his legs survived a beating which left a permanent mark. Thus the name Taimur Lang came to being. He led military campaigns across Western, Southern and Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Southern Russia. He emerged as the most powerful ruler in the Muslim world after defeating the Mamluks of Egypt and Syria, the emerging Ottoman Empire, and the declining Delhi Sultanate of India.
Taimur relied on Islamic symbols and language and referred to himself as the “Sword of Islam” in order to justify his conquests. He saw himself as Genghis Khan’s heir and wanted to restore the Mongol Dynasty. Scholars estimate that his military campaigns caused the deaths of 17 million people, amounting to about 5% of the world population at the time. He is also the great-great-greatgrandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, which ruled the Indian Subcontinent.
An undefeated conqueror, he was also a great intellectual, patron of art and architecture.