Timur (meaning “iron”) was born in 1336 near the Transoxian city of Kesh. In modern-day Uzbekistan, this medieval Persian city is known as Shahrisabz.¹⁾

Tamerlane is the Europeanized version of Timur's Persian nickname, Timur-e Lang, which translates as 'Timur the Lame'.²⁾

Tamerlane was paralyzed by injuries to his right leg and right hand in his mid-twenties. According to legend, he was killed by arrows when his party of robbers was attacked by a shepherd. It's more probable that he was injured in combat while serving as a soldier for the Khan of Sistan (in north-east Iran).³⁾