Sigismund vs Timur

Sigismund convened the Council of Constance to end the Western Schism, which had three rival popes. The council deposed all three and elected Pope Martin V, ending the schism. Sigismund played a key role in securing the council's success, though he failed to prevent the execution of Jan Hus.

Despite Sigismund's promise of safe conduct to Jan Hus to attend the Council of Constance, Hus was arrested, tried for heresy, and burned at the stake. Sigismund's failure to protect Hus damaged his reputation and sparked the Hussite Wars in Bohemia, which would plague his reign.

Following the death of Wenceslaus IV, Sigismund claimed the throne of Bohemia, but the Hussites refused to accept him as king. This led to a series of military campaigns known as the Hussite Wars. Sigismund led several crusades against the Hussites but was repeatedly defeated by their innovative tactics under Jan

Sigismund was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Eugene IV in Rome, becoming the last emperor to be crowned in the city. This coronation marked the formal end of the Western Schism and solidified Sigismund's position as the leading secular ruler in Europe.

Sigismund negotiated the Compact of Basel with the moderate Hussites (Utraquists), granting them the right to receive communion under both kinds. This agreement temporarily ended the Hussite Wars and allowed Sigismund to finally be recognized as King of Bohemia, though the peace was fragile.

Timur defeated the Mongol ruler of the Chagatai Khanate, establishing his control over Transoxiana. This victory marked the beginning of his rise to power, as he captured Samarkand and declared himself emir.

Timur launched a campaign into Persia, capturing Isfahan and Shiraz. He suppressed a revolt in Isfahan by massacring tens of thousands of inhabitants, establishing his reputation for extreme brutality and consolidating control over the region.

Timur defeated the Golden Horde under Tokhtamysh at the Battle of the Terek River. He sacked Sarai, the Horde's capital, and destroyed its trade networks, permanently weakening the Mongol state and securing his northern frontier.

Timur invaded the Delhi Sultanate, defeating Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq. His army sacked Delhi, massacring tens of thousands of civilians and destroying the city's infrastructure, then withdrew with immense plunder.

Timur defeated the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I at Ankara, capturing him. The victory shattered Ottoman power, leading to a civil war among Bayezid's sons and delaying Ottoman expansion into Europe for a decade.

Timur invested heavily in transforming Samarkand into a cultural and architectural center. He brought artisans from conquered lands to build mosques, madrasas, and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, making the city a showcase of Timurid art and learning.

Timur died of illness while leading a massive army toward the Ming dynasty's borders. His death ended the planned invasion of China and led to the fragmentation of his empire among his sons and grandsons.