Amir Timur (Tamerlan)

How fast time is rushing forward without looking back. Time will stop at no one, spare no one. And only memory will remain eternal, and only memory is stronger than centuries. The memory of his Majesty and wisdom was left to us by the great Amir Timur, or as his father called him at birth, Timur Ibn Taragay Barlas. His achievements in the silence of modern vanity will be silently narrated by those grandiose structures that were erected on his orders. He ruled for 35 years, during which time he conquered and United scattered lands and created a great Empire that stretched from the Eastern shores of the Black Sea, all the way to the Northern part of India. The capital of his Empire was the brilliant Samarkand, which became even more prosperous during his reign, so you can see the most important historical legacy of the great Tamerlane.

You have probably already heard about the great General. Amir Timur was a talented man, born in the aristocratic family of Muhammad Taragai of the Barlas family. Since childhood, he was trained in military Affairs, loved hunting and war games, but he was not literate, since he was brought up, first of all, a warrior, but not a scientist. But thanks to his curiosity and sharp mind, he was interested in the Sciences, conversed with scientists, was interested in history, knew several languages and was able to learn the Koran by heart. This testifies to his impeccable memory, because he remembered all the stories of his friend’s scientists and accurately retold it to others.

Not many people know that initially Tamerlane was not the heir to the throne and did not even have at least a distant relationship with those who could claim the throne. He had no right to assume the proud title of “Khan”, since the reign of Genghis Khan, this title could only be held by his relatives and descendants. But when he was proclaimed and became the sole ruler of Transoxiana (the modern territory of Uzbekistan, a small part of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan), he chose the more modest title of Amir (s Arab. «Lord»). He also married the daughter of genghisid Khagan Khan, thus becoming related to them and receiving the title of Gurgan (“son-in-law of the Prince”), which gave him the right to claim rule in the captured lands. You will be interested to know that in addition to these titles, which stands next to his famous name, he also had the nickname Timur Lang, which means Timur the Lame. The fact is that in one of the fights, he was severely injured in the leg, which affected him later with a limp. At first this nickname was given by his enemies and was pejorative, but later in history it lost its negative note and became a Testament to his courage and courageous spirit.

Have you ever heard of a man who had as many as 18 wives? Of course, you will say that many rulers of the East and not only had many wives. So, Amir Timur also distinguished himself by polygamy, but 2 of his most beloved wives were relatives of each other, imagine! However, they were not blood, one of them was the widow of his former ally Hussein, and the second was his sister. The grandiose construction of the Bibi-Khanym mosque in Samarkand, decorated with amazing paintings and beautiful ornaments, speaks of his love for his wives. After visiting this mosque, you will feel like an Eastern king or Queen, because the magic of this place fascinates and enchants, around which there are many legends about it. But according to the most reliable of them, Timur ordered to build this mosque in honor of his beloved wife, after a campaign of conquest in India. It is noteworthy that across the road from the mosque itself, there is a mausoleum with a crypt. When scientists opened the sarcophagi in 1941, the bodies of two richly dressed women were found, and most likely, one of them belonged to Sarai Mul Khanim – one of his favorite wives. But one very interesting legend about Amir Timur is connected with the year in which the sarcophagi of the Queens were opened. When you arrive in Samarkand, the first thing you will do is visit the unique building of Gur-Emir, the tomb of Amir Timur, where his closest male descendants are buried. According to the legend of the “curse of Timur”, anyone who disturbs the peace of his grave will die in agony. And it happened that when the tombstone over Tamerlane’s grave was taken to Iran, terrible earthquakes began there. After returning the stone to its place, all the destruction stopped. Then in 1941, when scientists opened the sarcophagi, 2 days later the Great Patriotic War began. And after the ashes were returned to their burial place, the USSR was able to win an important victory, which was unspeakably significant for the final outcome of the war.

Of course, you will decide for yourself whether to believe in this legend or treat it skeptically. But you must step on the ancient stones that the great Timur once trod, visit the grandiose structures built during his Golden period of rule, to breathe in the atmosphere of Royal greatness!