Timurid Steppe Cavalry

Timeline

1. 1361Transoxiana · TransoxianaAfter the Chagatai Khanate split, local warlords and tribal leaders still used Mongol-style horse archer formations: light-armed bow cavalry for reconnaissance and flanking, heavy cavalry charging with lances and curved sabers, with horses and pastoral systems forming the basis of mobile combat power.
2. 1366–1370Samarkand · SamarkandTimur built around Barlas tribal cavalry, absorbing bow cavalry from various Turkic-Mongol tribes, and gradually unified the armed forces around Samarkand during his tenure as governor of Khwarazm. His cavalry emphasized high-speed mobility, feigned retreats to lure the enemy, and concentrated assaults, laying the tactical foundation for later large-scale expeditions.