Timur's Flaming Camels
How Flaming Camels Turned the Tide at Delhi
In light of the upcoming 626th Anniversary of the 1398 Battle of Delhi on 17 December, our first publication will explore the tactics and strategy of this battle and its modern parallels. We hope you enjoy this first post and subscribe to continue to see more interesting and engaging stories! This is an exciting new community and we are looking to grow with strategic thinkers, history and military enthusiasts, or just anyone that loves a good story! Leave comments and feedback so we can continue to create engaging and beneficial content!
Introduction
In the winter of 1398, a storm of unparalleled ferocity swept across northern India, leaving devastation in its wake. This tempest was not a force of nature, but a man: Timur, also known as Tamerlane, the Turco-Mongol conqueror whose very name struck terror into the hearts of millions. With an army of 90,000 battle-hardened warriors at his back, Timur carved a bloody path through the subcontinent, his sights set on the glittering prize of Delhi. As he crossed the Indus on September 30, cities fell like dominoes – Multan, Bhatner, and countless others succumbed to his relentless advance. The self-proclaimed "Sword of Islam" was not merely a conqueror; he was a force of history, reshaping the political landscape with every step towards the weakening Delhi Sultanate led by Tughluq Sultan Nasir-ud-din Tughluq. Timur's invasion would soon culminate in one of the most catastrophic events in medieval history, forever changing the face of the Indian subcontinent.
Timur the Lame | Tamerlane
Timur, born in April 1336, approximately 50 miles south of modern-day Uzbekistan, led a nomadic lifestyle with his Turkicized Mongol clan. In his youth, he turned to petty crime, beginning with rustling sheep from neighbors before escalating to what equates to highway robbery, targeting travelers through his area. As he entered his 20s, he reportedly worked as a mercenary, sustaining serious injuries to his right leg and right arm, which left his arm stiff for the rest of his life. There are differing accounts regarding the origin of these injuries; some suggest they occurred while he was stealing sheep, while others claim they happened during battle as a soldier for the Khan of Sistan in northeastern Iran. Nevertheless, the confirmation came in June 1941 when Soviet archaeologist Mikhail Gerasimov opened Timur's tomb. Analysis revealed that his right femur was fused to his kneecap, causing a pronounced limp, along with a withered right arm and missing little and ring fingers on his right hand.
His time as a mercenary and soldier built up both his military experience and his reputation as a skilled fighter. He began establishing a strong power base in his hometown of Kesh, south of Samarkand. As instability rose in the region, Timur saw an opportunity to increase his influence and formed an alliance with Amir Husayn, a powerful local leader, in 1360. Together, they took control of the region, staving off various threats. However, over time, Timur strategically undermined the more powerful Husayn to build his own support base.
In 1370, sensing that the time was right, Timur besieged Husayn in the city of Balkh, catching him by surprise. The siege lasted two days and resulted in heavy casualties for Timur’s army; nevertheless, he breached the city walls and defeated Husayn. In a desperate bid for survival, Husayn offered his wealth in exchange for his life. Timur promised that he would not kill him personally; however, Husayn fled into the minaret of a mosque. Ultimately, he was found and killed by one of Timur’s allies. Following the city's defeat, Timur allowed his troops to share in the captured wealth. He convened a meeting of military leaders known as a kurultay and married one of Husayn’s widows—a direct descendant of Genghis Khan—to further legitimize his rule and begin his storied empire.
The 1398 Battle for Delhi & the Flaming Camels
In the late 14th Century, the Delhi Sultanate was in decline. Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq of the Tughluq Dynasty faced weakened rule due to internal issues and increasing challenges from regional powers. Seeing an opportunity to capitalize on this weakness, Timur launched his move into India. As a self-proclaimed "Sword of Islam," he claimed that the Sultan was too lenient on his Hindu subjects, using that as justification to invade. He swiftly conquered his way through northern India after crossing the Indus River in September 1398. He destroyed key strongholds and gained territory as he overcame resistance, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.
In December, he reached Delhi with an army believed to number over 90,000 men. They carried scores of loot and captives. To ensure his army remained militarily efficient, Timur made the gruesome decision to execute 100,000 of those captives, further cementing his image as a ruthless leader. Outside the city, he met the Sultan's army, possibly 100,000 strong. The Sultan's forces boasted elite units of infantry and heavy cavalry. Most formidably, the Sultan incorporated an estimated 100-200 war elephants. These elephants were heavily armored with chain mail and had poison on their tusks. Timur and his men had never faced such a force.
Knowing he needed to fortify his position against the impending elephant charge, Timur constructed elaborate defenses. His army had likely encountered elephants during their march across northern India, but never in such large numbers. From past observations and the battle's onset, Timur noticed how these elephants were spooked by loud noises and the sights of war. His keen understanding of psychological warfare provided a method to exploit this weakness. He ordered his men to load camels with hay and wood, then cover them with oil.
As the wall of armored elephants thundered toward the battlefield, their massive frames adorned with glinting metal and clanking armor creating a cacophony like an approaching storm, Timur ordered the oil-soaked camels to be set ablaze. Prodded with metal rods, these flaming camels were sent careening toward the oncoming stampede. The sight of the burning camels, the smell of fire, and their panicked screaming terrified the elephants despite their fierce appearance. Witnesses described the scene as elephants scattering "like hungry lions scattering a flock of sheep." The elephants turned back to their own lines, trampling their forces. On the heels of this chaos, Timur's cavalry launched a decisive charge that broke the Sultan's army. The Sultan fled with the remnants of his men back to the city.
Timur pursued the Sultan and unleashed all his power and might on Delhi. His forces conducted what was possibly one of the most destructive pillages of a city in history. Sparing few, his troops looted and slaughtered those they encountered within the city, with the number of dead reaching tens or even hundreds of thousands.
Aftermath & Downfall of the Delhi Sultanate
The scene left behind in Delhi after Timur's invasion was one of utter devastation. Bodies littered the streets, and severed heads were displayed prominently as trophies. The Sultan, Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq, fled the city in the face of Timur's overwhelming force.
Timur appointed Khizr Khan, the former governor of Multan (a city previously conquered by Timur), as the new ruler of Delhi. This appointment established Delhi as a tributary state, ultimately loyal to and controlled by Timur.
The Delhi Sultanate, which had already been in a state of decline, faced further instability, famine, and pestilence following the invasion. While the Sultanate would continue to exist until 1526, it never regained its former strength and influence after Timur's devastating attack. The invasion significantly weakened the Sultanate's power in north India, hastening its eventual downfall. Economic historians estimate that it took Delhi over a century to recover from the demographic damage inflicted by Timur’s forces, reshaping the political landscape of India.
Psychological Warfare and Modern Strategy
Psychological warfare tactics were employed by both sides during the Battle of Delhi. Timur utilized mass executions, his reputation for brutality, and flaming camels to demoralize the enemy, serving as multiple forms of psychological intimidation. The Sultan's forces, in turn, presented hundreds of visually imposing armored elephants and large numbers of elite troops to dissuade any attempts to attack for fear of swift defeat.
While modern warfare generally doesn't utilize animals in such a manner, psychological warfare has evolved from these ancient intimidation tactics into sophisticated strategies employing technology and media. These contemporary methods aim to influence perceptions, undermine enemy morale, and create division. In the age of smartphones and digital media, modern psychological warfare includes cyber-psychological operations leveraging digital platforms for maximum impact. These strategies are currently being employed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the Ukrainian "I Want to Live" project serving as a prime example.
The Ukrainian “I Want to Live” Project
The Ukrainian "I Want to Live" project and Timur's strategy in the Battle of Delhi share intriguing parallels in their use of psychological warfare, despite being separated by over 600 years. Launched in September 2022, the "I Want to Live" project aims to encourage Russian soldiers to surrender voluntarily. The Ukrainians utilize social media and smartphones to reach Russian soldiers directly, providing avenues for surrender and asylum while conveying the risks of continued fighting.
Both strategies aim to undermine enemy morale and create division within opposing forces. The Ukrainian effort employs real-time messaging based on battlefield developments to entice surrender. Similarly, Timur's tactics evolved as he encountered new challenges, such as the armored war elephants he hadn't faced before.
While the methods differ due to technological advancements, both approaches demonstrate the enduring importance of psychological warfare in military conflicts. The "I Want to Live" project's use of digital platforms for maximum impact parallels Timur's use of visual and physical intimidation tactics, both seeking to influence enemy perceptions and behavior on the battlefield. The Battle of Delhi exemplifies how psychological tactics can significantly influence military outcomes, a principle that remains crucial in modern warfare strategy.
The "I Want to Live" project has already seen success, with over 300 Russian soldiers surrendering through the program. Similarly, Timur's psychological tactics, including the use of flaming camels to panic war elephants, proved decisive in his victory at Delhi. These historical and contemporary examples underscore the power of psychological warfare in shaping battlefield outcomes.
