SHAH ROKH

born Aug. 30, 1377, Samarkand, Timurid empire [now in Uzbekistan] died March 12, 1447, Fishawand, Timurid Iran also called Shah Rokh Mirza, Rokh also spelled Rukh Timurid ruler of much of Central Asia, best known as a patron of the arts. Shah Rokh was the fourth son of Timur (Tamerlane), founder of the Timurid dynasty. At Timur's death in 1405, a struggle for control of his empire broke out among members of his family. Shah Rokh gained control of most of the empire, including Iran and Turkistan, and held it until his death. The only major areas of Timur's empire outside of Shah Rokh's control were Syria and Khuzestan (now in southwestern Iran). Shah Rokh's patronage of the arts was centred on his capital at Herat in Khorasan (now in western Afghanistan). Particularly important were the library and the school of miniature painting that developed and flourished there. One of his wives, Gawhar Shad, worked with the Persian architect Qavam ud-Din in the planning and construction of a series of magnificent public buildings there. Continuing power struggles among various members of his own family forced Shah Rokh to undertake a number of military campaigns to ensure his power. The settlements he was able to impose were temporary, and intrafamily power struggles eventually destroyed the dynasty. See also Timurid dynasty.