In the early 15th century, Tamerlane’s state bordered the Oghuz tribal association of Kara-Koyunlu. As early as 1392, Tamerlane was able to conquer the northern territories of Kara-Koyunlu with Tabriz.
Tamerlane, Timur (April 9, 1336, Kesh, modern Uzbekistan — February 19, 1405, Otrar, modern Kazakhstan) — Central Asian Turkic-Mongolian commander and conqueror, who played a significant role in the history of Central, South and West Asia, as well as the Caucasus, the Volga region and Russia.
Then the sultan of Kara-Koyunlu — Kara-Yusuf was forced to hide in Baghdad, and the whole tribal association actually became vassal to Tamerlane. Kara-Yusuf himself fled to the Mamluk sultan of Egypt — Barkuk.
In 1393 Kara-Yusuf, taking advantage of the fact that Tamerlane began to prepare for war with the Golden Horde returned to Baghdad.
Abu Nasr Kara Yusuf ibn Muhammad (d. 1420) — the leader of the state Kara-Koyunlu, commander, statesman. Significantly expanded the limits of the state, annexed Azerbaijan, Western Iran, Iraq.
In 1395 Tamerlane was able to defeat the Khan of the Golden Horde Tokhtamysh. This victory allowed Tamerlane to return to the idea of conquering the Middle East. But the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I was already in full swing there. Bayezid aspired to capture Constantinople and to subdue the Beys of Eastern Anatolia.
It is well known that Tamerlan did not want to fight with the Ottomans and sent letters to Bayazid with a request to join the anti-Golden Horde alliance. But the latter refused.
Also, at that time, the strongest among the beys of Eastern Anatolia was the ruler of the Eretna beylik — Kadi Burhaneddin Ahmed. Losing the fight against the Ottomans, the ruler of Eretna asked Tamerlane for help. He agreed!
In 1398 the Ottomans, taking advantage of the fact that the ruler of Eretna died in battle with the ruler of the Ak-Koyunlu tribal union, captured the capital of the beylik Sivas. Since it was practically a vassal state to Tamerlane, the latter demanded from the Ottomans to release the territory of Eretna. Bayezid did not answer anything and Tamerlane in 1400 invaded the territory of Anatolia, repulsing Sivas.
Bayezid I Lightning (1354/55/57 — March 8, 1403) was the 4th ruler and 2nd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1389-1402), son of Sultan Murad I. Bayezid was known for his military successes and was nicknamed Lightning for his quick movement of troops — Wikipedia
Tamerlane then turned south to deal with the Mamluk sultanate of Egypt, where the thirteen-year-old An-Nasir Faraj took the place of the deceased Barkuk. Tamerlane was able to capture Damascus and incorporated it into his lands. From there, in 1401, Tamerlane traveled toward Baghdad, where Kara-Yusuf, who had fled to Bayazid, was located.
While Tamerlane was fighting the Mamluks, Bayazid recaptured Sivas. In response, in 1402, Tamerlane went on a campaign against the Ottomans. Bayezid was in Bursa at this time preparing for the siege of Constantinople.
Tamerlane captured Kemah and Sivas, continuing from there to capture Angora (Ankara). But Bayezid was already there. Then Tamerlane sent light cavalry, which appeared south of Angora. Bayezid decided that Tamerlane was bypassing him from this side and moved there. But Tamerlane reached Angora with a swift rush and laid siege to it. The Ottomans had to hurriedly return.
On July 20, 1402 the armies were built against each other. The Ottomans had 85 thousand, their opponent had 140 thousand. According to another version of the Turks were 25 thousand, their opponent 35 thousand.
Location of the armies.
According to Bayezid’s plan, the main role in the battle was to play a strengthened center (Janissaries and infantry from the Balkan nations), and the flanks only to cover his attack. On the left flank was cavalry from the detachments of Anatolian beys under the command of Bayezid’s son Suleyman. On the right flank were Serbian knights under the command of Stefan Lazorevic. In reserve were Turkish sipahi and light Tatar cavalry.
Sipahi
Tamerlane had light cavalry on the flanks, in the center heavy infantry and cavalry reinforced with elephants. In reserve also heavy cavalry.
The battle began with Tamerlane’s flank units bombarding the enemy. They began to be pressed by the Ottoman flanks. Especially hard was the left flank of Tamerlane, which began to retreat under the onslaught of Serbian knights. A reserve was sent there.
On the right flank, the Ottomans put into battle Tatar cavalry. But it was bribed in advance by Tamerlane and the Tatars struck in the rear of Anatolian beks. Then the Ottomans let the Sipahs into battle against the Tatars. But it had no effect and the Beks together with the Sipahs began to flee. All forces fell on the Serbs, who still managed to escape.
The Turks were able to occupy the high ground and gain a foothold there. Tamerlane’s gulams attacked them and first knocked out the Serbian knights. When the Serbs retreated, the gulams attacked the Turkish infantry with all their forces. A massacre began, during which Bayazit was able to break free. However, the Gulams were able to catch up with him and capture him.
After the victory, Tamerlane captured Angora, Smyrna and Bursa. After that he left Anatolia and returned to his lands. In March 1403, Bayezid died in imprisonment. Tamerlane himself died on February 19, 1405.