History Daily - Episode 1270: Emperor Timur Captures Delhi

Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Lindsay Graham
Theme: The rise of Timur (Tamerlane), his ruthless conquests, and the particularly brutal capture of Delhi on December 17, 1398.

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Lindsay Graham takes listeners back to the late 14th century to recount the meteoric (and violent) rise of Timur, better known in the West as Tamerlane. The episode traces Timur’s origins, his path to power, and zeroes in on the infamous sacking of Delhi, an act of devastation that would mark one of history’s bloodiest conquests. The episode details how Timur, through cunning, brutality, and relentless ambition, built an empire—and the long, bloody shadow he cast over Central and South Asia.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Timur’s Early Hardships and Ruthless Drive

[01:09]

• The story begins in 1363 with a young Timur in Khorasan, Afghanistan, engaging in sheep-rustling—a humbling pursuit for one who claims descent from Genghis Khan.
  • “Timur, a 27-year-old warrior, crouches behind a boulder… They're about to launch a surprise attack. But Timur’s intended targets… are sheep.”
• An encounter with a skilled shepherd leaves Timur with debilitating injuries—a limp and two missing fingers—but strengthens his resolve to never be defeated again.
• This event cements his reputation as “Timur the Lame,” or Tamerlane, a name that will echo on battlefields across continents.

Ascendancy Through Betrayal and Brutality

[07:37]

• By 1370, Timur has become a formidable warlord in Balkh.
  • After defeating his brother-in-law, Hussein, Timur reneges on his promise to spare him:
    • “With a dismissive gesture, Timur agrees to the deal… But as soon as they’ve established control, Timur goes back on his word… Timur gives the order for Hussein to be beheaded.”
  • This sets a precedent: “Timur shows no mercy as he crushes his opponents, every rival… is put to the sword. Every settlement is plundered, every building burned, civilians are slaughtered by the thousands.”
• Timur’s marriage to Hussein’s sister, their brief alliance, and swift betrayal underscore his singular focus on power and legacy over any personal loyalty.

Building an Empire and Eyeing Delhi

[07:37–11:45]

• With his base secure, Timur launches seven military campaigns. Ruthlessness is both a tool and a warning: cities surrender in fear of massacre rather than hope for mercy.
• Timur is inspired by his Mongol forebear Genghis Khan and seeks to transform Samarkand “into the capital of the Islamic world.”
• His animosity toward Hindu subjects under the Delhi Sultanate’s rule pushes him to invade India, believing the Muslim sultans have been “too tolerant.”
• In September 1398, Timur musters 90,000 men and heads for Delhi, capitalizing on the sultanate’s civil unrest and military weakness.

The Siege and Sack of Delhi

[15:31]

• On December 17, 1398, Timur’s forces lay siege to Delhi. The Sultan’s army, deploying war elephants clad in chainmail and with poisoned tusks, attempts to break the siege.
• Timur deploys a cunning tactic:
  • “Timur orders his soldiers to strap bales of hay to the backs of camels and then light them ablaze… the war elephants trumpet in fear at the living torches racing toward them… trampling many of the Sultan’s army beneath their feet.”
• The resulting chaos drops the city’s defenses; Timur’s cavalry decimates the fleeing defenders.
• The Sultan escapes, but civilians are not so lucky. For two weeks, Timur’s men “burn, pillage, and destroy everything they can get their hands on. Any citizens foolhardy enough to defend their possessions are slaughtered. The rest are enslaved. Corpses pile up in the street. Timur won’t let any of them be buried—he wants the bodies to act as a deterrent.”

Aftermath - Retaliation and Legacy

[17:15–18:56]

• After looting Delhi, Timur returns to Samarkand, only to find rebellion in his absence.
• He responds with familiar brutality, sacking Aleppo, Damascus, and Baghdad. In Baghdad he orders, “every one of his soldiers present him with the heads of two slain enemies. When that isn’t enough, they resort to beheading their own wives rather than risk disappointing their emperor.”
• Timur seeks to emulate or surpass Genghis Khan—including ambitions to invade Ming China.

Timur’s End

[21:58]

• In 1405, as Timur attempts a campaign into China with 200,000 men, he falls ill.
• Recognizing his death is near, Timur calls his commanders and kin to his bedside, dividing his empire among his descendants in a last echo of the Mongol tradition.
• With Timur’s death, his empire immediately fragments—none of his heirs match his military acumen or savagery, and the vast realm dissolves within a generation.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Timur’s Origin Story:
  • “This encounter with the bow-wielding shepherd will leave Timur with a lifelong limp… But Timur will overcome this setback, and his encounter with a shepherd will be one of the last times he’s ever defeated by a foe.” – Lindsay Graham [01:59]
• On Betrayal and Ruthlessness:
  • “He promised he would spare Hussein, but he didn’t say anything about what his men would do.” – Lindsay Graham [08:29]
• On Fear as a Weapon:
  • “Timur shows no mercy as he crushes his opponents. Every rival that stands against him is put to the sword; every settlement is plundered; civilians are slaughtered by the thousands.” – Lindsay Graham [08:57]
• Siege of Delhi & Psychological Warfare:
  • “Timur won’t let any of them be buried. He wants the bodies to act as a deterrent to anyone who might consider rising up against him.” – Lindsay Graham [17:32]
• Aftermath in Baghdad:
  • “When that isn’t enough [to please Timur], they resort to beheading their own wives rather than risk disappointing their emperor. But Timur still isn’t satisfied.” – Lindsay Graham [18:48]
• On Legacy and Mortality:
  • “But Timur will never get the chance to face the Ming in battle. Instead, he’ll be confronted by a faceless foe… old age.” – Lindsay Graham [19:47]
  • “None of Timur’s successors will ever reunite his empire, because none will ever display the necessary military talent and ruthless brutality.” – Lindsay Graham [24:18]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:09] — Timur’s early injury and the origin of “the Lame”
• [07:37] — Betrayal and execution of Hussein; Timur’s rise and methods
• [11:45] — Timur eyes the Delhi Sultanate and the rationale for invasion
• [15:31] — Siege, tactics, and sack of Delhi
• [17:32] — Aftermath in Delhi; psychological warfare through mass death
• [18:23] — Timur’s campaigns in Aleppo, Damascus, Baghdad; extreme cruelty toward enemies
• [21:58] — Timur’s death, division of his empire, and its rapid dissolution

Summary Takeaways

• Timur rose from relative obscurity, hampered by injury, to become one of the world’s most feared conquerors.
• His strategy combined military brilliance with unflinching brutality, using terror as a tool for control.
• The sack of Delhi stands as a chilling example of medieval warfare’s capacity for devastation and the transformative, often tragic, impact of strong-willed leaders on world history.
• Timur’s vast empire died with him—his methods and legacy too savage to sustain over generations.

This episode leaves listeners both awed and appalled by the scale of ambition—and the depths of ruthlessness—that defined Timur and his era.