Battle of the Yarmuk: Difference between revisions
[pending revision] | [pending revision] |
No edit summary |
mentioned Khalid ibn al-Walid |
||
(20 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
|date=[[August 20]], [[636]] |
|date=[[August 20]], [[636]] |
||
|place=Near the [[Yarmouk River]] |
|place=Near the [[Yarmouk River]] |
||
|result=Decisive [[Muslim]] victory |
|result=Decisive [[Muslim]] [[Arab]] victory |
||
|territory=[[Levant]] annexed by |
|territory=[[Levant]] annexed by Muslim Arabs |
||
|combatant1= [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern Roman Empire]] |
|combatant1= [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern Roman Empire]] |
||
|combatant2= [[Rashidun|Rashidun Caliphate]] |
|combatant2= [[Rashidun|Arab Rashidun Caliphate]] |
||
|commander1= [[Heraclius]]</br>[[Constantine III (emperor)|Constantine III]]<ref>Gibbon (Vol. 5, p. 333)</ref></br>Theodorus Trithurius<ref name=Kennedy/></br>Jabalah VI ibn aI-Aiham</br>Dairjan<ref name=Akram>Akram, A. I. (1970). ''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'', Nat. Publishing House. Rawalpindi. ISBN 0-71010-104-X. (See [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter34page1.htm Eve of Yarmuk] and [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter35page1.htm Battle of Yarmuk].</ref></br>Vahan<ref name=Kennedy/> (Mahan<ref name=Akram/>)</br>Buccinator<ref name=Akram/></br>George<ref name=Akram/>| |
|commander1= [[Heraclius]]</br>[[Constantine III (emperor)|Constantine III]]<ref>[[Edward Gibbon|Gibbon]] (Vol. 5, p. 333)</ref></br>Theodorus Trithurius<ref name=Kennedy/></br>Jabalah VI ibn aI-Aiham</br>Dairjan<ref name=Akram>Akram, A. I. (1970). ''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'', Nat. Publishing House. Rawalpindi. ISBN 0-71010-104-X. (See [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter34page1.htm Eve of Yarmuk] and [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter35page1.htm Battle of Yarmuk].)</ref></br>Vahan<ref name=Kennedy/> (Mahan<ref name=Akram/>)</br>Buccinator<ref name=Akram/></br>George<ref name=Akram/>| |
||
commander2=[[Khalid ibn al-Walid]]<br> [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]]</br>[[Amr ibn al-A'as]]</br>[[Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan]]</br>Shurhabil bin Hassana |
commander2=[[Khalid ibn al-Walid]]<br> [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]]</br>[[Amr ibn al-A'as]]</br>[[Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan]]</br>Shurhabil bin Hassana |
||
|strength1= 15,000 - 100,000<br>(modern estimates)<ref>Modern estimates for Roman army: Gil and Broido (1997) estimate 100,000. Donner (1981) estimates 100,000. Kennedy (2006, p. 145) estimates 80,000. Nicolle estimates 40,000 maximum. Haldon estimates 20,000. Kaegi estimates 15,000 - 20,000. Akram (1970) estimates 150,000. [[Edward Gibbon|Gibbon]] (Volume 5, p. 325) estimates 140,000.</ref><ref>Modern estimates for the size of respective armies vary, between 15,000 to 100,000 for the Romans, and 7,500 to 25,000 for the Muslims, claiming exaggarations on both sides by older historians. These figures come from studying the logistical capabilities of the combatants, the sustainability of their respective bases of operations, and the overall manpower constraints affecting the Romans and Arabs.</ref> |
|||
|strength1= 140,000| |
|||
100,000 - 200,000<br>(primary sources)<ref>Roman source for Roman army: [[Theophanes the Confessor|Theophanes]] (p. 337-338) estimates 80,000 Roman forces (Kennedy, 2006, p. 145) and 60,000 Arab allies ([[Edward Gibbon|Gibbon]], Vol. 5, p. 325).</ref><ref>Muslim sources for Roman army: [[Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri|Baladhuri]] (p. 140) estimates 200,000. [[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]] (Vol. 2, p. 598) estimates 200,000. [[Ibn Ishaq]] estimates 100,000 ([[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]], Vol. 3, p. 75). [[Al-Waqidi]] (p. 107) estimates 400,000 ([[Ibn Khaldun]], p. 126).</ref> |
|||
|strength2=40,000, |
|||
|strength2= 7,500 - 40,000<br>(modern estimates)<ref>Modern estimates of Muslim army: Haldon estimates 7,500 - 20,000. Kaegi estimates 15,000 maximum. Nicolle estimates 25,000 maximum. Akram estimates 40,000 maximum.</ref><ref>Muslim sources place this number to be between 24,000 and 40,000, though the latter was used in combination with 150,000 troops for the Romans. Modern estimates for the Muslim army are between 7,500 to 25,000. Most scholars agree that the Muslim army was outnumbered by the Roman army.</ref> |
|||
|casualties1=50% 70,000 |
|||
24,000 - 40,000<br>(primary sources)<ref>Primary sources for Muslim army: [[Ibn Ishaq]] estimates 24,000 ([[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]], Vol. 3, p. 74). [[Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri|Baladhuri]] estimates 24,000. [[Ibn Khaldun]] (p. 126) estimates 30,000. [[Al-Waqidi]] (p. 144) estimates 40,000. [[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]] (Vol. 2, p. 592) estimates 40,000.</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
|casualties1=45% killed<br>(modern estimate)<ref name=Akram/> |
|||
70,000 - 120,000 killed<br>(primary sources)<ref>[[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]] (Vol. 2, p. 596) estimates 120,000 killed. [[Ibn Ishaq]] estimates 70,000 killed ([[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]], Vol. 3, p. 75). [[Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri|Baladhuri]] (p. 141) estimates 70,000 killed. [[Al-Waqidi]] estimates more than 120,000 killed.</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Campaignbox Byzantine-Arab}} |
{{Campaignbox Byzantine-Arab}} |
||
{{Campaignbox Campaigns of Khalid ibn Walid}} |
{{Campaignbox Campaigns of Khalid ibn Walid}} |
||
The '''Battle of Yarmouk''' (also spelled ''Yarmuk'', ''Yarmuq'' or ''Hieromyax'' and معركة اليرموك) took place between the [[Muslim]] [[Arabs]] and the [[Byzantine Empire|Roman Empire]] in [[636]]. It is considered by some historians to have been one of the most significant battles in the history of the world, |
The '''Battle of Yarmouk''' (also spelled ''Yarmuk'', ''Yarmuq'' or ''Hieromyax'' and معركة اليرموك) took place between the [[Muslim]] [[Arabs]] and the [[Byzantine Empire|Roman Empire]] in [[636]]. It is considered by some historians to have been one of the most significant battles in the history of the world, as it marked the first great wave of [[Muslim conquests]] outside [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]], and heralded the rapid advance of [[Islam]] into [[Christian]] [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], [[Greater Syria|Syria]] and [[Mesopotamia]]. This battle is also considered to be one of [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]]'s most decisive victories. |
||
The battle took place only four years after [[Muhammad]] died in [[632]]. He was succeeded by the first [[Caliph]], [[Abu Bakr]], who sought to bring all the Arabians under Muslim control. In [[633]] Muslim armies invaded Syria, and after raids and skirmishing quickly captured [[Damascus]] once a stronghold of the [[Byzantine Empire]] in [[635]], and continued their conquest across the [[Levant]], soon after the conquest of Damascus, Muslims defeated a Byzantine army at [[Battle of Ajnadayn]] and [[Battle of Fahl]]. |
The battle took place only four years after [[Muhammad]] died in [[632]]. He was succeeded by the first [[Caliph]], [[Abu Bakr]], who sought to bring all the Arabians under Muslim control. In [[633]] Muslim armies invaded Syria, and after raids and skirmishing quickly captured [[Damascus]] once a stronghold of the [[Byzantine Empire]] in [[635]], and continued their conquest across the [[Levant]], soon after the conquest of Damascus, Muslims defeated a Byzantine army at [[Battle of Ajnadayn]] and [[Battle of Fahl]]. |
||
Line 37: | Line 40: | ||
*'''Dairjan''' would move between the coast and the Aleppo road and approach Emessa from the west, thus striking the Muslims in their flank while they were held frontally by Jabla.</br> |
*'''Dairjan''' would move between the coast and the Aleppo road and approach Emessa from the west, thus striking the Muslims in their flank while they were held frontally by Jabla.</br> |
||
*'''Gregory''' would advance on Emessa from the north-east and attack the Muslims in their right flanks at the same time as they were struck by Dairjan. </br> |
*'''Gregory''' would advance on Emessa from the north-east and attack the Muslims in their right flanks at the same time as they were struck by Dairjan. </br> |
||
* '''Mahan’s''' army would advance behind the Christian Arabs and act as a reserve.<ref>''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'': page no:562 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram. Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4 </ref |
* '''Mahan’s''' army would advance behind the Christian Arabs and act as a reserve.<ref>''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'': page no:562 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram. Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4 </ref> |
||
The imperial army was launched from [[Antioch]] and [[North]]ern [[Syria]] some time in the middle of [[June]] [[636]] [[A.D]]. |
The imperial army was launched from [[Antioch]] and [[North]]ern [[Syria]] some time in the middle of [[June]] [[636]] [[A.D]]. |
||
It was at Shaizar, through Roman prisoners, that the Muslims first came to know of the preparations being made by [[Heraclius]]. [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] advised [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] to pull back from North and Central [[Syria]], as well as from [[Palestine]], and concentrates the whole army so that strong, united opposition could be put up against the [[Byzantine]] Forces, and in case of retreat the [[Arabian Desert]] will not be too far.<ref>''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'': page no:564 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram. Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 0-71010-104-X. </ref>. [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] ordered the commanders to give up the territory in their occupation and withdrawal the army to Jabiya he also ordered the commanders to return the [[Jizya]] (tribute) to the people who had paid it.<ref>al- |
It was at Shaizar, through Roman prisoners, that the Muslims first came to know of the preparations being made by [[Heraclius]]. [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] advised [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] to pull back from North and Central [[Syria]], as well as from [[Palestine]], and concentrates the whole army so that strong, united opposition could be put up against the [[Byzantine]] Forces, and in case of retreat the [[Arabian Desert]] will not be too far.<ref>''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'': page no:564 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram. Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 0-71010-104-X. </ref>. [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] ordered the commanders to give up the territory in their occupation and withdrawal the army to Jabiya he also ordered the commanders to return the [[Jizya]] (tribute) to the people who had paid it.<ref>al-Baladhuri: page no:143</ref>. |
||
In the middle of the [[July]] [[636]] [[A.D]] in a council of war [[Khalid bin Walid]] gave his plan to [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]], the commander in chief of the Muslim’s army. |
In the middle of the [[July]] [[636]] [[A.D]] in a council of war [[Khalid bin Walid]] gave his plan to [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]], the commander in chief of the Muslim’s army. |
||
Line 68: | Line 71: | ||
The battlefield lies about 40 miles from [[Golan heights]] disputed upland region on the border between [[Israel]] and [[Syria]], northeast of the Sea of Galilee.<ref> Administered by [[Syria]] until 1967, it was first occupied and then, in 1981, annexed by [[Israel]]. Area: 1,250 sq km/483 sq mi</ref>. |
The battlefield lies about 40 miles from [[Golan heights]] disputed upland region on the border between [[Israel]] and [[Syria]], northeast of the Sea of Galilee.<ref> Administered by [[Syria]] until 1967, it was first occupied and then, in 1981, annexed by [[Israel]]. Area: 1,250 sq km/483 sq mi</ref>. |
||
</br> |
</br> |
||
The battlefield which stretched between the two camps consisted of the Plain of [[Yarmouk]] which was enclosed on its western and southern sides by deep ravines, known as Wadi-ur-Raqqad with the banks about 1,000 feet deep,this ravine joins [[Yarmouk River]] on its southern side. On the south of the battle field lies the [[Yarmouk River]] with is a tributary of [[River Jordan]], this stream have very steep banks from 300-1,000 feet deep.<ref |
The battlefield which stretched between the two camps consisted of the Plain of [[Yarmouk]] which was enclosed on its western and southern sides by deep ravines, known as Wadi-ur-Raqqad with the banks about 1,000 feet deep,this ravine joins [[Yarmouk River]] on its southern side. On the south of the battle field lies the [[Yarmouk River]] with is a tributary of [[River Jordan]], this stream have very steep banks from 300-1,000 feet deep.<ref name=Akram/>.On the northern side of the battle field lies the Jabiya road and on the eastern side lies Azra hills, but these hills were out side the actual battlefield. |
||
There was only one prominence in the battlefield a 300 feet high elevation known as hill of '''Jamu'a'''(gathering), because part of muslim's corps was concentrated over it as it gives a good view of the plane of Yermouk. |
There was only one prominence in the battlefield a 300 feet high elevation known as hill of '''Jamu'a'''(gathering), because part of muslim's corps was concentrated over it as it gives a good view of the plane of Yermouk. |
||
In [[636]] [[A.D]] The ravine at the west of the battlefield was crossable at a few places but there was only one main crossing, at a ford, where the village of Kafir-ul-Ma stands today.<ref |
In [[636]] [[A.D]] The ravine at the west of the battlefield was crossable at a few places but there was only one main crossing, at a ford, where the village of Kafir-ul-Ma stands today.<ref name=Akram/> |
||
==The battle== |
==The battle== |
||
The battle begun in the third week of [[August]] [[636]]. At dawn both armies lined up for the battle and were a little less than a mile apart. |
The battle begun in the third week of [[August]] [[636]]. At dawn both armies lined up for the battle and were a little less than a mile apart. |
||
[[Image:Arrangment-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Arrangement of Muslim's and Byzantine army at Yarmouk]] |
[[Image:Arrangment-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Arrangement of Muslim's and Byzantine army at Yarmouk]] |
||
A [[Byzantine]] general George emerged and called for Khalid. Khalid rode towards him delighted that the battle will start with a duel between him and a Roman, but he was surprised that the Roman was not willing to fight but he instead asked Khalid that why he is known as [[Sword]] of [[Allah]]? After a long and moving explanation given by Khalid to him he, accepted Islam and came with Khalid to the [[Muslim]]’s army he died on the same day while fighting from the side of Muslims. On the auspicious note of this conversion began the Battle of Yarmuk.<ref |
A [[Byzantine]] general George emerged and called for Khalid. Khalid rode towards him delighted that the battle will start with a duel between him and a Roman, but he was surprised that the Roman was not willing to fight but he instead asked Khalid that why he is known as [[Sword]] of [[Allah]]? After a long and moving explanation given by Khalid to him he, accepted Islam and came with Khalid to the [[Muslim]]’s army he died on the same day while fighting from the side of Muslims. On the auspicious note of this conversion began the Battle of Yarmuk.<ref name=Akram/> |
||
===Day 1=== |
===Day 1=== |
||
Next came the phase of duels between [[champion]]s of both sides, for it acted as a kind of warming up. Scores of officers rode out of the [[Muslim]] [[army]], many champions from both side emerged some on instructions from commanders and others on their own, and throwing their individual challenges. From the [[Muslims]] side the honors of the day going to Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr, son of late [[caliph]] [[Abu Bakr]] who killed five [[Byzantine]] officers.<ref |
Next came the phase of duels between [[champion]]s of both sides, for it acted as a kind of warming up. Scores of officers rode out of the [[Muslim]] [[army]], many champions from both side emerged some on instructions from commanders and others on their own, and throwing their individual challenges. From the [[Muslims]] side the honors of the day going to Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr, son of late [[caliph]] [[Abu Bakr]] who killed five [[Byzantine]] officers.<ref name=Akram/> |
||
The dueling went on till midday, Mahan then decided to launch a general attack for the dueling affected mostly officers, which were necessary for the army's cohesion. At midday one-third of the [[infantry]] of each of the four corps of [[Byzantine]], advanced to battle, they were subjected to intense [[archer]]y, which caused some casualties and soon both sides were locked in combat. |
The dueling went on till midday, Mahan then decided to launch a general attack for the dueling affected mostly officers, which were necessary for the army's cohesion. At midday one-third of the [[infantry]] of each of the four corps of [[Byzantine]], advanced to battle, they were subjected to intense [[archer]]y, which caused some casualties and soon both sides were locked in combat. |
||
[[Image:2Day-1-muslims-attack-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Day-1 Battle]] |
[[Image:2Day-1-muslims-attack-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Day-1 Battle]] |
||
The Roman assault was not a determined one, Mahan had attempt a limited offensive on a broad front to test the strength and strategy of the [[Muslim]] [[army]], and if possible, achieve a breakthrough wherever the Muslim front was weak. Many of the soldiers of the [[Imperial]] [[army]] were unused to battle and were unable to press the attack as the [[Muslim]]’s [[veteran]]s did. On some parts of the front the fighting was more violent than on others, but on the whole the action of this day could be described as steady and moderately hard.<ref>[http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=xhSukw9i27AC&dq=battle+of+yermuk&pg=PA267&ots=3FaR8Hi3i8&sig=j9R_wjJDqTEM9H1feLxkYNmoeoo&prev=http://www.google.com.pk/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dbattle%2Bof%2Byermuk%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPA268,M1]</ref> The [[Muslim]]s held their own. The Romans did not reinforce their forward [[infantry]], and at sunset the action ended with the two armies separating and returning to their respective camps. Casualties were light on this day, though higher among the [[Byzantines]] than the [[Muslim]]s.<ref |
The Roman assault was not a determined one, Mahan had attempt a limited offensive on a broad front to test the strength and strategy of the [[Muslim]] [[army]], and if possible, achieve a breakthrough wherever the Muslim front was weak. Many of the soldiers of the [[Imperial]] [[army]] were unused to battle and were unable to press the attack as the [[Muslim]]’s [[veteran]]s did. On some parts of the front the fighting was more violent than on others, but on the whole the action of this day could be described as steady and moderately hard.<ref>[http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=xhSukw9i27AC&dq=battle+of+yermuk&pg=PA267&ots=3FaR8Hi3i8&sig=j9R_wjJDqTEM9H1feLxkYNmoeoo&prev=http://www.google.com.pk/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dbattle%2Bof%2Byermuk%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPA268,M1]</ref> The [[Muslim]]s held their own. The Romans did not reinforce their forward [[infantry]], and at sunset the action ended with the two armies separating and returning to their respective camps. Casualties were light on this day, though higher among the [[Byzantines]] than the [[Muslim]]s.<ref name=Akram/> |
||
===Day 2=== |
===Day 2=== |
||
Mahan in a council of war decided to launch his attack at dawn, so that Muslims will be caught unprepared, he ordered the prepration of attack during the hours of darkness, his plan was to engage the two of his central armies with the Muslim's central armies to tie them down and the main thrust would be to the left and right wings, they would be either drove away from the battlefield or being pushed in to the center.To observe the battlefield Mahan had a large pavilion behind the right wing with a bodyguard of 2000 [[Armenia]]ns, he ordered the army to prepare for the surprise dawn attack.<ref |
Mahan in a council of war decided to launch his attack at dawn, so that Muslims will be caught unprepared, he ordered the prepration of attack during the hours of darkness, his plan was to engage the two of his central armies with the Muslim's central armies to tie them down and the main thrust would be to the left and right wings, they would be either drove away from the battlefield or being pushed in to the center.To observe the battlefield Mahan had a large pavilion behind the right wing with a bodyguard of 2000 [[Armenia]]ns, he ordered the army to prepare for the surprise dawn attack.<ref name=Akram/> |
||
[[Byzantine]]s attacked soon after the dawn and Muslims were cought probabaly unprepared, but thanks to khalid who already have placed a strong outpost line in front during night which gave Muslims time for the preprations of the battle. The sun was not yet up on this second day of battle when the two armies clashed.<ref |
[[Byzantine]]s attacked soon after the dawn and Muslims were cought probabaly unprepared, but thanks to khalid who already have placed a strong outpost line in front during night which gave Muslims time for the preprations of the battle. The sun was not yet up on this second day of battle when the two armies clashed.<ref name=Akram/>At the center, [[Byzantines]] were not pressing hard as this was meant to be a limited attack to hold these [[Muslim]] central corps in their position.<ref>http://www.renaissance.com.pk/jaletf95.html</ref>Thus the centre remained stable. |
||
On the right wing of the [[Byzantine]] [[army]] commanded by Qanateer having army of mainly [[Slavs]] attacked and forced [[Muslim]]s to retreat, the [[infantry]] was retreated, after which [[Amr ibn al-A'as]] ordered his [[cavalry]] [[regiment]] to counter attack but they got stable afterwards. |
On the right wing of the [[Byzantine]] [[army]] commanded by Qanateer having army of mainly [[Slavs]] attacked and forced [[Muslim]]s to retreat, the [[infantry]] was retreated, after which [[Amr ibn al-A'as]] ordered his [[cavalry]] [[regiment]] to counter attack but they got stable afterwards. |
||
Line 99: | Line 102: | ||
[[Image:5Day-2-muslims-counter-attack-phase-2-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Muslim's counterattack Phase-2]]</br> |
[[Image:5Day-2-muslims-counter-attack-phase-2-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Muslim's counterattack Phase-2]]</br> |
||
As soon as this position was restored, Khalid turned to the left wing. By now Yazeed had begun a major counter attack from the front to push the Romans back. Khalid detached one [[regiment]] under Zirrar ibn al-Azwar and ordered him to attack the front of the army of Deirjan(left half of the center) in order to create a diversion and threaten the withdrawal of the Roman right wing from its advanced position. With the rest of the army reserve he attacked the flank of Gregory. Here again the Romans withdrew under the counter-attacks from front and flank, but more slowly because with their chains the men could not move fast.<ref>[http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=xhSukw9i27AC&dq=battle+of+yermuk&pg=PA267&ots=3FaR8Hi3i8&sig=j9R_wjJDqTEM9H1feLxkYNmoeoo&prev=http://www.google.com.pk/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dbattle%2Bof%2Byermuk%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPA268,M1]</ref> While the Roman right was falling back, [[Zirrar ibn al-Azwar]] broke through the army of Deirjan and killed him. At sunset the central armies also broke contact and withdrew to their original positions and both fronts were restored along the lines occupied in the morning.<ref |
As soon as this position was restored, Khalid turned to the left wing. By now Yazeed had begun a major counter attack from the front to push the Romans back. Khalid detached one [[regiment]] under Zirrar ibn al-Azwar and ordered him to attack the front of the army of Deirjan(left half of the center) in order to create a diversion and threaten the withdrawal of the Roman right wing from its advanced position. With the rest of the army reserve he attacked the flank of Gregory. Here again the Romans withdrew under the counter-attacks from front and flank, but more slowly because with their chains the men could not move fast.<ref>[http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=xhSukw9i27AC&dq=battle+of+yermuk&pg=PA267&ots=3FaR8Hi3i8&sig=j9R_wjJDqTEM9H1feLxkYNmoeoo&prev=http://www.google.com.pk/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dbattle%2Bof%2Byermuk%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPA268,M1]</ref> While the Roman right was falling back, [[Zirrar ibn al-Azwar]] broke through the army of Deirjan and killed him. At sunset the central armies also broke contact and withdrew to their original positions and both fronts were restored along the lines occupied in the morning.<ref name=Akram/> |
||
===Day 3=== |
===Day 3=== |
||
Line 146: | Line 149: | ||
[[Image:16day-6-retreat-to-canaon-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Retreat towards ravine]]As the [[Byzantine]] troops reached there they found a cavalry regiment under [[Zirrar ibn al-Azwar]] blocking the way at the ford. Khalid a night before had sent 500 mounted troops towards that 500 meter wide ford to block the passage and this was the route [[Khalid ibn Walid]] wanted [[Byzantine]]s to retreat. |
[[Image:16day-6-retreat-to-canaon-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Retreat towards ravine]]As the [[Byzantine]] troops reached there they found a cavalry regiment under [[Zirrar ibn al-Azwar]] blocking the way at the ford. Khalid a night before had sent 500 mounted troops towards that 500 meter wide ford to block the passage and this was the route [[Khalid ibn Walid]] wanted [[Byzantine]]s to retreat. |
||
Now the Muslim infantry reached there from the east and cavalry under Khalid’s command reached from the north a regiment which was blocking the passage from the west. South lies the deep ravine of [[Yarmouk River]], where Byzantine troops were starting to become surrounded.<ref |
Now the Muslim infantry reached there from the east and cavalry under Khalid’s command reached from the north a regiment which was blocking the passage from the west. South lies the deep ravine of [[Yarmouk River]], where Byzantine troops were starting to become surrounded.<ref name=Akram/> |
||
[[Image:17day-6-slaughter-last-phase-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|The last phase]]The final phase of the battle begun as the exhausted Byzantine corps were pushed back towards the ravine from the front and from the flanking side they were pushed towards the center so that imbalance could be created in the army. They were pushed together so much that they were unable to use their weapons freely and soon they retreated, attempting to find a way through the ravine, unsuccessfully. Some of the Byzantines fell into the ravine whilst the others fell fighting or were captured, effectively ending the battle. |
[[Image:17day-6-slaughter-last-phase-mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|right|300px|The last phase]]The final phase of the battle begun as the exhausted Byzantine corps were pushed back towards the ravine from the front and from the flanking side they were pushed towards the center so that imbalance could be created in the army. They were pushed together so much that they were unable to use their weapons freely and soon they retreated, attempting to find a way through the ravine, unsuccessfully. Some of the Byzantines fell into the ravine whilst the others fell fighting or were captured, effectively ending the battle. |
||
==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
||
Immediately after this operation was over [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] with a regiment of his cavalry moved north to follow the retreated soldiers, he met them near [[Damascus]] and attacked them in which the Commander in Chief of the Imperial army Mahan was killed, from there Khalid entered Damascus where he was welcomed by the local residents, thus recaptured the city.<ref> |
Immediately after this operation was over [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] with a regiment of his cavalry moved north to follow the retreated soldiers, he met them near [[Damascus]] and attacked them in which the Commander in Chief of the Imperial army Mahan was killed, from there Khalid entered Damascus where he was welcomed by the local residents, thus recaptured the city.<ref name=Akram/> When news of the disaster reached [[Heraclius]] at [[Antioch]], it is said that he bade a last farewell to [[Syria]], saying, |
||
When news of the disaster reached [[Heraclius]] at [[Antioch]], it is said that he bade a last farewell to [[Syria]], saying, |
|||
{{cquote|"Farewell Syria, my fair province. Thou art an enemy's now" }} |
{{cquote|"Farewell Syria, my fair province. Thou art an enemy's now" }} |
||
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius left Antioch for [[Constantinople]]. Heraclius began to concentrate his remaining forces on a defense of [[Egypt]] instead. |
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius left Antioch for [[Constantinople]]. Heraclius began to concentrate his remaining forces on a defense of [[Egypt]] instead. |
||
Line 160: | Line 162: | ||
==Sources== |
==Sources== |
||
===Primary=== |
|||
*[[Ibn Ishaq]], ''[[Sirah Rasul Allah]]'', 750. |
|||
*[[Al-Waqidi]], ''Maghazi Rasulillah'', 8th century. |
|||
*[[Theophanes the Confessor]], ''Chronographia'', 810-815. |
|||
*[[Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri]], ''[[Kitab Futuh al-Buldan]]'', 9th century. |
|||
*[[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari]], ''[[History of the Prophets and Kings]]'', 915. |
|||
*[[Ibn Khaldun]], ''[[Muqaddimah]]'', 1377. |
|||
===Modern=== |
|||
*Akram, A. I. ''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'', Nat. Publishing House. Rawalpindi, 1970. ISBN 0-71010-104-X. (See [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter34page1.htm Eve of Yarmuk] and [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter35page1.htm Battle of Yarmuk].) |
*Akram, A. I. ''The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns'', Nat. Publishing House. Rawalpindi, 1970. ISBN 0-71010-104-X. (See [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter34page1.htm Eve of Yarmuk] and [http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookchapter35page1.htm Battle of Yarmuk].) |
||
*Donner, Fred. ''The Early Islamic Conquests'', Princeton, 1981. |
*Donner, Fred. ''The Early Islamic Conquests'', Princeton, 1981. |
||
*Elton, Hugh |
*Elton, Hugh. [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=tmr;cc=tmr;q1=Elton;rgn=main;view=text;idno=baj9928.9410.006 Review of ''Kaegi, W. E., Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests'']. ''The Medieval Review''. [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]]: [[University of Michigan Library]], Scholarly Publishing Office, 1994. |
||
*[[Edward Gibbon|Gibbon, Edward]]. ''[[The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]]'', 1776-1788. |
|||
*Gil, Moshe and Broido, Ethel |
*Gil, Moshe and Broido, Ethel. ''A History of Palestine, 634-1099'', [[Cambridge University Press]], 1997. ISBN 0521599849. |
||
*Haldon, John. ''The Byzantine Wars'', Tempus Publishing, 2001. |
*Haldon, John. ''The Byzantine Wars'', Tempus Publishing, 2001. |
||
*Kaegi, Walter E. ''Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests'', Cambridge, 1992. |
*Kaegi, Walter E. ''Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests'', Cambridge, 1992. |
||
Line 173: | Line 185: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
*[http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/muslimwars/articles/yarmuk.aspx Battle of |
*[http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/muslimwars/articles/yarmuk.aspx Battle of Yarmuk, 636] |
||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yarmuk}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yarmuk}} |
Revision as of 10:20, 16 April 2007
![]() |
Battle of Yarmouk | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Muslim conquests and Byzantine-Arab Wars | |||||||||
Satellite image of Yarmouk plane | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Belligerents | |||||||||
Eastern Roman Empire | Arab Rashidun Caliphate | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Heraclius Constantine III[1] Theodorus Trithurius[2] Jabalah VI ibn aI-Aiham Dairjan[3] Vahan[2] (Mahan[3]) Buccinator[3] George[3] |
Khalid ibn al-Walid Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Amr ibn al-A'as Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan Shurhabil bin Hassana | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
15,000 - 100,000 (primary sources)[6][7] |
7,500 - 40,000 (primary sources)[10] | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
45% killed (primary sources)[11] | 4,000 killed[3] |
The Battle of Yarmouk (also spelled Yarmuk, Yarmuq or Hieromyax and معركة اليرموك) took place between the Muslim Arabs and the Roman Empire in 636. It is considered by some historians to have been one of the most significant battles in the history of the world, as it marked the first great wave of Muslim conquests outside Arabia, and heralded the rapid advance of Islam into Christian Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia. This battle is also considered to be one of Khalid ibn al-Walid's most decisive victories.
The battle took place only four years after Muhammad died in 632. He was succeeded by the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, who sought to bring all the Arabians under Muslim control. In 633 Muslim armies invaded Syria, and after raids and skirmishing quickly captured Damascus once a stronghold of the Byzantine Empire in 635, and continued their conquest across the Levant, soon after the conquest of Damascus, Muslims defeated a Byzantine army at Battle of Ajnadayn and Battle of Fahl.
Background
After previous incursions from Arab armies, Heraclius decided to organize an army in Syria to check possible Arab invasion there. Preparations started in late 635, and by May 636 a force was put under arms and was concentrated at Antioch and northern Syria. The size of these forces is put at 100,000 to 200,000 in most Muslim accounts of the battle, but several modern estimates suggest lower numbers at 100,000,[12][13][14] 80,000,[2] 50,000,[15] or even 20,000.[16] The assembled army consisted of contingents of Romans, Greeks, Russians, Slavs, Franks, Georgians, Armenians and Christian Arabs,[17] contributing to internal conflicts.
This force was organised into five armies. The commanders of these armies were: Mahan,[18] King of Armenia who commanded a purely Armenian army; Qanateer, a Russian prince commanded all the Russians and Slavs; Jabla bin AI Eiham, King of the Ghassanid Arabs, commanded an exclusively Christian Arab force. The remaining contingents (all European) were placed under Gregory and Dairjan.[19] Mahan was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the entire Imperial army.
At this time the Muslims were split in four groups: Amr bin Al Aas in Palestine, Shurahbil in Jordan, Yazeed at Caesarea, and Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah along with Khalid ibn al-Walid at Emesa and to the north, this situation was fully exploited by Heraclius in the plan which he put into execution to attack and destroy each of the Muslim’s corps separately putting a large concentration of army against them in the battle field.
Reinforcement was sent to Caesarea under Heraclius’s son Constantine probably to tie down Yazeed’s forces there so that it would not move to join other Muslim’s corps to help them. The rest of the imperial army was to operate on the following plan:
- Qanateer would move along the coastal route up to Beirut, then approach Damascus from the west and cut off Abu Ubaidah.
- Jabla would march from Aleppo on the direct route to Emessa via Hama, and hold the Muslims frontally in the Emessa region. The Christian Arabs would be the first to contact the Muslim Arabs.
- Dairjan would move between the coast and the Aleppo road and approach Emessa from the west, thus striking the Muslims in their flank while they were held frontally by Jabla.
- Gregory would advance on Emessa from the north-east and attack the Muslims in their right flanks at the same time as they were struck by Dairjan.
- Mahan’s army would advance behind the Christian Arabs and act as a reserve.[20]
The imperial army was launched from Antioch and Northern Syria some time in the middle of June 636 A.D. It was at Shaizar, through Roman prisoners, that the Muslims first came to know of the preparations being made by Heraclius. Khalid ibn al-Walid advised Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah to pull back from North and Central Syria, as well as from Palestine, and concentrates the whole army so that strong, united opposition could be put up against the Byzantine Forces, and in case of retreat the Arabian Desert will not be too far.[21]. Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah ordered the commanders to give up the territory in their occupation and withdrawal the army to Jabiya he also ordered the commanders to return the Jizya (tribute) to the people who had paid it.[22].
In the middle of the July 636 A.D in a council of war Khalid bin Walid gave his plan to Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, the commander in chief of the Muslim’s army.
“"Know, O Commander, that if you stay at Jabiys, you will be helping the enemy against you. In Caesarea, which is not far from Jabiya, there are 40,000 Romans under Constantine, son of Heraclius.[23] I advise you to move from here and place Azra behind you and be on the plain of Yarmuk. Thus it would be easier for the Caliph to send reinforcements and ahead of you there would be a large plain, suitable for the charge of cavalry."[24].
The Muslim’s army moved to wards yermuk plane during which there was a skirmish between Khalid‘s mobile guard and Byzantine cavalry. The Muslims established a line of camps in the eastern part of plain of yermuk. Here Abu Ubaidah was joined by the corps of Shurahbil, Amr ibn al-A'as and Yazeed.
A few days later the Byzantine army, proceeded by the lightly armed Christian Arabs of Jabla, moved up and established their camps just north of the Wadi-ur-Raqqad.
Heraclius Instructed Mahan the commander in Chief of the imperial army to not to start battle until all avenues of peaceful negotiation had been explored. Mahan sent Gregory to hold talks with Muslims if they would agree to retire to Arabia and not come back again but he failed, later Jabla was sent but no results came. Before the Battle, on Mahan’s invitation Khalid also went to hold talks but still no results.[25] Caliph Umar sent the reinforcement of 6,000 mostly from Yemen. Some sources have the Muslim numbers at 40,000 warriors, but these numbers are used in combination with 150,000 troops for the Romans. Actual strength must have been much lower (~7,500-24,000), while some suggest inferiority of the Muslim army may not even be found in numbers but possibly in quality,[26] though most scholars agree that the Muslim army was outnumbered by the Roman army. The army of the Caliph included 1,000 companions of Muhammad, and these in turn included 100 veterans of the Battle of Badr the first battle of Islam. The army included citizens of the highest rank, such as Zubair,[27] Abu Sufyan, and his wife Hind.[28]
Roman army
Mahan deployed the Imperial Army forward of Allan. He used his four regular armies to form the line of battle which was 12 miles long, extending from the Yarmuk to south of the Hill of Jabiya. The right wing was commanded by Gregory and on his left the army of Qanateer. The centre was formed by the army of Dairjan and the Armenian army of Mahan-both under the command of Dairjan. The Roman regular Cavalry was distributed equally among the four armies, and each army deployed with its infantry holding the front and its cavalry held as a reserve in the rear. Ahead of the front line, across the entire 12-mile front, Mahan deployed the Christian Arab army of Jabla, which was all mounted-horse and camel.This army acted as a screen and Skirmish line, until they would be joined by the main army. The army of Gregory, which formed the right wing, used chains to link its foot soldiers.[29]. All these foot soldiers had taken the oath of death. These chains were in 10-men lengths, and were used as a proof of unshakeable courage on the part of the men who thus displayed their willingness to die where they stood and not to retreat. The chains also acted as an insurance against a break-through by enemy cavalry.
Muslim army
During a council of war Khalid ibn Walid, conqueror of Iraq and a former commander in chief of the muslim's army at campaign of Syria,[30] offered his services as a commander of muslim's army until the battle was over, and command of muslim's army was given to him that day. Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah was a respected man and was a fearless fighter, but his military prowess were not like that of legendary General Khalid ibn Walid.[31]. Khalid after taking the command reorganized the army in to infantry and cavalry regiments, with cavalry making up a quarter of the army (10,000 cavalry out of the 40,000 figure). Khalid divided the army in to 36 infantry regiments and 4 cavalry regiments of which one in reserve. The army was lined over a front of 11 miles, with its left on Yarmouk River a mile before the ravine began and right on Jabiya road. The Center of the army was under the command of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (left half) and Shurhabeel bin Hassana (right half). The left wing was under the command of Yazeed and the right wing was under Amr ibn al-A'as command.Left and right wings were given the cavalry regiment under command which will be used as a reserve for counter attack incase they would be pushed back by the Byzantine army. Behind the center stood one cavalry regiment and stood a mobile guard under personal command of Khalid, at a time when Khalid would be busy in the conducts of the battle Zirrar ibn al-Azwar will be the commander of mobile guard.The commanders of the cavalry regiments were Qais bin Hubaira, Maisara bin Masruq and Amir bin Tufail. Each of the four corps had nine infantry regiments, which were all reformed on a tribal and clan basis, so that every man would fight next to well-known comrades, and corps pushed out a line of scouts to keep the Byzantine under observation. .[32]. In late July 636 A.D, Mahan sent Jabla with his Christian Arabs forces to check the strength of the Muslim's front, before Jabla could reached with his army to the muslim's front Khalid with his mobile guard attacked and droved back the Jabla's corps..[33].After this operation nothing happned for a month. At muslim's camp womens were instructed by Abu Ubaidah that they should safeguard them selves during the battle from the Byzantine forces and also to check the retreat of the muslims corps.
The battlefield
The battlefield lies about 40 miles from Golan heights disputed upland region on the border between Israel and Syria, northeast of the Sea of Galilee.[34].
The battlefield which stretched between the two camps consisted of the Plain of Yarmouk which was enclosed on its western and southern sides by deep ravines, known as Wadi-ur-Raqqad with the banks about 1,000 feet deep,this ravine joins Yarmouk River on its southern side. On the south of the battle field lies the Yarmouk River with is a tributary of River Jordan, this stream have very steep banks from 300-1,000 feet deep.[3].On the northern side of the battle field lies the Jabiya road and on the eastern side lies Azra hills, but these hills were out side the actual battlefield.
There was only one prominence in the battlefield a 300 feet high elevation known as hill of Jamu'a(gathering), because part of muslim's corps was concentrated over it as it gives a good view of the plane of Yermouk. In 636 A.D The ravine at the west of the battlefield was crossable at a few places but there was only one main crossing, at a ford, where the village of Kafir-ul-Ma stands today.[3]
The battle
The battle begun in the third week of August 636. At dawn both armies lined up for the battle and were a little less than a mile apart.
A Byzantine general George emerged and called for Khalid. Khalid rode towards him delighted that the battle will start with a duel between him and a Roman, but he was surprised that the Roman was not willing to fight but he instead asked Khalid that why he is known as Sword of Allah? After a long and moving explanation given by Khalid to him he, accepted Islam and came with Khalid to the Muslim’s army he died on the same day while fighting from the side of Muslims. On the auspicious note of this conversion began the Battle of Yarmuk.[3]
Day 1
Next came the phase of duels between champions of both sides, for it acted as a kind of warming up. Scores of officers rode out of the Muslim army, many champions from both side emerged some on instructions from commanders and others on their own, and throwing their individual challenges. From the Muslims side the honors of the day going to Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr, son of late caliph Abu Bakr who killed five Byzantine officers.[3] The dueling went on till midday, Mahan then decided to launch a general attack for the dueling affected mostly officers, which were necessary for the army's cohesion. At midday one-third of the infantry of each of the four corps of Byzantine, advanced to battle, they were subjected to intense archery, which caused some casualties and soon both sides were locked in combat.
The Roman assault was not a determined one, Mahan had attempt a limited offensive on a broad front to test the strength and strategy of the Muslim army, and if possible, achieve a breakthrough wherever the Muslim front was weak. Many of the soldiers of the Imperial army were unused to battle and were unable to press the attack as the Muslim’s veterans did. On some parts of the front the fighting was more violent than on others, but on the whole the action of this day could be described as steady and moderately hard.[35] The Muslims held their own. The Romans did not reinforce their forward infantry, and at sunset the action ended with the two armies separating and returning to their respective camps. Casualties were light on this day, though higher among the Byzantines than the Muslims.[3]
Day 2
Mahan in a council of war decided to launch his attack at dawn, so that Muslims will be caught unprepared, he ordered the prepration of attack during the hours of darkness, his plan was to engage the two of his central armies with the Muslim's central armies to tie them down and the main thrust would be to the left and right wings, they would be either drove away from the battlefield or being pushed in to the center.To observe the battlefield Mahan had a large pavilion behind the right wing with a bodyguard of 2000 Armenians, he ordered the army to prepare for the surprise dawn attack.[3]
Byzantines attacked soon after the dawn and Muslims were cought probabaly unprepared, but thanks to khalid who already have placed a strong outpost line in front during night which gave Muslims time for the preprations of the battle. The sun was not yet up on this second day of battle when the two armies clashed.[3]At the center, Byzantines were not pressing hard as this was meant to be a limited attack to hold these Muslim central corps in their position.[36]Thus the centre remained stable. On the right wing of the Byzantine army commanded by Qanateer having army of mainly Slavs attacked and forced Muslims to retreat, the infantry was retreated, after which Amr ibn al-A'as ordered his cavalry regiment to counter attack but they got stable afterwards.
The situation on the Muslim’s left wing was only a little less serious. Here too the Byzantines broke through the corps of Yazeed. This was the army of Gregory, with chains, more slow-moving than the others but also more solid. Yazeed too used his cavalry regiment to counter attack and it too was repulsed; and after a period of stiff resistance the warriors of Yazeed fell back to their camp but got stable afterwards.
Mahan was getting success according to his plan.It was now about midday, when Khalid finally decided to launch his cavalry reserve to assist the wings in there counter attack to re-establishment of the Muslim's wings positions.
He first turned to the right wing and with his Mobile Guard and one cavalry regiment struck at the flank of the army of Qanateer at the same time as Amr counter-attacked again from the front. Very soon the Romans attacked from two sides, turned and beat a hasty retreat to their original position. Amr regained all the ground that he had lost and reorganized his corps for the next round.
As soon as this position was restored, Khalid turned to the left wing. By now Yazeed had begun a major counter attack from the front to push the Romans back. Khalid detached one regiment under Zirrar ibn al-Azwar and ordered him to attack the front of the army of Deirjan(left half of the center) in order to create a diversion and threaten the withdrawal of the Roman right wing from its advanced position. With the rest of the army reserve he attacked the flank of Gregory. Here again the Romans withdrew under the counter-attacks from front and flank, but more slowly because with their chains the men could not move fast.[37] While the Roman right was falling back, Zirrar ibn al-Azwar broke through the army of Deirjan and killed him. At sunset the central armies also broke contact and withdrew to their original positions and both fronts were restored along the lines occupied in the morning.[3]
Day 3
The battle on this day begins with the Byzantine attack on the corps of Amr ibn al-A'as and Sharhabeel bin Hasana selecting as the main point of attack the junction between Sharhabeel and Amr bin Al Aas.
The initial attacks were repulsed by the Muslims but soon the numerical advantage of the Byzantine army begin to tell and the right wing retreated to the camp followed by the retreat of the right half of the Muslim’s center under the command of Sharhabeel bin Hasana.[38] But this day the retreat was not like that of the previous day, the corps reorganized some distance from the Muslim’s camp for a counter attack.[39]
Now Khalid launched his cavalry reserve against left the flank of Qanateer's corps (right half of Byzantine army's center). At the same time Amr's cavalry regiment maneuvered from the right and struck at right flank, while the infantry of Amr and Sharhabeel counter-attacked frontally. This time the combat was severe many Muslims and Byzantines fell in combat but by dusk the Byzantines were pushed back to their own position and the situation restored as at the beginning of the battle.[40]
Day 4
The fourth day was going to prove decisive, both the army Generals knew it, Mahan decided to follow the previous day's war plan, as muslim's right wing had suffered a lot so far.
With this plan of battle, the two armies of Qanateer (right wing and right half of the central corps Armenians and slavs respectively) were set in motion against the corps of Amr and Sharhabeel. Amr was pushed back again, but not as far as on the previous day. Some distance behind its original position, the corps of Amr held the right wing mainly comprises the Slavs and intense fighting started there. In the sector of Sharhabeel, however, the Armenians broke through and pushed the Muslims back towards their camp. The Armenians were strongly supported by the Christian Arabs of Jabla, and this proved the most serious penetration of the Muslim front. Now Khalid bin Walid decided to entered this sector with his cavalry reserve.
Khalid feared the attack on the broad front, in this case it would be unable for him to repulse the Byzantine attacks with his mobile guard, and he therefore ordered Abu Ubaidah and Yazeed to attack the Byzantine corps of there respective sides. The attack was to be just to tie down the Byzantine’s left half of the center and left wing.[41].
Khalid, strike against the Armenians on the right half of the central corps. He divided the army reserve into two equal groups of which he gave one to Qais bin Hubeira and kept the other with himself. Leading his own cavalry group, Khalid galloped round behind the corps of Sharhabeel and appeared against the northern flank of the Armenian. Now began a three-pronged counter attack against the Armenians and Christian Arabs. Khalid from the right Qais from the left and Sharhabeel from the front with his infantry. At last the Armenians retreated towards there own position. The operation against the Armenians lasted the whole afternoon.
As the Armenians pulled back, the Slavs, denied the support of the Armenians on their flank, also retired. The positions of Sharhabeel and Amr were now restored. While the operation on the Mulims right was taken place , the same intense situation was there at there left, Khalid's reserve was committed at the right sector therefore left had to rely totally on there own. Khalid ordered the corps of Abu Ubaidah and Yazeed to attack the Byzantines from there fronts to tie them down, but soon they were pushed back by the intense Byzantine archery which caused heavy casualties on muslims many muslims lost there one eye on that day therefore the day is famous by the name Day of lost eyes.[42]
The armies of Abu Ubaidah and Yazeed retreated except the regiment of Ikramah bin Abu-Jahal, who was at the left of Abu Ubaidah's corps, he called his men to take the oath of death and not to retreat by go down fighting 400 men immediately resoponded and attacked with him to the Byzantine army.The suicidal act of Ikrimah’s regiment provided a cover for the retreated corps , they reorganized them, selves and attacked to regain there lost positions. Of the 400 dedicated men who had taken the oath of death, everyone was either killed or seriously wounded, but they accounted for many times their number of byzantines. Ikrimah and his son, Amr, were mortally wounded.[43].
By dusk the days' action was over. Both armies stood once again on their original lines.Ikrimah and his son Amr, one of the best friends of Khalid ibn Walid died that evening due to the wound he got in his stand against the Byzantines. It had been a terrible day on which the Byzantines came very near to victory.
Day 5
Early on the fifth day of battle the two armies again formed up on their lines. One man emerged from the Byzantine centre. This was an emissary of Mahan who brought a proposal for a truce for the next few days so that fresh negotiations could be held. Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah nearly accepted the proposal but was restrained by Khalid ibn al-Walid. On Khalid's insistence he sent the envoy back with a negative reply, adding:[44]
"We are in a hurry to finish this business!"
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Khalid knew that the Byzantines were no longer eager for battle. Khalid held some reorganization. All the cavalry regiments were grouped together into one powerful mounted force with the Mobile Guard acting as its hard core. The total strength of this cavalry group was now about 8,000 mounted warriors, and prepared an effective offensive attack for the next day. Khalid's intention with regard to the enemy cavalry was that he had determined to drive the Byzantine cavalry off the battlefield so that the infantry, which formed the bulk of the Byzantine army, would be left without cavalry support and thus be helpless when attacked from flank and rear.
Day 6
The sixth day of the battle started with a duel between the Byzantine left wing commander Gregory and Muslims commander of the central army Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah. It was the 4th week of August 636 A.D. Gregory, before the battle start, came out from the Byzantine center and called the muslims’ commander for a duel the aim of which was to weaken the Muslims morale, Abu Ubaidah rushed to him though it was suggested that Khalid should go for a duel. Abu Ubaidah killed him after a long fight and return back as he returned Khalid ibn al-Walid ordered a general attack along the entire Byzantine front. .[45]. The Muslim centre and left wing engaged the Byzantine armies on their front but did not press the attack.[46].
Khalid according to his plan galloped his cavalry and attacked the Byzantine left flank, he also dispatched a regiment to engage the Byzantine cavalry of the left wing, in the same time Amr attacked from the front, the left wing of the Byzantines consisting mainly of Slavs resisted a lot against this double sided attack but getting no support from their cavalry they fell back into the left half of the centre -the Armenians. As Byzantine’s left wing retreated Amr with his corps of Muslims left wing attacked the Byzantine left half of the center from the left flank , which was already in imbalance due to the retreating corps, at the same time Sharhabeel bin Hassana attacked from the front.
Khalid took his cavalry to join the dispatched regiment where the Byzantine cavalry of left wing was drove off from the battle field to wards north. While this maneuver was taking place at left, Mahan concentrated all his cavalry regiments behind the center to counterattack the Muslims advancing cavalry.
Before Mahan could do so Khalid galloped his cavalry to attack the concentrating Byzantines cavalry, he attacked them from the front and at the flank. Muslims lightly armed horse men were superb for these fluid situations, as they were able to attack, disengage maneuver and strike again, soon the Byzantine [[cavalry broke the contact and leave the infantry to it’s fate and retreated north towards Damascus. This also included the mounted corps of Jabla.
As the Byzantine cavalry retreated, Khalid attacked the Armenian corps from the rear. Armenians were strong fighters and resisted but at last retreated due to three pronged attack of the muslims, Khalid’s cavalry from the rear Amr’s infantry from the left and Shurhabeel’s infantry from the front.
As Armenians retreated, the Byzantine army was in full retreat a part retreated in panic and a part retreated in good manner west towards Wadi-ur-Riqqad.[47].
As the retreat begun Khalid took his cavalry towards north so that no army could escape from there, though before he could seal off all the gaps, thousands of Byzantine troops escaped from there and other simply headed their way towards the ford which was the only safe crossing from the ravine of Waddi-ur-Riqqad.
As the Byzantine troops reached there they found a cavalry regiment under Zirrar ibn al-Azwar blocking the way at the ford. Khalid a night before had sent 500 mounted troops towards that 500 meter wide ford to block the passage and this was the route Khalid ibn Walid wanted Byzantines to retreat.
Now the Muslim infantry reached there from the east and cavalry under Khalid’s command reached from the north a regiment which was blocking the passage from the west. South lies the deep ravine of Yarmouk River, where Byzantine troops were starting to become surrounded.[3]
The final phase of the battle begun as the exhausted Byzantine corps were pushed back towards the ravine from the front and from the flanking side they were pushed towards the center so that imbalance could be created in the army. They were pushed together so much that they were unable to use their weapons freely and soon they retreated, attempting to find a way through the ravine, unsuccessfully. Some of the Byzantines fell into the ravine whilst the others fell fighting or were captured, effectively ending the battle.
Aftermath
Immediately after this operation was over Khalid ibn al-Walid with a regiment of his cavalry moved north to follow the retreated soldiers, he met them near Damascus and attacked them in which the Commander in Chief of the Imperial army Mahan was killed, from there Khalid entered Damascus where he was welcomed by the local residents, thus recaptured the city.[3] When news of the disaster reached Heraclius at Antioch, it is said that he bade a last farewell to Syria, saying,
"Farewell Syria, my fair province. Thou art an enemy's now"
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius left Antioch for Constantinople. Heraclius began to concentrate his remaining forces on a defense of Egypt instead.
References
- ^ Gibbon (Vol. 5, p. 333)
- ^ a b c Kennedy, Hugh N. (2006). The Byzantine And Early Islamic Near East (p. 145), Ashgate Publishing, 2006. ISBN 0754659097.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Akram, A. I. (1970). The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns, Nat. Publishing House. Rawalpindi. ISBN 0-71010-104-X. (See Eve of Yarmuk and Battle of Yarmuk.)
- ^ Modern estimates for Roman army: Gil and Broido (1997) estimate 100,000. Donner (1981) estimates 100,000. Kennedy (2006, p. 145) estimates 80,000. Nicolle estimates 40,000 maximum. Haldon estimates 20,000. Kaegi estimates 15,000 - 20,000. Akram (1970) estimates 150,000. Gibbon (Volume 5, p. 325) estimates 140,000.
- ^ Modern estimates for the size of respective armies vary, between 15,000 to 100,000 for the Romans, and 7,500 to 25,000 for the Muslims, claiming exaggarations on both sides by older historians. These figures come from studying the logistical capabilities of the combatants, the sustainability of their respective bases of operations, and the overall manpower constraints affecting the Romans and Arabs.
- ^ Roman source for Roman army: Theophanes (p. 337-338) estimates 80,000 Roman forces (Kennedy, 2006, p. 145) and 60,000 Arab allies (Gibbon, Vol. 5, p. 325).
- ^ Muslim sources for Roman army: Baladhuri (p. 140) estimates 200,000. Tabari (Vol. 2, p. 598) estimates 200,000. Ibn Ishaq estimates 100,000 (Tabari, Vol. 3, p. 75). Al-Waqidi (p. 107) estimates 400,000 (Ibn Khaldun, p. 126).
- ^ Modern estimates of Muslim army: Haldon estimates 7,500 - 20,000. Kaegi estimates 15,000 maximum. Nicolle estimates 25,000 maximum. Akram estimates 40,000 maximum.
- ^ Muslim sources place this number to be between 24,000 and 40,000, though the latter was used in combination with 150,000 troops for the Romans. Modern estimates for the Muslim army are between 7,500 to 25,000. Most scholars agree that the Muslim army was outnumbered by the Roman army.
- ^ Primary sources for Muslim army: Ibn Ishaq estimates 24,000 (Tabari, Vol. 3, p. 74). Baladhuri estimates 24,000. Ibn Khaldun (p. 126) estimates 30,000. Al-Waqidi (p. 144) estimates 40,000. Tabari (Vol. 2, p. 592) estimates 40,000.
- ^ Tabari (Vol. 2, p. 596) estimates 120,000 killed. Ibn Ishaq estimates 70,000 killed (Tabari, Vol. 3, p. 75). Baladhuri (p. 141) estimates 70,000 killed. Al-Waqidi estimates more than 120,000 killed.
- ^ Moshe Gil and Ethel Broido (1997). A History of Palestine, 634-1099. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521599849.
- ^ Donner, Fred. The Early Islamic Conquests, Princeton, 1981.
- ^ Elton, Hugh. Review of Kaegi, W. E., Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests, 1992. The Medieval Review 9410.
- ^ D. Nicolle, Yarmuk AD 636: The Muslim Conquest of Syria (Osprey 1994) p. 32.
- ^ W. Kaegi, Heraclius: Emperor of Byzantium (Cambridge 2003) p. 131, 242
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no: 100.
- ^ In early Islamic sources the name mentioned is Jaban, as well as Mahan, David nicolle wrote it to be Vahan, while A.I.Akram in his book “Sword of Allah” (ISBN 0-71010-104-X) mentioned it to be Mahan.
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no: 106
- ^ The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns: page no:562 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram. Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4
- ^ The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns: page no:564 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram. Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 0-71010-104-X.
- ^ al-Baladhuri: page no:143
- ^ According to Gibbon (Vol. 5, page no: 333) Constantine, commanding at Caesarea, was the eldest son of Heraclius
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no: 109
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no: 128
- ^ J. Haldon, The Byzantine Wars (Tempus 2001) p. 59.
- ^ Muhammad's cousin and one of the Blessed Ten
- ^ The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns: page no:571 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram. Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4
- ^ Edward Gibbon Vol no:5 page no: 325
- ^ During the reign of Abu Bakr Khalid ibn Walid remained the Commander in Chief of the army in Syria but as Umar became Caliph he dismissed him from the command making Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah the new commander in chief ,also see of Khalid
- ^ The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns: page no:576 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram, Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4.
- ^ The Sword of Allah”: page no:577-578, by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram, Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4.
- ^ The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns: page no:570 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram, Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4.
- ^ Administered by Syria until 1967, it was first occupied and then, in 1981, annexed by Israel. Area: 1,250 sq km/483 sq mi
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.renaissance.com.pk/jaletf95.html
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/muslimwars/articles/yarmuk.aspx
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no:142
- ^ Sword of Allah page no:597-599 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram, Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4.
- ^ [3]
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no: 148
- ^ Sword of Allah: Page no:605-606 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4.
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no: 153
- ^ al-Waqidi: page no: 153
- ^ http://www.ccel.org/ccel/gibbon/decline/volume2/chap512.htm
- ^ Sword of Allah: Page no:611-620 by Lieutenant-General Agha Ibrahim Akram, Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 978-0-7101-0104-4.
Sources
Primary
- Ibn Ishaq, Sirah Rasul Allah, 750.
- Al-Waqidi, Maghazi Rasulillah, 8th century.
- Theophanes the Confessor, Chronographia, 810-815.
- Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri, Kitab Futuh al-Buldan, 9th century.
- Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, History of the Prophets and Kings, 915.
- Ibn Khaldun, Muqaddimah, 1377.
Modern
- Akram, A. I. The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns, Nat. Publishing House. Rawalpindi, 1970. ISBN 0-71010-104-X. (See Eve of Yarmuk and Battle of Yarmuk.)
- Donner, Fred. The Early Islamic Conquests, Princeton, 1981.
- Elton, Hugh. Review of Kaegi, W. E., Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests. The Medieval Review. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Library, Scholarly Publishing Office, 1994.
- Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1776-1788.
- Gil, Moshe and Broido, Ethel. A History of Palestine, 634-1099, Cambridge University Press, 1997. ISBN 0521599849.
- Haldon, John. The Byzantine Wars, Tempus Publishing, 2001.
- Kaegi, Walter E. Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests, Cambridge, 1992.
- Kaegi, Walter E. Heraclius: Emperor of Byzantium, Cambridge, 2003.
- Kennedy, Hugh N. The Byzantine And Early Islamic Near East, Ashgate Publishing, 2006. ISBN 0754659097.
- Nicolle, David. Yarmuk 636 A.D.: The Muslim Conquest of Syria, Osprey Campaign Series #31, Osprey Publishing, 1994.
- Treadgold, Warren. Byzantium and Its Army: 284-1081, Stanford, 1995.
- Treadgold, Warren. A History of the Byzantine State and Society, Stanford, 1997.
External links
- Articles needing cleanup from February 2007
- Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from February 2007
- Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from February 2007
- Battles involving the Byzantine Empire
- Battles involving the Rashidun Caliphate
- Battles of Khalid ibn Walid
- 636
- Battles of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah