The eternal decree and unchanging will of God hath adorned the world by assigning thousands of designs to everything. Thus the Almighty, by implanting in the fifty-two persons who form the lofty line of the king of kings and who are the instruction of the wise,—command, wisdom, sovereignty, guidance, favour, bounty and other glorious graces and illustrious qualities, fashioned and finished the unique pearl of the Imperial Vicegerency (Khilāfat). And from and after Qācūlī Bahādur, He caused seven heroes of the sacred line to descend from the position of visible sovereignty and awarded them the status of Commander-in-Chief and king-making (shāhinshāhī) so that by experiencing the stage of subjection in the garb of obedience, they might in an admirable manner, set forth to the apparatus of the universal laboratory. And as for the exalted ancestors who spent their days in Īrganaqūn, albeit we have no record of them, yet they too, generation after generation, were seized of greatness. Though the name of sovereignty was not, they possessed the reality and shewed it forth by preserving their honour while shut out from the haunts of men. And now that the stages of solitude and society had been fulfilled and a complete preparation had been made for the coming forth of the unique pearl of his Majesty, the king of kings, God, the Creator of the world, stripped off the disguise of dependency which had seemingly been imported into the line by the counsels of Tūmana Khān, and displayed a hero fit for and capable of a great sovereignty. Such was the appearance of his Majesty, the Lord of Conjunction, Adorner of the Seven Climes, Exalter of Throne and Diadem, Amīr Tīmūr Gūrgān. This great one came forth and planted his foot in existence in the environs of Kesh,* commonly known as the Shahr-i-sabz (Green City) and one of the towns of Īrān,* on the night of Tuesday, 25th Sha‘bān, 736* (9th April, 1336) in the Mouse Year (First of the Turkish cycle) under the Sign of Capricorn, from the fair womb and pure veil of her Majesty, the perfection of modesty and blessedness, glory of choiceness and purity, guardian of realm and religion, Tagīna* Khātūn. This axis of the sphere of the great vicegerency and ocean-centre of sublime sovereignty is the star of fortune which arose eighth from out the bosom of Qācūlī Bahādur.
According to the view of one historian,* the true vision of Qācūlī Bahādur was fulfilled thereby but, as has already been indicated, this day was, according to the profound investigations of the wise and far-seeing,* only the beginning of the ascent of the constellation and the flashing of the first star.
In the fortunate Age in which the Lord of Conjunction was born, Tarmashīrīn* Khān, son of Davā Khān, son of Barāq Khān, son of Bīsūtawā, son of Bīsūkān, son of Caghatāī Khān was ruling in Transoxiana. In Īrān four months had passed since the death of Sulān Abū Sa‘īd* and there was on that account universal confusion in that country.
Amīr Sāḥib Qarān from his earliest years up to the flower of his youth, was occupied in practising the art of hunting* and the methods of war and battles. In the Mouse Year 762* (1361) Amīr arāghāī departed from this world. He had four sons and two daughters, viz., Ṣāḥib Qarānī, ‘Ālam Shaikh, Siyūrghtamsh, Jūkī, Qutlagh* Tarkān Āghā and Shīrīn Bēgī Āghā.
When Ṣāḥib Qarānī arrived at the age of 34* solar years, he with auspicious horoscope and lofty fortune and by the counselling of his God-given wisdom which is a station of Divine inspiration, placed on his head on Wednesday, 12 Ramaẓān, 771 (9, April,* 1370), corresponding to the year of the Dog (Īt) the diadem of rule and the crown of world-conquest and made lofty the throne of sovereignty and world-government. And for 36* years which was the time of his supremacy and world-adornment, he brought under his control and into his permanent possession, the countries of Transoxiana, Khwārizm, Turkistān, Khurāsān, the two ‘Irāqs,* Āẕarbāījān, Persia, Māzindarān, Kirmān, Dīyārbakr, Khūzistān, Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor (Rūm), etc., by means of his world-conquering courage and his capacious intellect, and uplifted the banners of authority and sovereignty in the four quarters of the world and in the seven climes.
Whosoever was befriended* of Salvation, came forward to meet him with the foot of obedience and for such an one, the rose of auspiciousness bloomed on Fortune's pinnacle. Whoever had misfortune and eventual destruction enfolded in his skirt, and disengaged his head from the collar of submission, arrived with tearing of hair* at the Judgment-seat of the Dispenser (Qahramān) of Justice and beheld in his own bosom the thorn-brake offspring of his acts.
On Monday of Ẕī-l-qa‘da* 789, he massacred the inhabitants of Iṣpahān on account of their sedition and rebellion. Thence he turned the reins of resolution towards the capital (Shīrāz) of Persia (Fārs) where the Muaffar* family (Āl-i-muaffar) became his servants. When news came of the opposition of Tūqtamish* Khān the ruler of Dasht Qipcāk* (the desert of Qipcāk, i.e., the Khirgiz Steppe) and one of those who had been supported* by his Majesty (Tīmūr), he twice led his army against him and having exalted the banners of victory, he returned. He traversed Dasht Qipcāk which is a thousand leagues (farsangs) long and six hundred wide and cleared it of the rubbish of strife.* A second time he marched against Īrān in 795 (1393) and brought death to Shāh Manṣūr* who had cocked* the bonnet of frowardness, and he extirpated the Muaffar race.
And in that country, he performed feats which obliterated those of Rustam* and Afrāsīāb* and for the sake of the repose of the ministers* of his victorious dominion, converted the country of Persia into a thornless garden (gulzār-i-bīkhār). After* that he conquered Baghdād by the strength of his dominion and fortune. He went several times into Georgia and brought there as his companions, victory and conquest. In 12 Muḥarram, 801 (23rd September, 1398), he made a noble* bridge over the Indus and by dominion and fortune conquered Hindūstān.* In 803 (October 1400) he made an expedition against Syria,* and then raised the morning-breeze of fortune. The lights of celestial victories illumined that world-conqueror. On that occasion Aleppo was taken and then the army went to Damascus and shed the blood of the rulers of Syria who were confined in the wretchedness* of prison.
Next year he raised his standards for the purpose of subduing Rūm and on Friday, 19* Ẕī-l-ḥijja, 804 (20th July, 1402), having arrayed his army and adorned the flag of contest with the crescent of victory, he fought near Angora (Ancyra), a glorious battle with Īlderim (Thunderbolt), the Cæsar of Rūm, and by the secret aids which rode* always beside this royal cavalier of the plain of supremacy, the assembled armies of victory and conquest became his stirrup-holders, and the proclamation* of success was issued in the name of that world-subduing lord. Īlderim Bāyazīd (Bajazet) was made prisoner and when they produced him at the foot of the lofty throne, he was, out of perfect kindness and chivalry, given a seat above the princes.*
From thence* Tīmūr went to Āẕarbāījān and spent there eighteen months in the administration of justice. Kings and kings' sons from various countries came and did homage. The ruler of Egypt coined much red and white money in his name and sent it to the world-protecting Court. Other rulers of the surrounding countries raised the flag of well-wishing on the plain of obedience. And from the pulpits of Mecca, Medina and other holy places, the khuba was read in his name. In Ẕī-l-qa‘da, 806 (May, 1404), he marched against Fīrūza-kūh* and having won victory there that very day, he, without delay, turned towards Khurāsān. In the beginning of Muḥarram 807 (9th-10th July, 1404) he went by Nīshāpūr to Transoxiana and there in his native country inaugurated a great feast* such as astonished the lords of greatness and splendour.
After gratifying mankind with largesses and favours, he set forth to subdue the territories of China (Khiā).
On the night of Wednesday, 17 Sha‘bān, 807 (18th February, 1405) in the village (mauẓa‘) of Utrār* which is 76 leagues (farsakh) from Samarqand, he, by the irresistible order of God turned his face towards the eternal city and rode the steed of life into the spacious abode of the everlasting world. They brought his sublime corse to Samarqand with the respect due to so great a man. The following lines record the years of the events of this world-adorner.