Amir Timur's sectarian politics on the basis of Sunnism and Shiism

Emir Timur established his state by winning the power struggle in the Chagatay Nation, one of the four parts of the Mongol Empire. He organized expeditions to Khorasan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Syria, India, Eastern Europe and Anatolia to expand his sovereignty. The existence of Muslim dynasties and people belonging to different sects in these regions has caused controversy in terms of Emir Timur's understanding of religion and sect. However, it is seen that Timur acted within the framework of the Turkish-Mongolian understanding of the state and sovereignty, and that he aimed for absolute sovereignty rather than religious purposes in his campaigns. However, during his rule, Sunni clerics supported scholars and mystics, assigned Sunnis in religious institutions within the state, and took drastic measures against Shiite movements. As a result of these practices, Sunnism gained strength against Shiism and Maturidism found the opportunity to expand. Keywords: History of Islamic Sects, Timurids, Sectarian Politics, Emir Timur, Sunnism and Shiism in the Timurid Period.