Timur’s invasion on India, from Zafar Nama
(The history of the
conquests by Prince Timur)(1424) Iran
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Sharaf ad-Din Ali Yazdi or Sharif al-Din Ali’ Yazdi (born Yazd 1370, Iran—died 1454, Yazd), was a Persian scholar who authored several works in the arts and sciences, including mathematics, astronomy, enigma, literature such as poetry, and history, the Zafarnama, a life of Timur, being his most famous. In his book some mentions of Zanzibar slaves.
Taken from : Histoire de Timur-Bec, connu sous le nom du Grand Tamerlan, Volume 1
By Saraf-ad-Din Ali Yazdi, François Petis de la Croix
Vol3p177
(In Transoxiane)(2) The emperor distributed to the princes of noble blood, to the princesses, to the sharifs, and to the most important of the kingdom, following their rang, richness and specialties that he had brought from India. There were precious stones, gold, beautiful Negro slave girls, young Negros, and other special things.
Vol3p339-340
(the capture of the castle of Damascus by Timur)(1)
The garrison were made slaves, and divided among the Mirzas (3) and the Emirs (4); they consisted chiefly of Circassians (5), Mamelukes (6), Ethiopian slaves, and Zanghebars: all the women, children, and old men experienced the same fate.
Vol4p182
….. (Tents were made for Timur)(1)…the tents were dressed with silk, in them were put carpets with gold treads were put in big numbers, the curtains were made of velvet of Chuchter (7); the floors of ebony and ivory delicately worked and decorated with the most exquisite carvings of the world…..
Vol4p184
(At Canighul= army camp of Timor 1414) Mengheli Bougai Hadgeb (8), envoy from Egypt arrived….. He brought an abundance of uncommon presents, ready money, precious stones, rich stuffs, and nice toys. Among other rarities was a Giraffa, one of the strangest animals upon the earth, and nine of the largest ostriches of Africa.
Vol4p210-211
…….They went to see the Emperor, letting him know that the Lady was pregnant of the prince; this news made the order to be changed and that the Lady was put in the hands of the Empress Bouyan Aga (9), so that after giving birth she could take care of the kid, and to give the lady to one of his black slaves.
Vol4p231
…..(after Timur’s death)…..the body got washed with water, he got embalmed with camphor, musk, rose-water, and after clothing him he is put in an ebony casket …..
(1) Timur: Timour Beg: (1336-1405) is also known as Tamerlane (Timur the Lame). He founded the Timurid dynasty and is one of Central Asia's most famous Mongol Conquerors.
(2) Transoxiane: Transoxiana is an ancient name referring to a region and civilization located in lower Central Asia roughly corresponding to modern-day eastern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, southern Kazakhstan and southern Kyrgyzstan.
(3) Mirzas: is a Persian royal and noble title.
(4) Emirs: the princes
(5) Circassians: was a country and historical region in the North Caucasus along the northeast shore of the Black Sea.
(6) Mamelukes: Turkish military slaves.
(7) velvet of Chuchter: Shustar in southwestern Iran?
(8) Mengheli Bougai Hadgeb: one of the principal lords of the court of Malek Ezzaher Barcoc , king of Egypt.
(9) Empress Bouyan Aga: maybe Burhan Agha one of his many consort.
The giraffe is offered to Timur (Zafar nama)
