Amir Timur (1336–1405) was a military commander and statesman, founder of the Timurid Empire with its capital in Samarkand. From a small domain near Shahrisabz he built a state stretching from Asia Minor to India. Timur turned Samarkand into one of the most beautiful cities of its age, gathering the finest architects, craftsmen and scholars of the lands he conquered. His vision shaped the Registan — the square that would remain the heart of the city for centuries.