TAMERLANE
Timur, is the founder of great Turkish Empire established with his name. He was born in Keş city of Turkistan on 8 April 1336. The city was in south of Semerkant. His father was the bey of Barlas clan, Turagay (Turgay), and his mother was Tekine Hatun.Since his family's name was Gürgan, he was also called Gurgani. Barlas clan is a Turkish clan from Middle Asia. Barlas clan was under Cagatay Khan in that period. Timur's father died in 1360 and his uncle who replaced him was killed in Haci Barlas in 1361. Timur was 25 years old then. Timur, who was a brave, smart and knowledgeable Turkish aristocrat was going to take advantage of all opportunities to show his political and military genius, ascend in a short time to become a conqueror. He was going to accede to the throne of Eastern Turkish Khan Country and extend its borders from Volga to Ganges, from Tanri mountains to Izmir and Damascus. Timur arranged 17 expeditions to reach the level of famous conquerors such as Alexander and Sezar, all of which ended in victory. He defeated and forced to obey khans of 27 countries, and became their leader. Tamerlane experienced many struggles before he became the ruler, won many wars and overcame many dangers. Sometimes he had to fight together with a few of his friends and sometimes alone. Two deep injuries one on his foot and one on his hand left two important disabilities to him as being one-handed and lamed. But that one-handed hand never left victory sword until his death, and that lamed leg ran over whole Asia. Such personality should be known from his childhood with some of his features. Here is what historians say about Timur: A child mounting horses, wearing sword, shooting the hole of a ring with his arrow a warrior who took part in a war in his twelve; A young idealist who passed his time remaining from wars and war training by reading and learning from great scholars; A unique strategist who defeated an army of ten thousand people with a force of three hundred people;
A leader who was injured on his feet in a war and was called Timurlenk (Tamerlane in English and "Aksak Timur" (Lamed Timur) in Turkish ) with the suffix "lenk" meaning lame in Persian language. Interested in world history, especially Turkish-Islam history and protector of religion, science and art.
A ruler who prevented Turkish art and culture from being eliminated under the pressure of Persian culture, and opened the era of its taking precedence and forming a model; Friend of those asking for mercy, nuisance for his enemies, a ruler nearly worshipped by his soldiers and a father for his nation... However, there are people trying to make Timur seem as a man with more sins than his deeds, and persecution more than his justice. They remind that he made towers of knobs, and burned cities. He is blamed for warring Beyazid and making brother armies kill each other. Indeed, Ottoman State faltered for some time after Ankara War and lived a period of indetermination. However, the same historians write that Timur tried to prevent war and Yildirim tried to start war until the last moment.
The west remembers him as an oppressive and destructive person. Timur replied such accusations even when he was alive. He emerged as an undefeatable power in a period when Ilhanli State and Cagatay Country were upset in chaos and intrigues. Turkish, Persian and Arabic historians say that the chaos was caused by mostly Jewish merchants and Christian missionaries. These merchants and some missionaries were working as spies for European kings and were nearly everywhere in Turkistan. Timur ended his activities. He ensured banishment of Christian missionaries from India and spreading of Islam in the continent. Therefore, Christians feel enmity against him.
Timur burned the remnants of Greece and Rome and their idols in the places he occupied. They called him "destructive" for this reason. But Islam scholars of his day called him "Kutbettin", "Holder of Koran Heavenly" and thus said he was the "pole of religion, leader of all, Blessed, strong and deserving heaven".
His putting seventy thousand people to sword in Isfahan and piling them up caused his being called as "the ruler who made a tower of human knobs". His reply to this is: because they put to sword all of my servants and five thousand soldiers I left in Isfahan by rising and because they acted in unbelief..." Another reason why Persian historians are against Timur and he is spoken ill of is: Timur went to the grave of famous poet Firdevsi, the writer of Şehname, and said "Wake up, wake up and see now the defeated Turk whom you speak ill of in each of your lines!".
There are other people saying that Timur gave priority to Islam and used religion officers to impede the progress of Turkish nationalism. However, he, with an understanding which could not be seen in any other Turkish ruler apart from Bilge Khan, noted his source of pride with the following words:
"Biz ki Mülûk-ü Turan, Emir-i Türkistan'ız:
Biz ki Türk oğlu Türk'üz;
Biz ki milletlerin en kadîmî ve en ulusu
Türk'ün başbuğuyuz!..."
After he defeated Yildirim Beyazid and burned Bursa in Ankara War, we cannot expect Ottoman historians to write in his favor. But now that it is centuries after the event, we can objectively consider the event. We will have expressed his greatness by depicting his identity without even mentioning about his period, being a conqueror, and what he did.
Timur, is the father of scholar ruler Sahruh, to whom Sultan Murat the 2nd wrote a note and recognized him as Great Turkish Khan; and the grandfather of poet ruler Huseyin Baykara and astronomer Ulug Bey, who gave his name to one of the widest craters and so caused existence of a Turkish name on the moon. Timur entered into service of Kazgan Khan, who was one of the governors of Cagatay Country when he was 25 and became the commander of a big unit. Kazgan Khan married him to his daughter Olcay Turkan. Kazgan Khan's enemies trapped and killed him. He declared war on those who killed Kazgan Khan and eliminated all of them. Cagatay Khan took him under his service and made division Bey because of his success. From now on, Timur increased his influence and power rapidly. He was taking part in the quarrels between khans and beys, and was taking advantage of all situations. The scholars of the day began to see Timur as a leader to stop the rapid depression of the state.
In 1370, Timur became absolute dominant power and completely independent in Belh. But since he was not from the generation of Genghis but he wanted to avail himself from the great prestige of Genghis dynasty, he enthroned Soyurgatmiş Khan from Cagatay line of Genghis generation. He took him everywhere with him during whole his life as a fake ruler. He seemed to obey him in form, but he was the absolute ruler. The general assembly gathering in Belh gave Timur the titles of "Kutübeddin" and "Sahib Kiran". Timur moved the capital city from Belh to Semerkant after a short time. Then he arranged successful expeditions to all four directions. He applied very well-planned tactics, conducted rapid wars and ended all of his expeditions in victory. Between 1371 and 1377, he organized three expeditions to Harezm and two expeditions to Mongolia. In 1378, he made himself known all over the world with the first Altınordu expedition. In 1379, he launched one more expedition to Harezm. In 1380 he entered Herat and thus conquered Harezm and Horasan completely. He seized Turfan, Karaşar regions in his expeditions until 1389 and linked Uyguristan to himself.
He mounted Altınordu expedition once more in 1390 and 1391. The reason for his organizing this last expedition was Toktamış Khan, the Khan of Altin ordu. This is because in his previous expedition, Timur supported Toktamiş Khan and eliminated his enemies. When Toktamiş Khan got strong due to this support, he rose against Timur. This time, he had to occupy and destroy all of his country to eliminate Toktamiş. This resulted in emergence and development of Russia, for which Timur was blamed for by the historians due to this development he caused unintentionally.
Timur, 1401'e kadar yapılan dört seferle Irak ve Güney Anadolu'yu, 1398-99 seferleriyle Hindistan Delhi Sultanlığı'nı, 1401-1402'de de Suriye'yi fethetti. At last, Timur defeated Ottoman State in Ankara war in 1402 and took under obedience. The war of two great warriors, that is, Yildirim Beyazit and Timur, was very violent. Yildirim said "I came to the world to use weapons and to definitely overcome one before me". Timur said "Only one ruler will remain in the world just as there is one God in the sky, that is me".
Timur's elephants besides the betrayal of Hirvats in Yildirim army, Asian one won Ankara war and Beyazid the 1st died of his sadness.
He could not stand this defeat. Timur's victory could save Eastern Rome, that is, Byzantium Empire from Turks for only fifty years, and made Byzantium feel free for fifty years. Timur, receiving Yildirim after the defeat, was very nervous and depressed. Because the ruler he defeated was a coreligionist of him reputed for his heroism. Beyazit, seeing Timur was looking at him with a derisive smile, shouted at him "It is not good for you to make fun of a person God rendered unfortunate!". Timur replied: "I am not making fun of you. I am smiling because Allah left the world to a blind like you and a lamed like me!"
Timurlenk, by eliminating Altinordu state, blew the worst strike on Turks in Asia. His second bad action for Turk was to break up Anatolia. Famous historian Hammer mentions about him in his book as follows: His name survives as a persecutor and a murderer who killed many people and demolished many cities in his sultanate of thirty six years leaving behind 36 sons and grandsons and 17 granddaughters. Timur, who said "I conquered many places thanks to valuable warriors and became the khan of 27 countries", listed the countries he dominated: Turan, Iran, Anatolia, Mağrib, Syria, Egypt, Iraq of Arabia, Iraq of Persia, Mazenderan, Geylan, Şirvan, Azerbaijan, Persia, Horasan, Jidda, Big Tataria, Harezm, Hotin, Kâbilistan, Bahter, Zemin, India... (He lists twenty two countries, the others are Caucasus countries such as Georgia and Armenia).
The great conqueror was going to mount his last expedition to China. He started out in a period when everywhere was covered with snow in winter 1404. He sensed that his life was about to end, but believed that he did not have the chance to delay this biggest jihad. He stopped when he came to Otrar city in Chinese border. He had an army parade there. He organized a swan hunt. But he was sick and took to his bed. Chief Physician Fazlullah said clearly to him that he was on his deathbed. Timur wrote his will. He called his respected men and grandsons in the army and addressed to them in his deathbed.
Timur said to them in his deathbed:
My Sons,
Read my will I leave for you to ensure prosperity and happiness of the people, remember and apply them. It is your duty to find solutions to the problems of the people. Protect the weak. Do not let rich oppress poor. "Justice and goodness" be your principle and guide. If you want to reign like me, draw your sword only after you think a lot. Use it well once you draw it. Be careful not to allow discord brought between you. Some of your servants and enemies will try to bring discord and make use of that. But I showed you the way of governance and main principles in my will. If you remain loyal to those, the crown will not fell from your head. Remember the words your father spoke in his deathbed. The khan after me will be Pir Muhammad Cihangir. Obey him like you obey me. My commanders, now take an oath of obedience! (And all commanders and notables took oath, crying).
Timur reigned for 36 years. He passed away on 19 March 1405 when he was 69. His last words were "Lailahe illallah (There is no god but Allah)" They mummified his body and took to Semerkand. He was buried next to his grandchild, Muhammad Sultan, whom he liked much when he was alive. Today, this tomb is worldwide known as an art masterpiece. Although Timur is known as a conqueror demolishing and burning everywhere, this is not completely true. He tried to remove the destruction caused by his armies in order to intimidate the countries he seized, and initiated improvements.
It is certain he oppressed the people under heavy taxes and pressures. Even, a joke of Nasreddin Hodja shows that: One day Timur sent an elephant to Akşehir to be fed. Poor people could not cope with what the animal ate. They wanted Nasrettin Hodja to go speak to Timur. Hodja said to others: "Let's go together". But on the way, his friends slipped away one by one. Hodja, about to enter the tent, saw there was nobody left behind and got surprised. He replied Timur when he asked what he wanted: "Our Ruler, the elephant you bestowed upon Akşehir is bored of loneliness, would you order another female one", and so punished their cowardice.
Timur was a warrior who loved science and art much. He wrote his biography and his advice to his sons in his book named Tüzükat. Timur protected scientists and constructed many medresah ands libraries in places he dominated, and in particular, improved Semerkant. Timur struggled against Mongol idolatry, Indian Buddhism and Iran Zoroastrianism, and not only established sound bases for Islam, but also turned nomad Turks into settled communities. Timur Khan, who made laws under the name of Tüzükat-ı Timur, wrote his own history. Timur Khan explained his notion of state as follows:
"Experience showed me that no state not established on religion and laws can survive for a long time.
Such country is like a man who quite naked and looking at the ground without being respected and having lost his value for others. Such state also resembles a house without a ceiling, door, and yard walls, which everybody enters. Therefore, I established the roof of my state on Islam. Therefore I imposed laws for governance of my state. I refrained from acting contrary to them as long as they were in effect".
Timur İmparatorluğu; İskender İmparatorluğu gibi bütün güç ve heybetine rağmen kişinin kudretine bağlı kaldığından, onun ölümüyle dağılmıştır. Timur Empire, dissolved after his death despite all of its strength and grandeur because it depended on personal power.