The Timurid War of Succession was a conflict that arose following the death of Timur, the supreme leader and founder of the Timurid Empire. The empire's lack of political structure or designation of proper succession law led to the empire's unity immediately collapsing following Timur's death.
Timur initially had chosen his grandson, Pir Muhammad, as the heir to the empire, though this choice did not go to plan. Many factions and local princes (amirs) vied for suzerainty over the vast realm throughout the conflict, though the two major opponents of Khalil Sultan and Shah Rukh were the most successful in enforcing their claim to the throne. The succession war eventually concluded with the capture of the imperial capital of Samarkand in 1409 by Shah Rukh, Timur's fourth son. Shah Rukh would rule until his death, upon which the Second Timurid War of Succession would break out.[1][2]