Ulugh Beg

Mīrzā Muhammad Tarāghāy bin Shāhrukh, known as Ulugh Beg, was a Timurid sultan, astronomer, and mathematician who lived from March 22, 1394, to October 27, 1449. He was the grandson of Timur (Tamerlane) and ruled as the Sultan of the Timurid Empire during the Timurid Renaissance. Ulugh Beg is most famous for his contributions to astronomy and mathematics. He commissioned the construction of the Ulugh Beg Observatory in Samarkand between 1424 and 1429, which was considered one of the finest observatories in the Islamic world at the time. Using advanced instruments, including a large sextant, he compiled the star catalogue Zij-i Sultani in 1437, which contained positions for 994 stars and was highly regarded between the works of Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe. He also made precise measurements of the sidereal and tropical years, and determined the Earth's axial tilt. In mathematics, Ulugh Beg produced accurate trigonometric tables. His reign also saw diplomatic relations with the Ming dynasty of China. However, his skills in governance did not match his scientific expertise. He was overthrown and assassinated in 1449 amidst a war of succession. His remains were later reinterred in the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand.