Gur-Emir Mausoleum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Gur-Emir Mausoleum

In the 14th century Samarkand rose in its southern suburb. Amir Temur (1336-1405), the governor of Western Chagatai Ulus, made it his capital. For a few decades Amir Temur had formed a huge empire from India to the Mediterranean, Samarkand became a symbol of his new empire. Temur initiated huge construction works. New architecture with huge portals, high blue domes and refined majolica must have competed against Euroasian capitals and meant a birth of the Central Asian imperial style. Amir Temur died before his Chinese campaign and was buried in Gur-Emir Mausoleum. The mausoleum was built for Temur's grandson Muhammad-sultan (1376-1403) who expected to be his successor, but died too early. Remains of Seyid Berke, Amir Temur's spiritual teacher were also reburied there. The mausoleum was finished by Mirzo Ulugbek, another grandson of Temur, when there was built the eastern gallery and southern funeral premises. In the 15th century one more remarkable cleric was buried in Gur-Emir. He was considered as Seyid Umar, son of Bukhara sheikh Amir Kulyal.