In 1404, Tamerlane built an elaborate mausoleum for a favorite grandson who died young. It was called the Gur-Emir mausoleum, or "emir's tomb" (emir is Arabic for "ruler" or "commander"). After Tamerlane's death, his family buried him there as well, and other notable descendants were later buried there. In June 1941, Samarkand was part of the Soviet Union, and Soviet scientists came to the mausoleum to open the graves inside. According to a local legend, residents told the scientists not to touch Tamerlane's ashes; if they did, the people claimed, war would break out. The scientists ignored the warning, and Germany invaded the Soviet Union just a few days later. Famous for its architecture Gur-Emir today is a popular tourist attraction in Samarkand, which is now in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek government has also honored Tamerlane, erecting statues of him during the 1990s.
Tamerlane's tomb in Samarkand.
Range of countries. Like the Mongols, Tamerlane demanded strict discipline from his troops. They were trained to follow orders communicated by the beat of a large drum. To win loyalty, Tamerlane shared the wealth he collected through conquest. He wrote (as quoted by David Nicolle in The Mongol Warlords), “To encourage my officers and soldiers I have not hoarded gold or jewels for myself. I admit my men to my table and in return they give me their lives in battle. I give generously and share in their sufferings. . . .” Some men who showed extreme bravery or skill were made tarkhans. As a tarkhan, a soldier did not have to pay taxes and could see the emperor without asking for permission.
In his government, Tamerlane kept many of the old titles that had been used in the Ilkhanate and Ulus Chaghatai. Two sets of officials, one Persian and one Turko-Mongolian, carried out the empire’s policies. Both sets handled military and political affairs, although the Persians focused
Mostly on political events in the sedentary parts of the empire. Tamerlane used government positions to reward the ruling classes in the lands he conquered. These jobs gave the local officials power and a source of money-and strengthened their loyalty to Tamerlane.
Animals of the Army
Under Tamerlane, as with the nomadic Mongols before him, the horse remained the most important animal used in combat. But Tamerlane also relied on other creatures to carry out his battle plans. To communicate over long distances, he used carrier pigeons, which flew with messages strapped to their legs. Tamerlane also was the first Turko-Mongolian emperor to use battle elephants, which had been used for centuries in parts of Eurasia.
The most important function of the government was collecting taxes, both tributes or taxes on wealth. Tamerlane, like all rulers, needed money to support his army and a lavish lifestyle. His government, like the khanates before it, taxed goods carried along the Silk Road and other trade routes. Another key job of high-ranking Persians and Turko-Mongols was making sure the local officials beneath them did what they were told. In some cases, Tamerlane let local governors stay in power after he defeated them, while royal officials collected taxes for the empire.
World History
