Although it had started out as one of the weakest Mongol khanates, the Chagatai Khanate alone had remained in one piece as the others were torn apart by civil wars or were overthrown by native dynasties. By 1388 its political structure had been strengthened thanks to the efforts of the warlord Timur, and from then on the Chagataid khans were able to start looking outwards once more and dream of returning to their past glories.