Ulugh Beg
Astronomer
Timurid ruler, astronomer, mathematician and sultan who contributed to the discovery of mathematical principles like geometry and trigonometry. He helped transform Samarkand and Bukhara into cultural centers of learning in Central Asia.
His grandfather was the great middle eastern conqueror Tamerlane.
He founded a giant observatory, one of the first every built, and amassed an influential record of stars' positions.
He was a child of Islamic nobility and he was beheaded by the order of his own eldest son, Abdal-Latif Mirza, while on his way to Mecca.
Like Isaac Newton, his works influenced countless generations of scholars.