Sultan Ali bin Mahmud Mirza

{{Short description|Last ruler of Timurid Samarkand from 1498 to 1500}}

{{One source|date=April 2025}}

File:Sultan Ali Mirza (likely), seated portrait.jpg

File:Meeting between Babur and Sultan 'Ali Mirza near Samarqand.jpg and Sultan Ali Mirza near Samarkand]]

Sultan Ali Mirza (1479–1500) was the last ruler of the Timurid dynasty in Samarkand. He reigned between 1498 and 1500, when he was deposed and killed by Muhammad Shaybani, leader of the Uzbeks.

Biography

He was the third son of Sultan Mahmud Mirza, himself the third son of the Timurid Emperor Abu Sa'id Mirza.Baburnama, Vol. 1, page 47.

His father ruled large parts of Transoxiana between 1494 and 1495.

After his father's death, he received Bukhara as an inheritance.

In 1496, a group of conspirators attempted to bring him to power in Samarkand. However, he reigned for only two days. His Timurid brother Baysunkar Mirza was placed in prison, from which he was soon able to escape. Gathering his supporters in the city, Baysunkar defeated the conspirators. Sultan Ali Mirza fled to Bukhara, where he was able to establish himself.Baburnama, Vol. 1, page 62-63.

In 1497, together with his Timurid cousin Babur, he besieged Samarkand for seven months and conquered the city. When Babur was abandoned by his troops and returned to Andijan in 1498, Sultan Ali Mirza seized the Samarkand throne.Baburnama, Vol. 1, page 86.

The reign of Sultan Ali Mirza was turbulent. Some of the nobility were dissatisfied with his policies and the economic chaos in the country. According to sources, a representative of the nobility, Muhammad Mazid Tarkhan, was the real master in Samarkand. He gave all important positions to his sons and followers and controlled the finances of the city.

In 1500, Samarkand capitulated to Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the Uzbeks, and Sultan Ali Mirza was captured and executed.Baburnama, Vol. 1, page 126-127.

References

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== Source ==

  • [https://archive.org/details/baburnamainengli01babuuoft/page/126/mode/2up?q=%22Ali+Mirza%22 Memoirs of Babur Volume 1] (Baburnama in English)

{{s-start}}

{{s-hou|Timurid dynasty||}}

{{s-bef | before=Babur, Emir of Fergana}}

{{s-ttl | title=Timurid Empire (in Samarkand) | years=1498-1500}}

{{s-aft | after=Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the Uzbeks}}

{{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali Mirza, Sultan}}

Category:Timurid monarchs

Category:15th-century monarchs in Asia

Category:1479 births

Category:1500 deaths