City (pop., 1996: 1,191,043), northwestern Iran.
Earthquakes and invasions by Arabs, Turks, and Mongols have damaged the city numerous times. The Turkic ruler Timur conquered it in 1392. During the next 200 years control passed several times between 1E62; afavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire. During the 18th19th centuries it passed between the Ottomans and the Russian Empire, and the same powers fought over it in World War I (191418). In the 1850s a schismatic Sh 012B; 02BD; ite religious leader known as the B 0101; b ("Gateway") and 40,000 of his followers were executed there. It was damaged during the Iran-Iraq War (198090). Notable ancient sites include the 15th-century Blue Mosque, renowned for the splendour of its blue tile decoration, and the remains of the 12-sided tomb of Mongol leader Mahm 016B; d Gh 0101; z 0101; n .