Siege of Isfahan (1387)

The siege of Isfahan was a siege of the city of Isfahan by the army of Timur in 1387.

Siege of Isfahan
Part of Timurid Wars
The sacking of Isfahan. Scene of looting, murder and pillage in which molten metal is poured down a victim's throat. From a sixteenth century manuscript of Hatifi's Timurnama. Produced in Bukhara, mid-16th century
Date 1387 Location Isfahan, Iran Result Timurid victory Destruction of Isfahan Isfahan and nearby territories are annexed
Belligerents
Muzaffarids civilian defenders	Timurid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Zain al-Abidin	Timur
Casualties and losses
70,000 civilians massacred[1][better source needed]	Unknown

Background

To annex the Muzaffarid kingdom Timur would have to capture its two main cities: Isfahan and Shiraz. When in 1387, Timur arrived with his army to Isfahan, It immediately surrendered and so he treated it with relative mercy as he normally did with cities that surrendered.

Siege

Soon after, Isfahan revolted against Timur's taxes by killing the tax collectors and some of Timur's soldiers. Timur laid siege to the city and recaptured it with little effort.

Massacre of citizens

After restoring his control over the city he ordered the massacre of the citizens who resisted; the death toll was between 70,000 – 200,000.^[1][2][3] An eye-witness counted more than 28 towers constructed of about 1,500 heads each. This has been described as a "systematic use of terror against towns...an integral element of Tamerlane's strategic element" which he viewed as preventing bloodshed by discouraging resistance. His massacres were selective and he spared those who were artistic and educated. This would later influence the next great Iranian conqueror: Nader Shah.^[4]

Aftermath

After the massacre Isfahan remained loyal to Timur and so he went to capture Shiraz. Unlike the events which occurred after the Siege of Herat Timur did not destroy any of the buildings and architecture allowing it retain its importance and influence in Persia.