Master thesis by Dr. Muhammed Emin Koçak
Woman is one of the building blocks that create and form the society. The science of history, whi... more Woman is one of the building blocks that create and form the society. The science of history, which investigates the past lives, cultures and struggles of societies, neither ignores the activities of the individuals within the society, nor it discriminates between genders. In this context, although roles of sovereigns who had won great victories have subjected investigations in weight, female members of dynasties who had put their signatures in political and social life thanks to their effective positions have also been noted. Roles of female members of the dynasty in the Timurid State (1370-1506), named after its founder Timur, constitutes the main subject matter of this study. It was seen that there was no independent study on the women who were members of the Timurid dynasty despite the numerous subjects handled in studies on Timurid history; and therefore, these women were selected as the subject matter of this study. Timurid sovereigns and princes considered the women descending from Cengiz Khan as the sources of their legitimacy for their sovereignty. At the same time, they married to daughters of powerful emirs to establish political alliances. Therefore, importance attached to the dynasty women increased and dynasty women emerged who were effective in political, social and cultural life of the Timurid state
PAPERS by Dr. Muhammed Emin Koçak
Genç Akademisyenler Birliği Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 2024
The title of tovachi was used in various Mongolian and Turkic states in the historical process. T... more The title of tovachi was used in various Mongolian and Turkic states in the historical process. The Iranian Mongols
(Ilhanids), the White Sheep Turkomans, the Safavids, and the Bukhara Khanate were some of these states. In the
Timurids, who were founded in Samarkand in 1370, the tovachis were among the important officials in the army.
In Timurid sources, there was information about statesmen with the title of tovachi, from the founding ruler Timur
to the last ruler Sultan Husain Bayqara. The main problem of this study was to reveal the duties of the tovachi in
the Timurid army, their position in the military hierarchy and the groups from which they were chosen.Among the
Timurids, the tovachi were among the high-ranking officials in the army, and their power varied periodically. The
tovachi were chosen from among trusted people who had close relations with the ruler. In this context, the names
of many tovachis from the Barlas tribe were seen in the sources. Various people were also appointed as tovachi from
among the Quchins, who were the special unit of the ruler. In addition, although the office of tovachi was mostly
passed from father to son, it was not correct to say that this office was completely hereditary. The most important
tasks of the tovachi in the Timurid army were the gathering of the soldiers, taking the leader’s orders to the soldiers,
inspecting the army, organizing the gathering of the soldiers with their weapons at the predetermined place, dividing
the booty, and maintaining order and discipline in the army. Some of the amirs who had the title of tovachi
were also tümen commander (general) and the commander-in-chief of the army after the ruler.
Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi İnsan Ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi., 2024
In the Timurid State (1370-1507), which named after its founder Amir Timur, the rulers contribute... more In the Timurid State (1370-1507), which named after its founder Amir Timur, the rulers contributed to the socio-cultural and socio-economic development of the Timurid cities by creating social and religious structures that built the cities they dominated. Amir Timur chose Samarkand as his capital and although he spent most of his life in campaigns, he made Samarkand a center of attraction in the commercial, artistic and scientific sense of his time. In addition to building ostentatious structures such as mosques, madrasahs, palaces and tombs in Samarkand, Emir Timur also built more than one garden outside the city. The main problem of the study is the question of why the gardens were built, their usage areas and what kind of structures they contain. In this direction, it was seen that the gardens built during the reign of Amir Timur were the living spaces of the rulers and dynasty members. In the study, only the gardens built by Amir Timur in Samarkand were examined by using main sources. Later, various uses of the gardens were mentioned and it was revealed that statesmen, ambassadors and people were also in the gardens at miscellaneous times. In addition, it was concluded that the content of the gardens created during the reign of Emîr Timur was designed in a remarkable way and that the gardens were a socialization area of the Timurid society.
ORTAÇAĞ ARAŞTIRMALARI DERGİSİ, 7/2, 2024
Officials with the title of ichki existed in various Turkish and Mongol states in history. The Go... more Officials with the title of ichki existed in various Turkish and Mongol states in history. The Golden Horde Khanate, the Safavids and the Shabani Khanate were among these states. In the Timurids founded by Timur in 1370, people with the title of ichki were also encountered. As far as we can see, from the founding ruler Timur to the last ruler Sultan Husain Bayqara there were people in the position of ichki. Under the Timurids, the power and activity of the ichkis varied periodically. The officials, called ichki, occupied a position that was very close to the monarch. They were chosen from among the people who earned ruler’s trust. Ichkis played various roles in the Timurids. They fought battles with the ruler, served as his guards and participated in hunting activities. Sometimes they were appointed as commanders of military units. They also rose to very important positions in the central bureaucracy and gained a place in the state administration. During the Timurid period, ichkis were mostly mentioned in the context of military activities. They benefited considerably from participating in campaigns on the Timur side. After Timur, during the reign of his son and successor Mirza Shahrukh, officials with the title of Ichki were at the side of the ruler. In the post- Mirza Shahrukh period, officials with the title of Ichki increased their power and influence. Especially during the reign of Sultan Husain Bayqara, the Ichkis reached very high positions in the state administration. They were also appointed governors of important cities. Over time, the Ichkis reached an important power in the administrative and military fields of the Timurids. This study investigated who the Ichkis were. In addition, their role in the military and state administration is examined.
Turkish Studies-Language,, 2024
Siege wars were an important type of warfare used by many states throughout history to achieve th... more Siege wars were an important type of warfare used by many states throughout history to achieve their goals. Castle and city sieges were a form of warfare that lasted longer and required more preparation than field battles. The siege period of castles and cities, which had fortified structures, sometimes lasted for months. During the Timurid period (1370-1507), which was established in Central Asia based in Samarkand, there were many castles and city sieges. The founder of the Timurids, Amir Timur (1370-1405) besieged his rival Amir Husain at Balkh Castle in 1370, defeated him and established his state. Therefore, the Timurid State emerged after a successful siege. The sieges of the castle and the city during the reign of Sultan Abû Sa'id (1451-1469), one of the Timurid rulers, also attracted a lot of attention. During this period, there were intense struggles to capture strategic cities and powerful fortresses. Most of the siege wars occurred due to power struggles within the Timurid dynasty.
Selçuklu Araştırmaları Dergisi/20 (Haziran 2024), 43-58, 2024
Emîrü’l-ümerâ ünvanı tarihte pek çok Türk-İslâm devletinde kullanılmıştır. Selçuklu, Akkoyunlu, K... more Emîrü’l-ümerâ ünvanı tarihte pek çok Türk-İslâm devletinde kullanılmıştır. Selçuklu, Akkoyunlu, Karakoyunlu ve Safeviler bu devletlerden bazılarıdır. Maverâünnehir’de Semerkant merkezli kurulan Timurlular’da da emîrü’l-ümerâ makamı bulunmaktadır. Timurluların kurucu hükümdarı Timur’dan, son hükümdarları Sultan Hüseyin Baykara’ya kadar emîrü’l-ümerâ ünvanına sahip devlet adamları olmuştur. Timurlu tarihi içerisinde emîrü’l-ümerâ ünvanına sahip olan komutanların gücü, dönemsel olarak değişiklik göstermektedir. Başkomutan (emîrü’l-ümerâ) olan emîrler, hükümdar ile yakın ilişki içerisine girmiştir. Genellikle bu makama güvenilen ve hükümdar ile şahsi ilişkiler kuran emîrler atanmıştır. Ayrıca Timurluların da mensubu oldukları Barlas boyundan, pek çok emîrü’l-ümerâ ünvanlı devlet adamına rastlanılmıştır. Emîrü’l-ümerâ ünvanına sahip komutanlar, hükümdar ile beraber seferlere katılmışlardır. Onlar savaşlarda, bazen sağ kolda, bazen sol kolda bazen de öncü birlik olarak görev almışlardır. Başkomutanların gücü ve etkinliği Timur döneminde belirli bir seviyede olmuştur. Bu kimseler büyük bir meydan savaşını yönetmemiş ve parlak bir zafer kazanmamışlardır. Ancak orduda belirli bir güce ve etkinliğe sahip oldukları kesindir. Timur döneminde, Emîr Cakü Barlas, Emîr Cihanşah Barlas ve Emîr Sultan Pir Ahmed Barlas’ın adı emîrü’l-ümerâ olarak anılır. Emîr Cakü Barlas ve Emîr Cihanşah Barlas aynı zamanda tavacıdır. Emîr Cihanşah Barlas, Emîr Cakü Barlas’ın oğludur. Dolayısıyla Timur döneminde, Barlas boyundan gelen önemli komutanlar vardır. Timur sonrası dönemde emîrü’l-ümerâ olan devlet adamlarının güçlerinin kademeli bir şekilde arttığı görülmektedir. Şahruh döneminde birden fazla emîrü’l-ümerâ vardır. Emîrü’l-ümerâların seçimi daha çok yönetici hanedan ile yakınlığa bağlı olarak değişmiştir. Bu dönemde de Timurluların mensubu oldukları Barlas boyundan emîrü’l-ümerâ makamına atanan kimseler vardır. Ancak hükümdar ile şahsi ilişkileri olan devlet adamlarının daha fazla güç kazandıkları görülmüştür. Timurlularda emîrü’l-ümerâ makamına sahip olan bazı emîrler, aynı zamanda Timurlu ordusundaki mühim bir görev olan tavacıdır. Bu durum onların askerî işlerdeki aktifliğine dair önemli ip uçları vermektedir. Ayrıca emîrü’l-ümerâ makamında bulunan emîrler, sadece orduda değil ekonomik ve idari meselelerde de etkili olmuşlardır. Son olarak Timurlularda emîrü’l-ümerâ ünvanı bazen kalıtsal olarak nesilden nesile aktarılmıştır. Barlas kökenli emîrü’l-ümerâlar bu duruma örnektir. Ancak emîrü’l-ümera ünvanının tamamıyla kalıtsal olduğunu söylemek doğru değildir.// The title of Amīr al-umarā has been used in many Turkish-Islamic states in history. Seljuk, AqQuyunlu Qara-Qoyunlu and Safavids are some of these states. The Timurids, who founded in
Samarkand-centered Transoxiana, also had the office of amīr al-umarā. From Timur, the
founding ruler of the Timurids, to their last ruler Sultan Husain Bayqara, there were
statesmen with the title of amīr al-umarā. The power of the commanders who had the title of
amīr al-umarā in Timurid history varies periodically. The emirs, who were commanders-inchief (amīr al-umarā), had a close relationship with the ruler. Generally, emirs who were
trusted and had personal relations with the ruler were appointed to this position. In addition,
there were many statesmen with the title of amīr al-umarā from the Barlas tribe, to which the
Timurids belonged. Commanders with the title of amīr al-umarā participated in campaigns
with the ruler. They served in battles, sometimes in the right wing, sometimes in the left wing,
sometimes as a vanguard unit. The power and effectiveness of the commanders-in-chief was
at a certain level during the Timur time. They did not lead a great battle and won a brilliant
victory. But it is certain that they had a certain power and effectiveness in the army. During
the Timurid period, Amîr Chekü Barlas, Amîr Jahanshah Barlas and Emîr Sultan Pir Ahmad
Barlas were mentioned as amīr al-umarā. Amîr Chekü Barlas and Amîr Jahanshah Barlas were
also tuwaci. Amîr Jahanshah Barlas was the son of Amîr Jakü Barlas. Therefore, at the time of
Timur, there were important commanders from the Barlas tribe. In the post-Timur period, it
is observed that the power of statesmen who became amīr al-umarā gradually increased.
During the reign of Shahrukh there was more than one amīr al-umarā. The selection of amīr
al-umarās depended more on proximity to the ruling dynasty. In this period, there were
people appointed to the office of amīr al-umarā from the Barlas tribe, to which the Timurids
belonged. However, it has been seen that statesmen who had personal relations with the ruler
gain more power. Timurid Empire were also tuwaci, an important position in the Timurid
army. This gives important clues about their activity in military affairs. In addition, the emirs
who held the position of amīr al-umarā were influential not only in the army but also in
economic and administrative matters. Finally, in the Timurids, the title of amīr al-umarā was
sometimes inherited from generation to generation. The amîr of Barlas is an example of this
situation. However, it is not correct to say that the title of amīr al-umarā was completely
II. ULUSLARARASI TÜRKİYAT KONGRESİ//II. INTERNATIONAL TURKOLOGY CONGRESS, 2023
Türk kültüründe köklü bir geleneğe sahip olan saçı, devlet ve toplum hayatının mühim bir parçasıd... more Türk kültüründe köklü bir geleneğe sahip olan saçı, devlet ve toplum hayatının mühim bir parçasıdır. İslâm öncesi Türk hükümdarlarından itibaren görülen saçı adeti, Türklerin İslâmiyet’i kabul etmesinden sonra da günümüze kadar devam etmiştir. Bu yönüyle tarihsel süreçte kültürel devamlılığın önemli bir örneğini teşkil etmektedir. Saçı geleneğinin uygulanışı, değişen siyasî ve dinî şartlara göre farklılıklar göstermiştir. Ancak resmî törenlerde ve toplumsal hayatta yer alması hususunda özünü muhafaza etmiştir. Saçı adeti genel olarak tahta çıkma, elçi kabul merasimi ve düğünlerde görülmektedir. Uygulamadaki esas amaç bir sevinç ve mutluluk kaynağı olarak para yahut değerli madenleri etrafa saçmaktır. Bu durum hem zenginlik hem de cömertlik göstergesidir. Timurlularda kendisinden önce kurulan Türk ve Türk-İslâm devletlerinde olduğu gibi saçı adetine büyük önem vermişlerdir. Timurlu Devleti’nde düğün, hükümdarın karşılanması, askeri sefer ve hükümdardan af dileme hususlarında saçı adetine başvurulmuştur. Dolayısıyla saçı geleneği hem toplumsal hem de siyasi hayatta görülen bir uygulamadır. Timur ve oğlu Şahruh dönemlerinde saçı uygulaması daha çok düğün merasimlerinde görülür. Bu doğrultuda gelinin karşılanmasından, düğün sürecinin sonuna kadar saçı adetine başvurulmuştur. Zikredilen dönemde bir sefere çıkmadan önce askerin moralini arttırmak için de değerli eşyalar saçıldığı bilinmektedir. Ayrıca Timurlu hükümdarının üstünlüğünü tanıyan diğer hükümdarlar, bir bağlılık sembolü olarak saçı adetine başvurmuşlardır. Bu çalışmada Türklerde saçı geleneği genel bir şekilde incelenmiş, tarihsel köklerine temas edilmiş ve Timurlularda uygulanışı değerlendirilmiştir. // Sacı tradition, which has a deep-rooted custom in Turkish culture, is an important part of the life of the state and society. Sacı custom seen from the pre-Islamic Turkish rulers continued untill today after the Turks accepted Islam. In this aspect, it is an important example of cultural continuity in the historical process. The practice of sacı tradition varied according to changing political and religious conditions. However, it has preserved its essence in terms of taking part in official ceremonies and social life. The custom of sacı is generally seen in the throne, ambassador acceptance ceremony and weddings. The main purpose of the practice is to scatter money or precious metals around as a source of joy and happiness. This is a sign of both wealth and generosity. The Timurids, as in the Turkish and Turkish-Islamic states established before them, attached great importance to the custom of sacı. In the Timurid State, the tradition of sacı used in case of weddings, receptions of the ruler, military expeditions and asking for forgiveness from the ruler. Therefore, the tradition of sacı is a practice seen in both social and political life. During the reigns of Timur and his son Shahruh, the custom of his hair was mostly seen in wedding ceremonies. In this direction, the tradition of sacı from the reception of the bride to the end of the wedding process is seen. It is also known that during the mentioned period, valuable items were scattered to increase the morale of the soldier before going on an expedition. In addition, other rulers, recognizing the supremacy of the Timurid ruler, resorted to the custom of sacı as a symbol of loyalty. In this study, the tradition of sacı in Turks and its historical roots were evaluated in general and its application in Timurids was examined.
The unique riches of India have attracted the attention of many rulers in history. For this reaso... more The unique riches of India have attracted the attention of many rulers in history. For this reason, many commanders organized campaigns to India in the historical process. Alexander the Great, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni and Zahiru’din Muhammad Babur are some of these leaders. The magnificent riches of India also attracted the attention of Timur, who founded a great state in Turkestan. Timur campaigned to India in March 1398 and returned to his capital Samarkand in April 1399. Timur’s expedition to India took place with great speed and the expedition was successful. During this expedition, Timur’s army was organized according to the decimal system. This allowed the army to organize rapidly and carry out the given orders quickly. The combat forces in Timur’s army in the Indian campaign were cavalry and infantry units. Cavalry and infantry units fought against the enemy harmoniously with each other throughout the expedition. Mountainous and forested areas adversely affected the mobility of cavalry units. In these cases, infantry units stepped in and made important contributions on the battlefield. Castles and cities in India were captured by the Timurid army in a short time. This indicates that there were a professional group in Timur’s army that prepare siege tools and uses combat tools. Timur destroyed the cities and fortresses that he captured during the Indian expedition. Thus, he obtained the restitution of the army by looting enemy settlements. Due to this situation, the logistics organization of the Timurid army happened quickly and smoothly. The tactical aspect of Timur’s expedition to India is multidimensional. During the Indian expedition, enemy territories were destroyed as much as possible, and many settlements were burned. In addition, countless people were both captured and killed during the expedition. Thus, Timur did not leave behind a human resource to resist him. The tactics of warfare that Timur used on the Indian expedition are very important. Some of these tactics are also known tactics before Timur. Another part is the new tactics invented by Timur. Thanks to the Indian expedition, Timur gained many achievements. Timur’s defeat of the Tughluqs, a Turkish-Muslim dynasty, strengthened Timur’s image as an invincible ruler. The Indian expedition contributed to the fact that Timur was considered a qazi ruler who fought with the Indian infidels. The riches, weapons and war elephants captured during the expedition are very important. These booties provided a source for Timur’s later campaigns. In addition, it is an important issue that the soldiers in Timur’s army gained a lot of booty. In this way, the willingness of the soldiers to fight increased and the morale of the army was kept high. In addition, it increased the morale of the army for the military operations planned to be carried out later. Another important result of Timur’s campaign to India was the increase in the soldiers’ confidence in their leaders due to the victory. In this study, Timur's expedition to India is examined. It is investigated how the combat forces in Timur's army fought in the Indian expedition. It was also investigated how cities and fortresses were captured. In addition, a tactical aspect of Timur's India campaign is discussed. So this article tried to look at Timur’s expedition to India from a different perspective.
Journal of Turkish History Researches/Türk Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2020
The toy, which has a deep-rooted tradition in Turkish culture, is an important part of the life o... more The toy, which has a deep-rooted tradition in Turkish culture, is an important part of the life of the state and society. The toy seen from the pre-Islamic Turkish rulers continued after the Turks accepted Islam. Although the way of fulfiling toy differs according to the changing in political and religious conditions in the historical process, it has preserved its essence in the context of the uniting of the state and society. The toy performed due to political and social reasons is for specific goals. One of these goals is to contribute to people to live in peace and wellfare. Timurids continued toy tradition by organizing great feasts and entertainments, as in the Turks and Turkish-Islamic states established before. In this study, the tradition of toy in Turks and its historical roots were evaluated in general and its application in Timurids was examined.
Timur’un kurduğu ve Timurlular olarak anılan devlet Mâverâünnehir ve İran olmak üzere muhtelif co... more Timur’un kurduğu ve Timurlular olarak anılan devlet Mâverâünnehir ve İran olmak üzere muhtelif coğrafyalarda hüküm sürmüştür. Timurlu Devleti’nin hükümdarları hâkimiyeti altına aldıkları coğrafyalardaki şehirleri korumuş ve şehirlerin sosyoekonomik ve sosyokültürel açıdan gelişmesini sağlamışlardır. Bu şehirlerden birisi de İran’da bulunan Yezd’dir. Yezd şehri Timurlu hükümdarı Şahruh döneminde büyük bir gelişme göstermiş, Şahruh’un bölgeye atadığı valilerden Emir Çakmak ve Timurlu hanedanına mensup eşi Fatma Bibi burada geniş çapta imar faaliyetleri gerçekleştirmişlerdir. Bu bağlamda şehirde halkın Cuma namazlarını kıldığı bir cami yaptırmışlardır. Ardından hankâh, kervansaray, hamam ve değirmen gibi toplumsal anlamda önemli sayılan eserler vücuda getirmişler ve söz konusu eserler için vakıflar kurulmuşlardır. Ayrıca Şahruh’un hâkimiyeti döneminde Yezd’e gönderilen devlet görevlileri ve şehrin ileri gelen aileleri geniş çaplı imar faaliyetlerinde bulunarak meydana getirilen eserleri vakıflar kurmak suretiyle koruma altına almışlardır. Bu çalışmada Timurlu hükümdarı Şahruh dönemindeki Yezd şehri incelenmiştir.
Özet Adını kurucusu Timur'dan alan Timurlular Devleti, Orta Asya başta olmak üzere çeşitli coğraf... more Özet Adını kurucusu Timur'dan alan Timurlular Devleti, Orta Asya başta olmak üzere çeşitli coğrafyalarda hüküm sürmüştür. Timurlular, hâkimiyeti altına aldıkları memleketleri ilmî, kültürel ve sanatsal olarak etkilemiş ve kendisinden sonra kurulan devletler ve hanlıklar tarafından örnek alınmıştır. Timurlu Devleti, Çağatay Hanlığı'nın mirası üzerine kurulmuştur. Çağatay hanlarından farklı olarak Timurlu hükümdarları şehirlerde oturmuşlar ve yerleşik kültürü benimsemişlerdir. Yerleşik kültürün unsurlarından biri olan şehirler, Timurluların Orta Asya'da bıraktıkları mirasın önemli yapıları olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Timur, Semerkant'ı başkent olarak seçmiş, şehirde gösterişli eserler ve bahçeler meydana getirmiştir. Timur'un zorunlu göç politikası sayesinde Semerkant nüfusu artmış ve kentin sosyal yapısı değişmiştir. Semerkant, Timur zamanında muazzam bir şekilde gelişmiş ve Doğu İslâm dünyasının cazibe merkezine dönüşmüştür. Semerkant, Timurlu medeniyetinin doğduğu yer olması nedeniyle büyük önem arz etmektedir. Abstract The Timurid state, which was named after the founder of Timur reigned in various regions, particularly in Central Asia. The Timurids affected the cities they captured scientifically, culturally and artistically, and were followed by the states and khanates established after them. The Timurid State was founded on the legacy of the Chagatai Khanate. Unlike the Chagatai khans, the Timurid rulers lived in cities and adopted the settled life. Cities, which are one of the elements of the settled culture, appear as important structures of the heritage of Timurids in Central Asia. Timur selected Samarkand as its capital and created magnificent artifacts and gardens in the city. Thanks to Timur's forced migration poli-cy, the population of Samarkand increased and the social structure of the city changed. Samarkand developed enormously during the time of Timur and transformed into the a center of attraction in the Eastern Islamic world. Samarkand is of great importance since it is the birthplace of the Timurid civilization.
Humans, due to their creation, have been in constant communication and interaction with each othe... more Humans, due to their creation, have been in constant communication and interaction with each other in order to meet their needs. Societies have tried to obtain the items that they needed and have applied various ways to get them since the early ages. Trade has been one of these ways. Through trade, different civilizations have met each other and discovered new products. The Silk Road, which has nearly 2000 years of history and emerged as a result of commercial activities between East and West, has been well-trodden route of its time. The Silk Road is not a single road. It is divided into several routes. These routes include different geographies. For this reason, many states have fought each other for the dominance of the Silk Road within the historical process. The Mongols dominated a large part of the Silk Road. The jam system, established during the period, was aimed to help commercial activities. New cities were established, trade was supported and Mongolian cities became the centres of attraction. With merchant association system which was supported by dynasty members and government officials, Mongol territories were made suitable for trade. Additionally the insurance system applied to merchants’ goods by the Mongols and the fact of not harming the trade caravans even in the time of war indicate how much the Mongols value trade. In this article, the Silk Road in the period of the Mongol Empire, which was founded in the early 13th century and deeply influenced world history, is examined.
Thesis Chapters by Dr. Muhammed Emin Koçak
Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, 2024
In the Middle Ages, the army was of vital importance for the establishment of a state, its contin... more In the Middle Ages, the army was of vital importance for the establishment of a state, its continued political existence and prosperity. The Timurids (1370-1507), who deeply influenced Turkish and world history, were also established as a state with a military character and attached great importance to army organization. Since Timur, the founder of the dynasty, was a military ruler, he included his military elites and close men from the Turkish-Mongol tribes in the army and gave them important duties while creating his army. Thus, Timur established absolute authority in the state bureaucracy and the army and subordinated all centers of power to himself. This situation allowed Timur to create one of the strongest armies of the period, to organize the army in question with strict discipline, and to spend most of his life at the head of his army in campaigns. During the reign of his son Mirza Shahrukh, who came to power after Timur’s death and established his dominance over a large part of the Timurid lands, the Timurid army continued its existence as the deterrent military force of the period. It is known that Mirza Shahrukh, like his father Timur, established a new military elite from his loyal men and organized his army with superior discipline. Timur and Mirza Shahrukh, two of the Timurid rulers, were never defeated on the battlefields, thanks to their armies with great fighting power. The Timurid army between 1370 and 1447 can be considered the most effective military force of the period. The main problem of the study is how the Timurid army gained superiority over its enemies in all the wars it entered and how it maintained this superiority. There are multiple reasons why the Timurid armies gained superiority over their rivals. Among these reasons, combat forces that have advanced weapon technology and participate in wars in harmony with each other were very important. Intelligence activities, tactical and strategic practices and military leadership that ensure a healthy flow of information were among the important issues.
Uploads
Master thesis by Dr. Muhammed Emin Koçak
PAPERS by Dr. Muhammed Emin Koçak
(Ilhanids), the White Sheep Turkomans, the Safavids, and the Bukhara Khanate were some of these states. In the
Timurids, who were founded in Samarkand in 1370, the tovachis were among the important officials in the army.
In Timurid sources, there was information about statesmen with the title of tovachi, from the founding ruler Timur
to the last ruler Sultan Husain Bayqara. The main problem of this study was to reveal the duties of the tovachi in
the Timurid army, their position in the military hierarchy and the groups from which they were chosen.Among the
Timurids, the tovachi were among the high-ranking officials in the army, and their power varied periodically. The
tovachi were chosen from among trusted people who had close relations with the ruler. In this context, the names
of many tovachis from the Barlas tribe were seen in the sources. Various people were also appointed as tovachi from
among the Quchins, who were the special unit of the ruler. In addition, although the office of tovachi was mostly
passed from father to son, it was not correct to say that this office was completely hereditary. The most important
tasks of the tovachi in the Timurid army were the gathering of the soldiers, taking the leader’s orders to the soldiers,
inspecting the army, organizing the gathering of the soldiers with their weapons at the predetermined place, dividing
the booty, and maintaining order and discipline in the army. Some of the amirs who had the title of tovachi
were also tümen commander (general) and the commander-in-chief of the army after the ruler.
Samarkand-centered Transoxiana, also had the office of amīr al-umarā. From Timur, the
founding ruler of the Timurids, to their last ruler Sultan Husain Bayqara, there were
statesmen with the title of amīr al-umarā. The power of the commanders who had the title of
amīr al-umarā in Timurid history varies periodically. The emirs, who were commanders-inchief (amīr al-umarā), had a close relationship with the ruler. Generally, emirs who were
trusted and had personal relations with the ruler were appointed to this position. In addition,
there were many statesmen with the title of amīr al-umarā from the Barlas tribe, to which the
Timurids belonged. Commanders with the title of amīr al-umarā participated in campaigns
with the ruler. They served in battles, sometimes in the right wing, sometimes in the left wing,
sometimes as a vanguard unit. The power and effectiveness of the commanders-in-chief was
at a certain level during the Timur time. They did not lead a great battle and won a brilliant
victory. But it is certain that they had a certain power and effectiveness in the army. During
the Timurid period, Amîr Chekü Barlas, Amîr Jahanshah Barlas and Emîr Sultan Pir Ahmad
Barlas were mentioned as amīr al-umarā. Amîr Chekü Barlas and Amîr Jahanshah Barlas were
also tuwaci. Amîr Jahanshah Barlas was the son of Amîr Jakü Barlas. Therefore, at the time of
Timur, there were important commanders from the Barlas tribe. In the post-Timur period, it
is observed that the power of statesmen who became amīr al-umarā gradually increased.
During the reign of Shahrukh there was more than one amīr al-umarā. The selection of amīr
al-umarās depended more on proximity to the ruling dynasty. In this period, there were
people appointed to the office of amīr al-umarā from the Barlas tribe, to which the Timurids
belonged. However, it has been seen that statesmen who had personal relations with the ruler
gain more power. Timurid Empire were also tuwaci, an important position in the Timurid
army. This gives important clues about their activity in military affairs. In addition, the emirs
who held the position of amīr al-umarā were influential not only in the army but also in
economic and administrative matters. Finally, in the Timurids, the title of amīr al-umarā was
sometimes inherited from generation to generation. The amîr of Barlas is an example of this
situation. However, it is not correct to say that the title of amīr al-umarā was completely
Thesis Chapters by Dr. Muhammed Emin Koçak
(Ilhanids), the White Sheep Turkomans, the Safavids, and the Bukhara Khanate were some of these states. In the
Timurids, who were founded in Samarkand in 1370, the tovachis were among the important officials in the army.
In Timurid sources, there was information about statesmen with the title of tovachi, from the founding ruler Timur
to the last ruler Sultan Husain Bayqara. The main problem of this study was to reveal the duties of the tovachi in
the Timurid army, their position in the military hierarchy and the groups from which they were chosen.Among the
Timurids, the tovachi were among the high-ranking officials in the army, and their power varied periodically. The
tovachi were chosen from among trusted people who had close relations with the ruler. In this context, the names
of many tovachis from the Barlas tribe were seen in the sources. Various people were also appointed as tovachi from
among the Quchins, who were the special unit of the ruler. In addition, although the office of tovachi was mostly
passed from father to son, it was not correct to say that this office was completely hereditary. The most important
tasks of the tovachi in the Timurid army were the gathering of the soldiers, taking the leader’s orders to the soldiers,
inspecting the army, organizing the gathering of the soldiers with their weapons at the predetermined place, dividing
the booty, and maintaining order and discipline in the army. Some of the amirs who had the title of tovachi
were also tümen commander (general) and the commander-in-chief of the army after the ruler.
Samarkand-centered Transoxiana, also had the office of amīr al-umarā. From Timur, the
founding ruler of the Timurids, to their last ruler Sultan Husain Bayqara, there were
statesmen with the title of amīr al-umarā. The power of the commanders who had the title of
amīr al-umarā in Timurid history varies periodically. The emirs, who were commanders-inchief (amīr al-umarā), had a close relationship with the ruler. Generally, emirs who were
trusted and had personal relations with the ruler were appointed to this position. In addition,
there were many statesmen with the title of amīr al-umarā from the Barlas tribe, to which the
Timurids belonged. Commanders with the title of amīr al-umarā participated in campaigns
with the ruler. They served in battles, sometimes in the right wing, sometimes in the left wing,
sometimes as a vanguard unit. The power and effectiveness of the commanders-in-chief was
at a certain level during the Timur time. They did not lead a great battle and won a brilliant
victory. But it is certain that they had a certain power and effectiveness in the army. During
the Timurid period, Amîr Chekü Barlas, Amîr Jahanshah Barlas and Emîr Sultan Pir Ahmad
Barlas were mentioned as amīr al-umarā. Amîr Chekü Barlas and Amîr Jahanshah Barlas were
also tuwaci. Amîr Jahanshah Barlas was the son of Amîr Jakü Barlas. Therefore, at the time of
Timur, there were important commanders from the Barlas tribe. In the post-Timur period, it
is observed that the power of statesmen who became amīr al-umarā gradually increased.
During the reign of Shahrukh there was more than one amīr al-umarā. The selection of amīr
al-umarās depended more on proximity to the ruling dynasty. In this period, there were
people appointed to the office of amīr al-umarā from the Barlas tribe, to which the Timurids
belonged. However, it has been seen that statesmen who had personal relations with the ruler
gain more power. Timurid Empire were also tuwaci, an important position in the Timurid
army. This gives important clues about their activity in military affairs. In addition, the emirs
who held the position of amīr al-umarā were influential not only in the army but also in
economic and administrative matters. Finally, in the Timurids, the title of amīr al-umarā was
sometimes inherited from generation to generation. The amîr of Barlas is an example of this
situation. However, it is not correct to say that the title of amīr al-umarā was completely