Introduction by R.D. McChesney Introduction to the first edition Sketch map xvi xxxv xt VOLUME I CHAPTER I. Of his origin arid the way in which he graduaily subdued kingdoms to himself 1 II. Of his tumultuous and marvellous crossing of the Oxus 7 III. Of the danger which he confronted in the attack on the city of Qarshi and his escape from that difficulty 8 IV. Relates who were held bound by the attack of that despot and what noble princes he wished to be enslaved to him 9 V. How when the Moguls rose against the sultan his power was broken 10 VI. Timur's crafty designing and the device which he planned 11 VII. Timur proceeds to Balkhshan, receiving aid against the sultan from those who were holding that city 12 VIII. Describes the expedition of Toqtamish Khan, sultan of Dasht and Turkistan 13 IX. Concerning the quarret and evil things which arose between Ali Shir and Timur 15 X. What Timur did with the rogues and villains of Samarkand and how he sent them to hell 15 Ibn-?Arabš?h, A?mad Ibn-Mu?ammad Tamerlane digitalisiert durch: IDS Basel Bern
vi CONTENTS XI. The territories of Samarkand are described and also those which lie between the rivers of Balkhshan and Khajend XII. Of the beginning of his tyranny after he had subdued the provinces of Transoxiana XIII. Timur plans to invade countries and first the territories of Khwarizm XIV. The second invasion of Khwarizm XV. Timur sends a letter to Malik Ghayatuddin, sultan of Herat, who snatched him from the cross, and on his account opposed his own father XVI. How that tyrant visited the venerable Zainuddin Abu Bakr of Khawaf XVII. Timur returns to Khorasan and lays waste the provinces of Seistan XVIII. That deceitful one advances to the territories of Sabzuar, which submit to him and whose prince comes to meet him XIX. The acts of that villain in the city of Sabzuar with Sharif Mahomed, the head of a band of villains XX. A letter of that intrepid one to the sultan of Persian Irak, Abul Fuaris Shah Shujah XXI. The third expedition of Timur into Khwarizm with armies ravaging and destroying XXII. Thefourth expedition of this Wanderer into Khwarizm XXIII. The threats uttered by that demon against Shah Wali, the amir of Mazanderan XXIV. Of the letter of Shah Wali to the sultans of Irak and the dissensions and discord which then arose XXV. The conflict of Abu Bakr of Shasban with this despot XXVI. How Timur invaded Persian Irak and Shah Mansur went under the floods of that sea which devoured with open mouth XXVII. Of the subtle plan which was uncovered and how that which Shah Mansur wove was unravelled 17 18 18 19 20 22 23 24 24 27 30 32 32 32 34 36 38
XXVIII. Of the battle and destruction which Shah Mansur inflicted on the army of Timur under the wing of night XXIX. Of the events and disasters which befeil after the overthrow of Shah Mansur XXX. Of the efficacy of the time of his entry into Ispahan XXXI. Of the military stations which he imposed on the Moguls and Jatas and his exploits in those parts XXXII. This viper returns to the kingdoms of Fars and Khorasan and crushes the kings of Persian Irak and drains theseprovinces and peoples of all goods XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. The cause of his invading Arabian Irak, though his tyranny needed no reason or cause XXXVI. The rest after that fierce storm and the calming of that troubled sea, that it might break at will the surrounding coasts, freed from fear of it, and make untoward happenings befall there XXXVII. An example of the way in which that faithless despot plunged into the seas of his army, and dived into affairs, then advanced with the surge of calamities; and particularly his plunges into Transoxiana and his Coming forth from the country of Lur XXXVIII. This bastard begins to lay waste Azerbaijan and the kingdoms of Arabian Irak XXXIX. The fort of AI Naja is described XL. The story of the lord of Bagdad, the names of his fathers and ancestors and how he came to this country XLI. Of the trickery and fraud which he committed in the country of Erzinjan and Diar-Bakr XLII. Concerning the calamity and hardship which that treacherous impostor brought upon the sultan of Mardin, Isa Malik Azzahir vii 39 43 43 47 48 51 51 54 55 55 57 60 63 65 66
viii CONTENTS XLIII. His hidden designs become ciear and those evil plans are in vain 68 XLIV. - - - - 69 XLV. Timur returns from Diar-Bakr and Irak, and turns towards the deserts of Kipchak, whose kings and kingdoms are described, with an account of its plains and ways 73 XLVI. That flood comes and sweeps over the peoples of Dasht after breaking Toqtamish 79 XLVII. Concerning the contention that arose in the army of Toqtamish at the time of battle 80 XLVIII. Of the cunning of Idaku and how he deceived Timur and cajoled him 82 XLIX. Of the fights and battles between Toqtamish and Idaku fought in northern parts, until the condition of those parts was utterly changed 84 L. Returning to the Störy of the deeds of Timur and his oppressions 88 LI. He begins to invade the territories of Syria 88 LII. Of the reply which Sultan Aba Yazid gave to Qazi Burhanuddin Abul Abbas, sultan of the territories of Siwas 91 LIII. Of the expedition of the armies of Syria to repel that danger 94 LIV. Of the return of that covetous one (Timur) and his plan of subduing the countries of India 95 LV. Of the stratagem of that deceiver in putting the elephants to flight 97 LVI. That wicked one receives news of the death of kings Abul Abbas Ahmad and Malik Azzahir Barkuk 100 LVII. Of the calamities and new things which befell and evils and injuries which were inflicted when the sword was drawn after the death of the sultan of Siwas 106 LV1II. A fragment of the affairs of the Qazi and how he became ruler of Siwas and those lands 107 LIX. How Qara lluk Othman destroyed the traces of the fires of Sultan Burhanuddin,
ix because of hidden enmity raising open rebellion against him, and seized him, when fortune betrayed and deceived him 109 LX. Of the good counsel which Qara lluk took, but tu med to bad at the prompting of Sheikh Najib 110 LXI. Of the evils which the world and the Faith endured after Sultan Burhanuddin was slain by Qara lluk 114 LXIl. The people of Siwas take counsel how they should proceed and who should rule 114 LXIII. That traitor attacks Siwas and its territories 116 LXIV. The thunderstorms of that exceeding disaster pour from the clouds of greed upon the territories of Syria 117 LXV. Of the letter and base despatch; which he sent to the governors at Haleb, while he was at Aintab 119 LXVI. How the governors in Haleb plotted against Timur, who was at Aintab 120 LXVII. How he poured thunders of swords and breastplates upon the armies of Syria, when he reached Haleb. 123 LXVIII. This disaster is more fully set forth from those things which I have taken from the Chronicle of Ibn AI Shahana 125 VOLUME II CHAPTER I. How the troublous news was brought and Istanbugha Aldawadar and Abdul Qasar came to Damascus 133 II. How Sultan AI Malik AI Nasir set forth from Cairo with troops and armies of Islam 134 III. Of the battle that befell and the breaking of the line, tho' not without profit 138 IV. Of the deceit and fraud practised by Sultan Hussein, son of the sister of Timur 140 V. Of the jealousy and discord which arose among the armies of the Muslims 140
X CONTENTS VI. How the leaders went forth, after the sultan had departed, and sought security fromtimur 143 VII. The deed of one of the more prudent who feared the threatening disaster and by means of his resources preserved men and goods from harm 152 VIII. Of the substance of the letter, which the sultan of Egypt sent to Timur by the hand of Bisaq, after they had fled from him 155 IX. How they set fire to the city to destroy all traces of it 158 X. How those afflictions were removed and those clouds of calamities and troubles dispersed from Syria, along with what she had endured from wrongs and sins 158 XI. Of what befeil in Egypt and other countries after these news were heard and these events and misfortunes known 159 XII. Concerning the blows of the darts of fate and how the leaders of Damascus feil into the claws of his captivity 160 XIII. Of the damage which locusts did after him 162 XIV. Of his awful approach to Mardin and departure from there after a vain siege 164 XV. Abandoning the siege and strife and his obstinacy he marched from Mardin to Bagdad along with his fierce raiders 165 XVI. Of the deeds of Sultan Ahmad, son of Sheikh Avis, when he learnt that that profane man was attacking him 167 XVII. That tyrant returns and halts at Qarabagh 169 XVIII. Of the letter which that obstinate one sent to the sultan of Rum, lldarim AbaYazid 170 XIX. That owl flies to lay waste the realms of Rum 173 XX. Setting forth what Ibn Othman resolved against him, when that flood burst upon him 176
xi XXI. What that cunriing deceiver did and said, that he might entice the armies of the Tatars from lbn Othman 178 XXII. How lbn Othman acted with unsound counsel and went to meet Timur with his unwieldy army 180 XXIII. Showing how that lame one outwitted lbn Othman and his army 181 XXIV. Of the panic which happened after lbn Othman feil into distress and bondage 184 XXV. Of the sons of lbn Othman and how time scattered and destroyed them 186 XXVI. Returns to the affairs of Timur and his evil attempts 187 XXVII. How he grievously afflicted lbn Othman, with evil tales of a past time 188 XXVIII. How Isfandiar came to him and submitted in his presence 190 XXIX. Of the storming of the fort of Izmir (Smyrna) and its destruction, and describing briefly its wonderful position and quality 192 XXX. Of the furthering of his purpose, while he was in the countries of Rum, of attacking the countries of the Khatas and conquering the kingdoms of the Türks 193 XXXI. How the anger of that hunter feil on Allahdad whom he banished to the furthest borders 195 XXXII. An example showing the way through the depths of that surrounding sea, and what the keen diver of its exploration obtained 196 XXXIII. Of the treachery which that deceiver committed against the Tatars after finishing the affairs of Rum 197 XXXIV. How that cloud with its thunderstorms of calamity lifted from the countries of Rum 202 XXXV. How that punishment poured water and fire into the kingdom of Georgia and the countries of the Christians 202 XXXVI. Of the means whereby he gained this impregnable fort and the new and wonderful deed which then happened 205
xii CONTENTS XXXVII. Concluding the history of the doings of Timur, the lame sheikh, in Georgia 207 XXXVIII. How the Georgians sought peace and implored the intercession of their neighbour, Sheikh Ibrahim, governor of Shirwan, with that tyrant 208 XXXIX. How he returned to his home and sought his own country after concluding his destruction 210 XL. How the kings of the borders rose to meet him and went to felicitate him on the success that he had gained 211 XLI. How the Tatars were dispersed, being sent east and west, north and south 212 XLII. Of the prodigies that he planned and the seal of his final crimes, which were fully discharged by the Shepherd of Death 214 XLIII. Some new additions to the circumstances of that vainglorious one 222 XLIV. Of his project against the Khatas, when the Stupor of death truly came upon him and the veil was taken from him and he was removed from the march to hell 225 XLV. Of the command sent by Timur to Allahdad, whereby he split livers and broke hearts and arms and his distraction was increased by anxiety because of troubles 229 XLVI. How that proud tyrant was broken and borne to the house of destruction, where he had his constant seat in the lowest pit of hell 231 XLVII. Of the events and happenings that occurred after the death of Timur and things joyous and evil that befeil 238 XLVIII. Showing who with the help of fortune obtained the throne after the death of Timur 238 XLIX. The armies released from the Standard return to Samarkand with his bones 241 L. Of the secret designs which all the viziers of Timur fostered in their breasts 241 LI. How Khalil Sultan came with the power, which he had gained, to his own country 243
XIII LH. Of the burial of that evil one, who was cast into the pit of pollution 244 LIM. Of the change of seasons and the deeds of Khalil Sultan 245 LIV. Of those amirs and vazirs who made open Opposition and strife and clung to the train of sedition and rebellion 247 LV. Of the deeds of Allahdad, lord of Ashbara, and his leaving it and Coming to his own country 248 LVI. Allahdad receives two letters from Khalil Sultan and Khudaidad, whose substance and sense are at variance and opposite one to the other 250 LV11. Of those whom Allahdad left behind at Ashbara and the strifes and contentions which afterwards arose among them 251 LVIII. What Allahdad did with Khudaidad and how by his arts he stole his mind and deceived him 252 LIX. A letter arrives from Khalil in soft words to settle a hard matter 253 LX. Allahdad comes to Khalil Sultan and abides with great honour in his own country 255 LXI. How Khudaidad awoke while Allahdad stole away his intellect by troubles and afflictions 256 LXII. Of the turns of fortune which befell in Turan after the death of Timur 257 LXIII. How Idaku rose with the Tatars and invaded Transoxiana and those parts 258 LXIV. Of Bir Mahomed, grandson of Timur, and his appointed heir, and what passed between him and Khalil, his kinsman 259 LXV. How Khali! Sultan sent Bin Hussein to defend him and he deserted Khalil Sultan and laid hands on the amirs and opposed Khalil 261 LXVI. Allahdad outwits Sultan Hussein, using craft and guile as remedy for his ruin 262 LXVII. Sultan Hussein makesan agreement with the amirs who were held in bondage by him and moves against Khalil Sultan 264
xiv CONTENTS LXVIII. Khalil Sultan leads his army from Samarkand to meet Sultan Hussein, who was disappointed in his hopes 265 LXIX. Of the other accidents which befell Bir Mahomed, whether fortunate or adverse, and how he came to calamity and sorrow and failure 266 LXX. The armies of Khalil engage with the forces of Kandahar in strenuous combat and inflict on them in their flight grievous slaughter 267 LXXI. Of the mutiny of the army of lraq from Khalil Sultan and the energy which they showed in their defection and of their return to their country 269 LXXII. Concerning the deeds of Bir Mahomed after his defeat and his coming to his own city of Kandahar 270 LXXIII. Of the second expedition of Bir Mahomed against Khalil Sultan and what came to him from his pride and how as at first he was turned to flight 271 LXXIV. Of the device employed by Bir Mahomed, the planning of which harmed him, for it was of little use 272 LXXV. Bir Mahomed sees the injustice of his Usurpation and seeks peace and submits to Khalil Sultan 273 LXXVI. Of the strife and enmity that arose between Bir Mahomed and Bir Ali Taz 274 LXXVII. Of the events which happened in the absence of Khalil Sultan 275 LXXVIII. Khalil Sultan sends for his armies and fights against Sheikh Nuruddin and Khudaidad 275 LXXIX. Sheikh Nuruddin and Khudaidad kindle a fire against Khalil, whereby they might consume him, but God Almighty quenched that fire and protected him 276 LXXX. Nuruddin and Khudaidad depart one from the other and divide that country between them 276 LXXXI. Sheikh Nuruddin returns to excuse himself and is released by Khalil Sultan from his former fault 277 LXXXII. Khalil Sultan gives Orders to buildtarmid, which Jenghizkhan had laid waste, and prepares his army for that work 278 LXXXI11. Of that which Shah Rukh did towards Khorasan opposite to the work of Khalil Sultan 280
XV LXXXIV. Of new events in the parts of iraq and the torrents of blood which flowed when that storm burst 280 LXXXV. Men leaving the city of Samarkand seek their homes in Transoxiana 281 LXXXVI. Of the destruction wrought by deceitful fortune, whereby Khalil was cast into the fire 282 LXXXVII. Showing the plan of Allahdad and his device in sending news to Khudaidad 284 LXXXV1II. Of the stratagem of Khudaidad, by which Khalil Sultan feil into the hunter's net 285 LXXXIX. Of the evils which Samarkand endured when Khudaidad came 287 XC. These things are announced to Shah Rukh, son of Timur, who brings a remedy for those new changes and cuts off the material ofthose disorders 288 XCI. Of those things which happened at Samarkand after the departure of the army of Jand and before the coming of the hawks of Shah Rukh 289 XCII. The füll moons of the prosperity and rule of Shah Rukh revolve in the sky of the kingdoms of Transoxiana after the setting of the sun of the fortune of Khalil 290 XCIII. Of the malice and insolence which Khudaidad strove to accomplish, and how that evil at length reached so far that he suffered punishment 291 XCIV. Adding how Khalil and Khudaidad made and confirmed mutual promises, pacts and friendship, until the destroyer of pleasure seized them both 292 XCV. Khalil Sultan returns from the kingdoms of Andakan and seeks his uncle Shah Rukh and plays with that rook 293 XCVI. Of the wonderful gifts of Timur and his nature and character 295 Appendix 331 Index 334