I
Tamerlane was the son of the chief of a Mongolian tribe in Central
Asia. His real name was Timour, but as he was lamed in battle when
a youth he was generally called Timour the Lame, and this name
was gradually changed to Tamerlane. He was born in 1333, so that
he lived in the time of the English king, Edward III, when the
Black Prince was winning his victories over the French. He was
a descendant of a celebrated Tatar soldier, Genghis (_jen'ghis_)
Khan, who conquered Persia, China, and other countries of Asia.
When twenty-four years old Tamerlane became the head of his tribe,
and in a few years he made himself the leader of the whole Mongolian
race.
He was a tall, stern-looking man, of great strength, and, although
lame in his right leg, could ride a spirited horse at full gallop
and do all the work of an active soldier. He was as brave as a
lion--and as cruel.
He chose the ancient city of Sa-mar-cand', in Tur-kis-tan', for
his capital; and here he built a beautiful marble palace, where
he lived in the greatest luxury.
[Illustration: TAMERLANE]
After he had enjoyed for some time the honors which fell to him as
chief ruler of the Mongolians, he began to desire further conquests.
He determined to make himself master of all the countries of Central
Asia.
"As there is but one God in heaven," he said, "there ought to be
but one ruler on the earth."
So he gathered an immense army from all parts of his dominion,
and for weeks his subjects were busy making preparations for war.
At length he started for Persia in command of a splendid army.
After gaining some brilliant victories he forced the Persian king
to flee from his capital.
All the rich country belonging to Persia, from the Tigris to the
Euphrates, submitted to the Mongolian conqueror.
Tamerlane celebrated his Persian conquest by magnificent festivities
which continued for a week. Then orders were given to march into
the great Tatar empire of the North. Here Tamerlane was victorious
over the principal chiefs and made them his vassals. In pursuing
the Tatars he entered Russia and sacked and burned some of the
Russian cities. He did not, however, continue his invasion of this
country, but turned in the direction of India.
At last his army stood before the city of Delhi, and after a fierce
assault forced it to surrender. Other cities of India were taken
and the authority of Tamerlane was established over a large extent
of the country.