Timur's 'Tartars' slip into Delhi and sack it
Editorial contextAfter taking Delhi, Timur's wives wanted to see the city and its palace of a thousand columns; when a gate was opened for them, fifteen thousand 'Tartars' slipped in unnoticed. Fighting with the inhabitants, fires and looting followed, and Delhi was given over to plunder; Deguignes says some soldiers ended up with a hundred and fifty slaves each.
the Sultanas, Tamerlane's wives, wishing to see this fine city and above all a superb palace adorned with a thousand columns, went in with their whole court; the city gate was opened, and fifteen thousand Tartars got in without anyone noticing. … Delhi was given over entirely to pillage.
Working translation
Original wording
les Sulthanes, femmes de Tamerlan, ayant envie de voir cette belle ville & principalement un superbe palais qui étoit orné de mille colonnes, elles entrèrent avec toute leur cour, la porte de la ville fut ouverte, & quinze mille Tartares y pénétrèrent sans qu'on s'en apperçût. … Dehli fut entièrement livrée au pillage.
About Timur's army ('Tartares')
Keep in mind
The page presents the sack as a disorder the Tartar officers could not stop, which is the version given by Timur's own court historians.