Siege of Herat (1381)
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| Siege of Herat | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Timurid conquests and invasions | |||||||
 Timur's army attacks the fortress of Herat and Ghiyath al-Din, the Kartid ruler, sues for peace. Dharm Das, Mughal India, circa 1595-1600 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Timurid Empire | Kart dynasty | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Timur | Ghiyath al-Din | ||||||
The Siege of Herat (1381) was led by the Turco-Mongol ruler Timur against the city of Herat in 1381.[1]
Timur started by capturing several of the cities around Herat. Foshanj, west of Herat was besieged with siege engine, its moats filled, and its population ultimately massacred.[2]
Herat was a much stronger city, and its population was mobilized by its ruler Malik Ghia-suddin.[2] The city was surrounded by the military encampment of Timur's army.[2] There were several counter-attack by Ghorid and Herati forces.[2] After four days, Timur managed to take control of the ramparts.[2] Two thousand prisoners were taken, but were treated well to encourage the surrender of the citizens.[2] The Kurtid notables of the city negotiated a surrender with Timur on April 1381. Ghiasuddin himself submitted.[2] The lives of the inhabitants were to be spared, but a heavy tribute was to be paid (māl-e āmān).[3] The walls of the city were dismantled.[3] Huge treasures, accumulated over the centuries by the Ghurids and Kurtids were seized.[2] The Iron Gates of Herat were taken to Timur's hometown of Shahrisabz.[2] Miran Shah, son of Timur, was nominated as ruler of the city.[3]
The siege of Herat completed the first major campaign of Timur in Khorasan.[3] This allowed him to expand his territory from his original base of Transoxiana.[3]
Thereafter, Herat became the main capital of the Timurid Empire.[3]