Timur (1336-1405) was a renowned and undefeated military commander who united territories stretching from India to Anatolia, and from the Caucasus to the Middle East under his rule. He was a devout Muslim of Turkish origin.
Timur aimed to inherit Genghis Khan's legacy and largely succeeded in consolidating the divided Chagatai Khanate, Golden Horde, and Ilkhanate states after Genghis Khan. Although Timur is not viewed favorably in Turkish history due to his victory over the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Ankara, which led to a period of crisis for the Ottomans, he left an indelible mark on world history. In his youth, Timur suffered a permanent injury to his right leg in a battle against the Sistanis in the Death Desert of southwestern Afghanistan, leading to his nicknames "Topal Timur" or "Aksak Timur" (Lame Timur).
Throughout his life, Timur was a formidable military strategist. However, due to not setting long-lasting goals for his empire, it fragmented after his death. Timur is legendary in present-day Uzbekistan.
Timur's Tomb
In his later years, Timur prepared for a campaign to conquer China, but he passed away at the age of 69 in Otrar. Since Timur held great affection for his grandson, Muhammad Sultan, who unexpectedly died in 1404, Timur built a grand mausoleum in Samarkand for him and chose to be interred beside him. This mausoleum, known as Gur Emir, eventually became the resting place for all of Timur's descendants.
Soviets Open Timur's Tomb
After Uzbekistan came under Soviet rule and Lenin established the USSR following the October 1917 revolution, in 1941, anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov decided to examine the tomb and remains of the famed commander Timur to uncover more information about him, allegedly under Stalin's orders. Despite facing unexpected public backlash, Gerasimov proceeded to open Emir Timur's tomb on June 19, 1941.
Timur's Curse
Just two days after Timur's tomb was opened, Nazi Germany launched the Barbarossa operation, which would bring the USSR to the brink of collapse and result in the deaths of millions of Russians. This coincidence led many to believe in the potency of Timur's curse. Some claimed that an inscription warned, "Whoever opens this tomb will unleash an army of demons upon his land." Others suggested a more direct warning from Timur, "Whoever disturbs my tomb will unleash an even worse invader upon him." Regardless, the outcome was the opening of the tomb followed by the onset of war.
Gerasimov's Examination
The bones taken from the tomb were transported to Leningrad for examination. It was determined that Timur had a limp, likely due to an injury on his hip. While Timur's height was measured at 1.73 meters, Gerasimov reconstructed his portrait based on facial bones and skull structure. He similarly created portraits for all members of the dynasty after examining their bones.
Timur's Curse Revisited
The debate regarding whether Timur's curse brought war to the Russians continues. However, just a few days before the Soviet Union's victory at Stalingrad in November 1942, Timur was reinterred in an Islamic ceremony. His tomb, now closed to visitors, contains his stone sarcophagus, with his head oriented towards Mecca. Additionally, a horse's tail was found during a later restoration, adhering to the Central Asian tradition of placing a horse's tail in the tomb of a revered individual.
Conclusion
Timur played a significant role in the Islamization of Central Asian nomadic peoples. He was proficient in Mongolian, Persian, and Turkish, and was known for his extensive knowledge of history. Moreover, he was an exceptional chess player and would engage in the game to relax when angered.
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