Miran Shah
Encyclopedia
Miran Shah was a son of Timur
, and a Timurid governor during his father's lifetime.
Miran Shah's first charge was a vast region centered around Qandahar, which he was granted in 1383. That same year, he destroyed a rebellion against Timurid authority by the Kartids
, then vassals of Timur in Khurasan
under their leader Ghyas al-Din. To solidify control over the area, in 1396 he invited the remaining Kartid princes to a banquet and slew them.
In the winter of 1386 Miran Shah defeated an invading force of the Golden Horde
that was on its way to Persia. He captured several prisoners, but these were released under light conditions when handed over to Timur.
In 1396 Miran Shah was given control of Azerbaijan
, principally the cities of Soltaniyeh
, the former capital of the Ilkhans, and Tabriz
. In the summer of 1398 he marched from Tabriz with the goal of subduing the Jalayirids
of Baghdad
, but was forced to call off the expedition. Meanwhile, rumors had come to Timur that his son was planning to betray him. The conqueror was also angry over Miran Shah's refusal to solve the problems of tax dodgers within his area, and over his son's inability to keep the important fortress of Alinjaq out of the hands of the Jalayirids. In 1399 Timur sent a force under his nephew Sulaiman Shah to summon Miran Shah. The latter came with Sulaiman Shah willingly back to his father, where he was deposed of his governorship and assigned to his father's company for four years. His friends and advisors were executed.
Because of mental difficulties caused by an accident, Miran Shah was not a candidate for succeeding Timur. In the struggle that followed Timur's death in 1405, his son Aba Bakr managed to oust Jalayirid forces from Tabriz and Miran Shah reestablished himself in Azerbaijan. At the same time, Miran Shah supported another son, Khalil Sultan, in his claims the throne. He marched with Aba Bakr in an attempt to reinforce Khalil, but eventually turned back. Meanwhile, he had to deal with the growing threat of the Black Sheep Turkmen, under Qara Yusuf
. The latter defeated Aba Bakr at Nakhichevan
in 1406 and again at Sardrud
in 1408. In the last battle, Miran Shah was killed.
The line of Miran Shah continued to play a prominent role in the remnants of the Timurid Empire, when Abu Sa'id
came to power in Transoxiana
. He is also the ancestor of Babur
, the founder of the Mughal Empire
.
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
, and a Timurid governor during his father's lifetime.
Miran Shah's first charge was a vast region centered around Qandahar, which he was granted in 1383. That same year, he destroyed a rebellion against Timurid authority by the Kartids
Kartids
The Kartid Dynasty was a Persian dynasty that ruled over a large part of Khorassan during the 13th and 14th centuries...
, then vassals of Timur in Khurasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
under their leader Ghyas al-Din. To solidify control over the area, in 1396 he invited the remaining Kartid princes to a banquet and slew them.
In the winter of 1386 Miran Shah defeated an invading force of the Golden Horde
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate that formed the north-western sector of the Mongol Empire...
that was on its way to Persia. He captured several prisoners, but these were released under light conditions when handed over to Timur.
In 1396 Miran Shah was given control of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, principally the cities of Soltaniyeh
Soltaniyeh
Soltaniyeh is a city in and capital of Soltaniyeh District of Abhar County, Zanjan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 5,684, in 1,649 families. Soltaniyeh, located some to the north-west of Tehran, used to be the capital of Mongol Ilkhanid rulers of Persia in the 14th century....
, the former capital of the Ilkhans, and Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
. In the summer of 1398 he marched from Tabriz with the goal of subduing the Jalayirids
Jalayirids
The Jalayirids were a Mongol Jalayir dynasty which ruled over Iraq and western Persia after the breakup of the Mongol Khanate of Persia in the 1330s....
of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, but was forced to call off the expedition. Meanwhile, rumors had come to Timur that his son was planning to betray him. The conqueror was also angry over Miran Shah's refusal to solve the problems of tax dodgers within his area, and over his son's inability to keep the important fortress of Alinjaq out of the hands of the Jalayirids. In 1399 Timur sent a force under his nephew Sulaiman Shah to summon Miran Shah. The latter came with Sulaiman Shah willingly back to his father, where he was deposed of his governorship and assigned to his father's company for four years. His friends and advisors were executed.
Because of mental difficulties caused by an accident, Miran Shah was not a candidate for succeeding Timur. In the struggle that followed Timur's death in 1405, his son Aba Bakr managed to oust Jalayirid forces from Tabriz and Miran Shah reestablished himself in Azerbaijan. At the same time, Miran Shah supported another son, Khalil Sultan, in his claims the throne. He marched with Aba Bakr in an attempt to reinforce Khalil, but eventually turned back. Meanwhile, he had to deal with the growing threat of the Black Sheep Turkmen, under Qara Yusuf
Qara Yusuf
Abu Nasr Qara Yusuf Nuyan ibn Muhammad was the ruler of the Kara Koyunlu or Black Sheep Turkomans from c.1388 to 1420, although his reign was interrupted by the Timurid invasion .-The Jalayirid vassalage broken:...
. The latter defeated Aba Bakr at Nakhichevan
Nakhichevan
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. The region covers 5,363 km² and borders Armenia to the east and north, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest...
in 1406 and again at Sardrud
Sardrud
Sardrud is a city in the Central District of Tabriz County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 24,858, in 6,903 families....
in 1408. In the last battle, Miran Shah was killed.
The line of Miran Shah continued to play a prominent role in the remnants of the Timurid Empire, when Abu Sa'id
Abu Sa'id (Timurid dynasty)
Abū Saʿīd b. Muḥammad b. Mīrānshāh b. Timūr , was a Timurid Empire ruler in what is today parts of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan and member of the Timurid dynasty....
came to power in Transoxiana
Transoxiana
Transoxiana is the ancient name used for the portion of Central Asia corresponding approximately with modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, southern Kyrgystan and southwest Kazakhstan. Geographically, it is the region between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers...
. He is also the ancestor of Babur
Babur
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
, the founder of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
.