Timur reduces the Chagatai khans to the…

Timur reduces the Chagatai khans to the position of figureheads while he rules in their name during this ten- or eleven-year period

Timur and his brother-in-law Husayn, who are at first fellow fugitives and wanderers in joint adventures, become rivals and antagonists during this period, the relationship between them beginning to become strained after Husayn abandons efforts to carry out Timur's orders to finish off Ilya Khoja (former governor of Mawarannah) close to Tishnet.

Timur begins to gain a following of people in Balkh, consisting of merchants, fellow tribesmen, Muslim clergy, aristocracy and agricultural workers, because of his kindness in sharing his belongings with them.

This contrasts Timur's behavior with that of Husayn, who alienates these people, takes many possessions from them via his heavy tax laws and selfishly spends the tax money building elaborate structures.

Husayn surrenders to Timur in 1370 and and is later assassinated, which allows Timur to be formally proclaimed sovereign at Balkh.

He marries Husayn's wife Saray Mulk Khanum, a descendant of Genghis Khan, allowing him to become imperial ruler of the Chaghatai tribe.