February 18, 1405 · Transoxiana Theater
February 18, 1405
In the winter of 1404-1405, the 68-year-old Timur assembled an enormous army — reportedly 200,000 strong — for his most ambitious campaign yet: the conquest of Ming China. The army set out in December 1404, crossing the frozen steppe in brutal winter conditions. But at Otrar, in modern Kazakhstan, Timur fell gravely ill. He died on February 18, 1405, and his planned invasion of China died with him. His body was embalmed and returned to Samarkand, where he was buried in the Gur-e Amir mausoleum.
Commanders