The Phenomenon of the “Itinerant Court” in the Political Life of the Timurids: The Pilgrimage Routes of Shahrukh (1409–1447)

Abstract

The article deals with a notable episode within the phenomenon of the so-called “itinerant court” that includes performing pilgrimages (ziyarat) to the shrines of Muslim saints by the Timurid ruler Shahrukh. The study is based on the materials of dynastic chronicles and considers the most significant pilgrimage routes for the sovereign, its stages, as well as the purposes of these visits. Priority is given to the most frequently visited Sufi communities and the peculiarities of Shahrukh’s interaction with their leaders and other inhabitants. At this point an important question considering what was primary for him — the idea of ruler’s personal piety or utilitarian motives — arises. A thorough analysis of the chronicles demonstrates that the pilgrimage not only provided spiritual satisfaction, but also contributed to the growth of the ruler’s political significance.

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