Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s2.1

c7.s2.1

During the course of the day soldiers of the victorious army went in batches into the city. Some went there as an escort to Tīmūr's consort Chaplān Malik Āgha¹¹³ who wanted to have a view of the Palace of the Thousand Pillars (Qasr-i-Hazār Sitūn),¹¹⁴ others to collect the ransom imposed upon the city while many others to obtain provisions. Trouble started when some soldiers who were purchasing sugar-candy at a shop got rowdy and looted it. Some others tried their hands at other shops.¹¹⁵ Their petty quarrels soon developed into clashes and in no time "the flame of strife" spread to the whole city. On Thursday and the following night nearly 15,000 soldiers were engaged in slaying, plundering, destroying. The next morning the soldiers who had remained outside, too were tempted to share the spoils of their compatriots and rushed into the unfortunate city. It was ruthlessly sacked during the next two days, Friday and Saturday. Gold and silver in coins and bullion, ornaments of women-captives, precious stones and finest fabrics of all kinds were obtained in immense quantities. Even the booty in human flesh and blood was enormous for each soldier had secured a large number of prisoners.¹¹⁶