Sack of Delhi (1398)
Timurid Sack of Delhi (1398)
From 17 to 20 December 1398, Timur, founder of the Timurid Empire, invaded India and defeated Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq, the Sultan of Delhi. Timur had already captured Tulamba and Multan earlier that year with little resistance. He brought a large army—about 90,000 strong—to Delhi.
Delhi’s army included war elephants with armor and poisoned tusks. Timur used a clever tactic: he protected his cavalry with trenches and used camels carrying materials to trigger panic in the elephants, while his archers and siege weapons attacked. The elephants terrified the Delhi troops, the army collapsed, and the city was looted and its people enslaved.
After Delhi fell, there were a few days of local uprisings before Timur’s forces withdrew. Timur did not intend to rule India; he aimed to gain wealth, but the sack left Delhi in ruins.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:17 (CET).