Podcasts · Tamerlane: The Conqueror Who Tried to Rebuild the Mongol Legacy — Fexingo History

Timur's Plague Walls: The Siege of Damascus

2 Sep 2026 · 5:50 · S5 E223

In this episode, we turn our attention to the harrowing siege of Damascus in 1400. While earlier episodes covered Tamerlane’s military tactics and his relationship with the Ottoman Empire, we focus on one of the most controversial events of his campaign: the deliberate use of plague as a weapon. We explore how Timur’s forces trapped the city, cut off its water supplies, and eventually breached the walls. But it wasn't just steel that conquered Damascus; it was disease. We examine the historical accounts from chroniclers like Ibn Arabshah and Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi, who described the horrific conditions inside the besieged city. Did Timur intentionally infect the water sources? Or did the plague spread naturally among the starving population? We also look at the aftermath, including the infamous 'Plague Towers' where thousands were buried alive, and what this says about the nature of warfare in the 15th century. Join us as we delve into the dark intersection of medicine, strategy, and brutality in Timurid history.

#Tamerlane #Timur #DamascusSiege #1400AD #PlagueWarfare #CentralAsianHistory #TimuridEmpire #MamlukSultanate #IbnArabshah #SharafalDinAliYazdi #MedievalWarfare #BioWarfare #Gur-iAmir #Samarkand #OttomanInterregnum #HistoricalEpidemiology #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Links in the notes 1

• https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo