31 Facts About Shah Rukh

Shah Rukh was the son of the Central Asian conqueror Timur, who founded the Timurid dynasty in 1370.

However, Shah Rukh ruled only over the eastern portion of the empire established by his father, comprising most of Persia and Transoxiana, the western territories having been lost to invaders in the aftermath of Timur's death.

In spite of this, Shah Rukh's empire remained a cohesive dominion of considerable extent throughout his reign, as well as a dominant power in Asia.

Shah Rukh controlled the main trade routes between Asia and Europe, including the legendary Silk Road, and became immensely wealthy as a result.

Shah Rukh chose to have his capital not in Samarqand as his father had done, but in Herat.

Shah Rukh was a great patron of the arts and sciences, which flourished under his rule.

Shah Rukh spent his reign focusing on the stability of his lands, as well as maintaining political and economic relations with neighbouring kingdoms.

However, it was stated by the 15th-century historian Khwandamir that Shah Rukh's mother was a certain Taghay Tarkhan Agha of the Qara Khitai.

In 1397, Shah Rukh was appointed governor of Khorasan by his father, with his viceregal capital being Herat.

Shah Rukh was never promoted beyond this position during his father's lifetime.

Historical sources give no explanation for their relationship, though there is some evidence which suggests that it was Shah Rukh's ancestry which had affected Timur's lack of favour, being the son of a concubine as opposed to a freeborn wife.

Alternatively, there have been suggestions that Timur believed Shah Rukh did not possess the personal qualities required for ruling; the prince by this point had acquired a reputation for excessive modesty as well as personal piety.

Shah Rukh commanded the left wing of the army, Miran Shah the right and Timur himself in the centre.

Shah Rukh was reported to have said on his deathbed that he "had no other desire than to see the Mirza Shah Rukh once more" and had lamented the fact that he did not have time to do so.

Miran Shah Rukh was killed in battle in 1408 whilst attempting to repel the invaders, with Abu Bakr dying similarly the year after.

Sultan Husayn was defeated by his former ally and fled to Shah Rukh, who had him executed, with his body parts being displayed in the bazaars of Herat.

However, rather than ruling from Samarqand as his father had done, Shah Rukh held court in Herat, which had formerly been his viceregal capital.

The area under Shah Rukh's rule continued to be extended and consolidated over the following years, either through voluntary subjugation by minor rulers or through alliances.

Shah Rukh made many attempts to pacify his western border, both through political and military means, none of which proved entirely successful.

However, less than a year later Shah Rukh was forced to face off a rebellion by the late Turkoman prince's sons.

Shah Rukh was later assassinated by his son Qubad in the fortress of Alinja.

Shah Rukh recovered within a few days and an investigation was launched, which linked Lur to the Hurufis as well as to the family of Astarabadi.

Shah Rukh's reign saw a marked improvement in economic standards and cultural achievements in many areas of the empire.

In regards to his policies, Shah Rukh distanced himself from Timur, with less importance being placed on Mongol concepts of authority.

Shah Rukh abandoned the institution of a figurehead Khan and replaced the Mongol tribunals with Sharia courts.

Shah Rukh similarly did not employ Timur's title of Amir, instead adopting the Islamic and Persian styles of Sultan and Padshah.

Shah Rukh commissioned the production of a number of historical and geographic works by Hafiz-i Abru.

Successive Sultans of Delhi, starting with Khizr Khan, exchanged embassies with the Timurid court and swore their loyalty to the emperor, while the Sultan of Bengal, Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah Rukh, had sought his military support.

However, within a few days Abdal-Latif took both his grandmother and the corpse hostage, possibly in the hopes of launching his own bid for the vacant throne, or to support that of his father, Shah Rukh's last surviving son Ulugh Beg.

Ala al-Dawla, another grandson, defeated his cousin's troops and liberated Gawhar Shad, and afterwards had Shah Rukh interred in the Gawhar Shad Mausoleum in Herat.

The succession struggle among Shah Rukh's family continued for several years, initially between Ulugh Beg and Ala al-Dawla, in which the former emerged victorious.