How many Hindus were slaughtered by Timur?

The exact number of Hindus killed by Timur is unknown, but it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. His invasion of India in the late 14th century (1398–1399 A.D.) was a significant event in Indian history. After his victorious sweep over Persia and Mesopotamia to Asia Minor on the west and his occupation of Afghanistan on the south, Timur turned his attention to India.

By the late 14th century, the Delhi Sultanate, which had been ruling large parts of northern India for centuries, was facing internal conflicts and weak leadership. Taking advantage of this turmoil, Timur, also known as Tamerlane, embarked on a series of military campaigns to expand his own empire.

In his autobiography he describes his conundrum as to whether to attack India or China as both were immensely popular civilizations with vast resources. However, an omen from the Quran settled this conflict and he decided to march against India. Here is the English translation of Timur’s own description of why he decided to invade India or Hindustan as he called it.

About the year 800 A.H. (1398 A.D.), there arose in my heart the desire to lead an expedition against the infidels and to become a Champion of the Faith, for it had reached my ears that the slayer of infidels is a Champion and that, if he is slain, he becomes a martyr. It was for this reason that I formed my resolution, but I was undetermined in my mind whether I should direct my expedition against the infidels of China or against the infidels and polytheists of India. In this matter I sought an omen from the Koran, and the verse to which I opened was this: “O Prophet, make war upon infidels and unbelievers, and treat them with severity.”

My chief officers told me that the inhabitants of Hindustan were infidels and unbelievers. In obedience to the mandate of Almighty God, I determined to make an expedition against them, and I issued orders to the emirs of mature years and to the leaders in war to assemble in my presence, and when they had come together, I questioned the assembly as to whether I should invade Hindustan or China, and said to them: “By the command of God and of His Prophet I needs must make war upon these infidels and polytheists.”

The above excerpt clearly indicates that apart from geographic conquest, Timur considered his invasion a holy war to subjugate polytheistic Hindus.

Invasion of Multan

Timur’s invasion of India began in 1398 with his conquest of Multan, a strategic city in present-day Pakistan. The city ruled by the Langah dynasty at the time and was also known as the Sultanate of Multan. Multan was known for its wealth, as it was an important trading centre along the Indus River. It was also a major centre of Islamic culture, with a significant population of Muslim scholars, mystics, and religious leaders.

Timur’s forces encircled the walls, cutting off the city's supplies and isolating its defenders. The siege lasted for several weeks, during which Timur's armies launched relentless assaults, attempting to breach the city's defences. The defenders of Multan, led by the Langah ruler Malik Sultan Mahmud, put up a valiant resistance, but they were eventually overwhelmed by Timur's superior military might and siege tactics. After a fierce battle, Multan fell to Timur's forces. The conquest of the city resulted in widespread destruction, pillaging, and loss of life. Historical accounts describe the sacking of Multan, with Timur's armies looting its treasures and enslaving a significant portion of its population. The destruction caused by Timur's invasion left a lasting impact on the city and its inhabitants.

Siege of Delhi

From Multan, he proceeded to Delhi, one of the most prominent cities in the Indian subcontinent at the time. In 1398, Timur defeated the forces of Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq of the Tughlaq dynasty, establishing his dominance over the Delhi Sultanate. The battle resulted in the plundering and sacking of Delhi, with reports of widespread destruction and the massacre of its inhabitants. The aftermath of the battle left the city in ruins, a testament to the devastation caused by Taimur's forces.

When the city fell to Timur's forces, Delhi experienced widespread destruction, pillaging, and loss of life. Historical accounts describe the sack of Delhi as one of the most devastating events in medieval Indian history. The city was looted, its treasures seized, and countless buildings and structures were destroyed. Reports mention that Timur's armies massacred a significant number of Delhi's inhabitants, leading to the loss of tens of thousands of lives.

The devastation caused by Timur's invasion of Delhi had far-reaching consequences. The once-great city was left in ruins, its population decimated, and its cultural and architectural heritage severely damaged. The sack of Delhi also had a profound psychological impact, sending shockwaves through the region and leaving a lasting memory of the horrors of war.

Siege of Agra

In the following years, Timur's armies continued their conquests, defeating various rulers across northern India. His forces sacked the city of Agra in January 1399, killing an estimated 50,000 people. They also desecrated the Akshardham Temple, one of the most important Hindu temples in the subcontinent.

Siege of Jaunpur

One notable battle took place in 1399, when Timur clashed with the combined forces of the Jaunpur Sultanate and the Delhi Sultanate led by Mahmud Tughluq. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Taimur's strategic brilliance and superior military tactics allowed him to secure a decisive victory. The defeat of Mahmud Tughluq marked a significant setback for the Delhi Sultanate and further enhanced Taimur's reputation as a formidable conqueror.

Impact

During his conquests, Timur's forces targeted cities and regions across northern India, including Delhi, Multan, and other prominent centres. The primary objectives of his campaigns were to amass wealth, expand his empire, and establish dominance. The consequences of his invasion included pillaging, looting, and the desecration of religious and cultural sites, affecting both Hindu and Muslim populations.

Apart from Delhi, Taimur's armies also desecrated other cities and regions across northern India. Historical records mention the destruction of cities like Meerut, Haridwar, and Mathura, among others. Places of religious importance, such as temples and shrines, were not spared either. The invasion left a lasting impact on the architectural and cultural heritage of the affected regions.

Temples, mosques, and other places of worship were not spared from the destruction. Historical accounts mention the ransacking of numerous temples, resulting in the loss of valuable religious artefacts and the desecration of sacred spaces.

 

The exact number of Hindus killed by Timur is unknown, but it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. His invasion of India in the late 14th century (1398–1399 A.D.) was a significant event in Indian history. After his victorious sweep over Persia and Mesopotamia to Asia Minor on the west and his occupation of Afghanistan on the south, Timur turned his attention to India.

By the late 14th century, the Delhi Sultanate, which had been ruling large parts of northern India for centuries, was facing internal conflicts and weak leadership. Taking advantage of this turmoil, Timur, also known as Tamerlane, embarked on a series of military campaigns to expand his own empire.

In his autobiography he describes his conundrum as to whether to attack India or China as both were immensely popular civilizations with vast resources. However, an omen from the Quran settled this conflict and he decided to march against India. Here is the English translation of Timur’s own description of why he decided to invade India or Hindustan as he called it.

About the year 800 A.H. (1398 A.D.), there arose in my heart the desire to lead an expedition against the infidels and to become a Champion of the Faith, for it had reached my ears that the slayer of infidels is a Champion and that, if he is slain, he becomes a martyr. It was for this reason that I formed my resolution, but I was undetermined in my mind whether I should direct my expedition against the infidels of China or against the infidels and polytheists of India. In this matter I sought an omen from the Koran, and the verse to which I opened was this: “O Prophet, make war upon infidels and unbelievers, and treat them with severity.”

My chief officers told me that the inhabitants of Hindustan were infidels and unbelievers. In obedience to the mandate of Almighty God, I determined to make an expedition against them, and I issued orders to the amirs of mature years and to the leaders in war to assemble in my presence, and when they had come together, I questioned the assembly as to whether I should invade Hindustan or China, and said to them: “By the command of God and of His Prophet I needs must make war upon these infidels and polytheists.”

The above excerpt clearly indicates that apart from geographic conquest,Timur considered his invasion a holy war to subjugate polytheistic Hindus.

Invasion of Multan

Timur’s invasion of India began in 1398 with his conquest of Multan, a strategic city in present-day Pakistan. The city ruled by the Langah dynasty at the time and was also known as the Sultanate of Multan. Multan was known for its wealth, as it was an important trading center along the Indus River. It was also a major center of Islamic culture, with a significant population of Muslim scholars, mystics, and religious leaders.

Timur’s forces encircled the walls, cutting off the city's supplies and isolating its defenders. The siege lasted for several weeks, during which Timur's armies launched relentless assaults, attempting to breach the city's defenses. The defenders of Multan, led by the Langah ruler Malik Sultan Mahmud, put up a valiant resistance, but they were eventually overwhelmed by Timur's superior military might and siege tactics. After a fierce battle, Multan fell to Timur's forces. The conquest of the city resulted in widespread destruction, pillaging, and loss of life. Historical accounts describe the sacking of Multan, with Timur's armies looting its treasures and enslaving a significant portion of its population. The destruction caused by Timur's invasion left a lasting impact on the city and its inhabitants.

Siege of Delhi

From Multan, he proceeded to Delhi, one of the most prominent cities in the Indian subcontinent at the time. In 1398, Timur defeated the forces of Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq of the Tughlaq dynasty, establishing his dominance over the Delhi Sultanate. The battle resulted in the plundering and sacking of Delhi, with reports of widespread destruction and the massacre of its inhabitants. The aftermath of the battle left the city in ruins, a testament to the devastation caused by Taimur's forces.

When the city fell to Timur's forces, Delhi experienced widespread destruction, pillaging, and loss of life. Historical accounts describe the sack of Delhi as one of the most devastating events in medieval Indian history. The city was looted, its treasures seized, and countless buildings and structures were destroyed. Reports mention that Timur's armies massacred a significant number of Delhi's inhabitants, leading to the loss of tens of thousands of lives.

The devastation caused by Timur's invasion of Delhi had far-reaching consequences. The once-great city was left in ruins, its population decimated, and its cultural and architectural heritage severely damaged. The sack of Delhi also had a profound psychological impact, sending shockwaves through the region and leaving a lasting memory of the horrors of war.

Siege of Agra

In the following years, Timur's armies continued their conquests, defeating various rulers across northern India. His forces sacked the city of Agra in January 1399, killing an estimated 50,000 people. They also desecrated the Akshardham Temple, one of the most important Hindu temples in the subcontinent.

Siege of Jaunpur

One notable battle took place in 1399, when Timur clashed with the combined forces of the Jaunpur Sultanate and the Delhi Sultanate led by Mahmud Tughluq. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Taimur's strategic brilliance and superior military tactics allowed him to secure a decisive victory. The defeat of Mahmud Tughluq marked a significant setback for the Delhi Sultanate and further enhanced Taimur's reputation as a formidable conqueror.

Impact

During his conquests, Timur's forces targeted cities and regions across northern India, including Delhi, Multan, and other prominent centers. The primary objectives of his campaigns were to amass wealth, expand his empire, and establish dominance. The consequences of his invasion included pillaging, looting, and the desecration of religious and cultural sites, affecting both Hindu and Muslim populations.

Apart from Delhi, Taimur's armies also desecrated other cities and regions across northern India. Historical records mention the destruction of cities like Meerut, Haridwar, and Mathura, among others. Places of religious importance, such as temples and shrines, were not spared either. The invasion left a lasting impact on the architectural and cultural heritage of the affected regions.

Temples, mosques, and other places of worship were not spared from the destruction. Historical accounts mention the ransacking of numerous temples, resulting in the loss of valuable religious artifacts and the desecration of sacred spaces.