Ulugʻbek

Ulugʻbek (Persian: الغ‌بیگ, Uzbek: Ulugʻbek; born Mīrzā Muhammad Tāraghay, 22 March 1394 – 27 October 1449) was a Timurid sultan, astronomer, mathematician, and scholar who reigned in Samarkand from 1409 to 1449. He is renowned for his significant contributions to astronomy, particularly his astronomical tables known as the Zij-i Sultani, considered the most accurate star catalogue until the advent of telescopic astronomy.

As a grandson of Timur (Tamerlane), Ulugʻbek inherited a rich cultural and intellectual environment. He transformed Samarkand into a major center of learning, attracting scholars and scientists from across the Islamic world. He founded the Ulugʻbek Madrasa (university), which became a renowned institution for the study of mathematics, astronomy, and theology.

Ulugʻbek's astronomical observations were made at the Ulugʻbek Observatory, built in Samarkand. This observatory, although destroyed after his death, was a marvel of its time, equipped with large and precise instruments. His measurements of the length of the sidereal year were remarkably accurate for their time.

Despite his scientific achievements, Ulugʻbek's reign was marked by political instability and conflict. He faced opposition from religious conservatives and was eventually assassinated by his own son, Abdal-Latif, who briefly succeeded him. Ulugʻbek's legacy, however, endures through his scientific contributions and his role in fostering a golden age of intellectual and cultural development in Central Asia. His work continued to influence astronomical studies for centuries to come, and his madrasa still stands as a testament to his patronage of learning.