Tamerlane (Timur)

1336–1405 · Timurid (Central Asia/Uzbekistan) · Timurid Empire

Known for: Turco-Mongol conqueror who built an empire from India to Turkey while constructing towers of skulls

Timur, known in the West as Tamerlane, was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who claimed descent from Genghis Khan and built an empire stretching from India to Turkey. He was lame in his right leg (hence 'Timur the Lame') but led campaigns personally into his late sixties, defeating the Ottoman Empire, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Mamluk Egyptians.

He was responsible for an estimated 17 million deaths—roughly 5% of the world's population—and was famous for building towers and pyramids of skulls outside conquered cities. Yet he was also a patron of arts and architecture, transforming Samarkand into one of the most magnificent cities in the world. He died while preparing to invade China.

Browse all 1,000 figures by category

Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.