Amir Temur's “iron intelligence”: Spies on all sides

Yesterday, April 9, marked the 689th anniversary of the birth of Sahibkiran Amir Temur. During the battles he fought, he employed various military strategies to secure victory for his army. According to historians who have studied historical sources, Temur possessed a sharp mind and strong organizational skills. He was able to maintain constant control over his entire army by dividing it into smaller units (ten, hundred). Additionally, the intelligence network established by Temur evolved into a powerful system that became crucial in making strategic decisions. This article discusses Amir Temur's intelligence system and military strategy.

From merchants to spies: Who were Temur's spies?

Doctor of Historical Sciences Hamdam Sodikov discusses in his historical work The Security Service of the Empire of Amir Temur (a literary work based on historical events, figures, or periods), written over a span of 25 years:

"One of the spies was in Cairo, in Muiziya, and another was in Damascus, in Shamisania, among the Sufis. One of them was a retailer, the other a large merchant, a hot-tempered wrestler, a corrupt tyrant, a tormentor and a craftsman, an astrologer and a man of his own nature, talkative wanderers and wandering dervishes, seafaring sailors and land travelers, elegant bagmakers, refined shoemakers, and cunning old women like Dalla, who traveled the West and East in search of knowledge. They perfected the art of cunning and deceit to achieve their goals. According to Ibn Arabshah, among Timur's soldiers were pagan Turks, fire worshippers, sorcerers, and magicians. These individuals were so loyal to Timur that they would have confirmed his claim if he had declared himself a prophet or a deity."

Hamdam Sodikov further states in his book that Amir Otlamysh, Masudbek, and Azizuddin were key figures in Timur's intelligence network, gathering and summarizing information from around the world.

Separate military units according to the relief

According to Professor Hamidulla Dadabaev, Sahibkiran successfully created a disciplined army, efficiently managed military units during battles, and maintained a high fighting spirit. Timur was among the first in the East to introduce firearms (cannons) into his army. He organized specialized military units and divisions for conducting combat operations in mountainous areas. According to Dadabaev, necessary measures were developed to ensure the units operated effectively on the battlefield, with special attention given to their prompt management during the fight. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief was responsible for selecting commanders for units of tens, hundreds, thousands, and districts. Another significant contribution of Sahibkiran to military strategy was the introduction of the "kunbul", a cavalry unit designed to protect the army's flanks from enemy attacks during battle and, in turn, to bypass enemy forces and strike them from behind. Such a military unit had not been seen in the armies of famous commanders like Alexander, Hannibal, Genghis Khan, Louis XIV, and Frederick the Great.

After a special order (tunkal) was issued to gather the troops, warriors arrived at the assembly point with their horses, weapons, food, and fodder, as outlined by the ruler. Each soldier was allocated one bow, 30 arrows, one crossbow, one shield, an extra horse, a half-mana rope, a leather bag, and a cauldron. Every 10 warriors were required to carry one tent, two shovels, one pitchfork, one sickle, one saw, one hoe, one ax, and 100 spears. Every 5 warriors shared a single tent. The "unbegi" had a separate tent and five additional horses, while the "yuzbegi" was given a separate tent and 10 additional horses. In addition to the tent, the "mingbegi" was provided with an umbrella. A total of 313 begs led various divisions and units of the Sahibkiran army. The first 100 held the positions of "unbegi", the second 100 were "yuzbegi", and the third 100 were "mingbegi".

The divisions and districts were led by Amir Temur's children, grandchildren, and prominent military leaders. Once a sufficient number of troops were gathered, an inspection was held. During the Timurid era, it was customary to inspect the army before a march or battle to assess its morale and condition.

Military tactics of the innovator Timur

According to historians, Amir Timur's 12,000-strong army entered battle in a specific order. The initial clash with the enemy was initiated by a reconnaissance guard. Afterward, the main advance unit, the "manglay", supported by the right and left wing advance units—"barangor hirovuli" and "juvangar hirovuli"—entered the battle. Following the manglai, the barangor and the remaining two units of the "juvangar", the "chapavul" and "shagavul", advanced in succession. If these forces were insufficient to defeat the enemy, the center (army), led by the commander-in-chief, launched a decisive attack.

Historical sources describe the tactical organization of the great battles in which the Sahibkiran army participated: the army headquarters was divided into 40 divisions, or regiments, all subordinate to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Of these divisions, 12, consisting of the best warriors, were positioned in the first row, while the remaining 28 were placed in the second and third rows. In front of the forty divisions, the units of the princes were lined up on the right, and the units of relatives and allies on the left. In the second row, six divisions took their place with their advance guard, the "hiravul". The same number of divisions and hiravul were also occupied by the "juvangar". The units from the first row were located in front of the second row. In front of these divisions, the main "manglay", the army’s advance guard, moved. Two divisions of light cavalry were tasked with protecting the army from sudden attacks and monitoring enemy movements.

In conclusion, it can be said that Amir Temur's personality and policies have remained intriguing and surprising to the world for over a century.