
Empires Clash with Fire and War Elephants! Changing the World, and the Battle of Ankara – Part II
What happens when two great conquerors of the ancient world and their mighty forces go head to head? A successful but unpredictable Ottoman Sultan was matched against a charismatic Mongol leader of an empire – leading to the Battle of Ankara, fought on 20 July 1402. The Ottomans were led by Bayezid I, who brought his troops against the Turkic Mongols (Timurids), led by Timur, also known as Tamerlane. Two great empires, two powerful leaders, with only one outcome…
Bust of Timur [left] (CC BY-SA 3.0), and portrait of Bayezid I [right]. (Public Domain)
Troubles on the Eve of Battle