Ulugh Beg Observatory, Samarqand, Uzbekistan
Located near the city of Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan, Ulugh Beg Observatory was built in the 1420s by the Timurid ruler Ulugh Beg, grandson of emperor Timur the Lame. Known more for his scholarly pursuits than his governance skills, Beg proved unpopular as a ruler.
Beg first took control of Transoxiana after his father’s death in 1447. Only two years into his campaign, and after losing several battles to neighboring rival kingdoms, Beg was taken to trial by his own son, Abd al Latif. Beg’s punishment for his ineptitude was a mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca, but his journey ended quickly, as he was beheaded just outside of Samarkand by an assassin hired by his son.
Epic Uzbekistan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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