1398 CE
A year defined by Timur's devastating invasion of northern India, culminating in the sack of Delhi, and the deepening political crisis in France as the rivalry between the Orleanist and Burgundian factions intensified.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- Timur, the Central Asian conqueror, invaded the Delhi Sultanate, crossing the Indus River in September with a massive army and advancing rapidly toward the Indian capital.
- The Tughlaq Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah fled Delhi as Timur's forces approached, leaving the city virtually undefended against the invader.
Conflict & Security
- Timur defeated the forces of the Delhi Sultanate at the Battle of Delhi on December 17, routing the Indian army and its war elephants with superior cavalry tactics and discipline.
- Timur's army sacked Delhi in December, carrying out widespread massacres of the population and looting the city's wealth over a period of several days.
- The destruction of Delhi was catastrophic, with contemporary accounts describing massive loss of life, the enslavement of thousands, and the devastation of one of the wealthiest cities in the medieval world.
- Timur departed India laden with plunder, including jewels, gold, and skilled artisans, leaving the Delhi Sultanate shattered and northern India in chaos.
Economy & Finance
- The sack of Delhi devastated the economic infrastructure of northern India, disrupting trade networks and agricultural production across the Indo-Gangetic plain for years to come.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 272 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Culture & Society
- The estimated world population was approximately 350 million.