Siege of Emesa was laid by the forces of Rashidun Caliphate from December 635-March 636, which resulted in the Islamic conquest of Emesa, a major trading city of Byzantine empire in Levant. The Arabian Peninsula Emirets towers in United Arab Emirates; the eastern part of Arabian Penisula The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية, or جزيرة العرب) is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia consisting mainly of desert. ... Combatants Muslims Quraysh-led Coalition Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan Strength 700 3,000 Casualties 70 dead 22 The Battle of Uhud was fought on 23 March, 625, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina, in what is now north-western Arabia, and a force from Mecca, the... Combatants Muslims Quraysh-led Coalition Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Strength 3,000 10,000 Casualties only few few hundreds or more The Battle of the Trench or Battle of the Ditch (Arabic غزوة الخندق), also known as or Battle of Confederates (Arabic غزوة الاحزاب) was an attack by the non-Muslim Ahzab... Combatants Muslim Arabs Eastern Roman Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Zayd ibn Harithah † Jafar ibn Abu Talib † Abdullah ibn Rawahah † Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Theodorus Shurahbil ibn Amr al-Ghassani Strength 3,000 (Ibn Qayyim)[4][5] 3,000 (Ibn Hajar)[6][5] 100,000 according to Muslim sources... Combatants Muslims Quraish Commanders Muhammad Khalid ibn al-Walid Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Strength 10,000 Unknown Casualties 0 0 Mecca was conquered by the Muslims in January 630 AD (10th day of Ramadan8 AH). ... The Battle of Hunayn is the name of a battle where the prophet Muhammad participiated in the year 630 CE. Categories: Military stubs | Islam-related stubs ... The Siege of Taif took place in 630 CE, as the Muslims besieged the city of Taif after their victory in the Battle of Hunayn. ... The Ridda wars (also known as the Riddah wars and the Wars of Apostasy) were a set of military campaigns against apostasy and rebellion against the Caliph Abu Bakr during 632 and 633 AD, following the death of Muhammad(S). ... Combatants Muslims Rebel Apostates Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid MusailimaThe lair Strength 13,000 40,000 Casualties 1200 21,000 The Battle of Yamama was fought in December 632 A.C in the plain of Aqraba near Yamama. ... this battle took place in 633 A.C between tribal mistress Salma and Khalid ibn al-Walids army. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... battle took place between Khalid ibn al-Walid and a false prophet in 633 A.C september. ... this battle took place between the remaining army of battle of Buzakha and Khalid ibn al-Walids army 20 miles from buzakha. ... this battle took place in october 633 between reble armies and Khalid ibn al-Walids army. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Islamic conquest of Afghanistan. ... Combatants Muslims Persian Empire Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Hormuz,Qubaz and Anushjan Strength 18,000 25,000-30,000 Casualties about 200 10,000-12,000 The Battle of Chains took place Some time in the first week of April 633 (third week of Muharram, 12 Hijri). ... The Battle of River took place in Iraq between the Muslims and the Persian army. ... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Sassanid Persian Empire, Christian Arab allies Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Andarzaghar Strength 15,000[1] 30,000-50,000[1] Casualties ~1000+ [1] 20,000-30,000 [1][2] The Battle of Walaja was a battle fought in Mesopotamia (Iraq) in May 633 between the Muslim... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Combatants Muslims Persians Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid  ? Strength 9000 Un-known Casualties very few. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Persian Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Mahbuzan,Huzail bin Imran. ... Combatants Muslims Christian Arabs. ... Combatants Muslims Christian Arabs. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Roman Empire Persian Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Yazdgerd III Strength 15,000[1] 100,000[2] Casualties Low 50,000[2] The Battle of Firaz was the last battle of the Muslim Arab commander Khalid ibn al-Walid (The Sword of Allah... Combatants Byzantine Empire Muslim Arabs (Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates) The Age of the Caliphs The Muslim conquest of Syria occured in the first half of the 7th century. ... Combatants Muslims Christian Arabs Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid  ? Strength 9000 unknown but less then muslims Casualties very Few Unknown but more then muslims. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Roman Empire Ghassanids Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Romanus Strength 4,000 infantry,[1] 1,500 cavalry[1] 12,000[1] Casualties 230[1] 8,000 Bosra was the first important town to be captured by the Muslims in Syria, as it was capital city of... Combatants Eastern Roman Empire Rashidun Caliphate Commanders Vardan (Governor of Emesa) Unknown Cubicularius Theodorus Khalid ibn al-Walid Amr Ibn al-As Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Shurahbil Yazid Ibn Abu Sufyan Strength 80,000[2] - 90,000[3] 32,000 (Al-Waqidi)[4][3] Casualties 50,000 (Al-Waqidi... Combatants Muslims Ghassanids Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid  ? Strength 9000 5000-6000 Casualties none Few hundreds. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Roman Empire Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Saqalar Strength 30,000 80,000 Casualties Unknown 10,000 The Battle of Fahl was a Byzantine-Arab battle fought between the Muslim Arabs under Khalid ibn al-Walid (The Sword of Allah) and the Roman Empire under Heraclius... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine empire. ... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine empire. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine empire. ... This battle took place between byzantine army and Khalid ibn al-Walids army near the city of hazir. ... Combatants Muslims Byzantine Empire Christian Arabs. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire,[1] Arab Ghassanids, Bulgarian Empire (later) Muslim Arabs (Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates) Syria was just the start of Arab expansion. ... Combatants Muslims Byzantine Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Khalid ibn al-Walid Unknown Strength 17,000 40,000-50,000 Casualties Unknown but few hundreds. ... The Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs ( transliteration: ) is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to certain of the Caliphs. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May - Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths Categories: 635 ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Events April 20 - Battle of Yarmuk - Byzantine Empire loses Syria to the Arabs The Arabs invade Persia Rothari marries queen Gundeparga, becomes king of the Lombards city of Basra Iraq founded by caliph Omar on a canal. ... Emesa was an ancient city on the Orontes River in Syria. ... Byzantine redirects here. ... The Levant The Levant (IPA: ) is an imprecise geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and by the northern Arabian Desert and Upper Mesopotamia to the east. ...

Background

After decisive victory at Battle of Ajnadayn Muslim army after a long siege Conquered Damascus in September 634 A.D, they continued there march to wards north and in late 635 A.D Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah sent Khalid ibn Walid with his mobile guard to laid the siege of Emesa and later joined him with the main body of army. Because of the continues victories of Muslims the Byzantine garrisons of Emesa and Qinnasrin made a truce, it was agreed that Emessa would pay 10,000 dinars and deliver 100 robes of brocade, and in return the Muslims would not attack Emessa for one year. If, however, any Roman reinforcements arrived to strengthen Emessa, the truce would become invalid. The gates of Emessa were opened as soon as the truce was signed, and thereafter there was free movement of Muslims in and out of the market of Emesa,advancing the major byzantine towns. The garrison of Qinnasrin (the ancient Calchis) made the truce on the same terms. But both governors, of Emesa and Qinnasrin, made the truce for reasons of expediency. Both hoped that their garrisons would before long be reinforced by Heraclius, and as soon as that happened they would resume hostilities against the Muslims.^[1] Accept the cities of Qinassareen and Emesa Muslim armies raided many cities of northern Syria major towns of Hama Shaizar, Afamia (known today as Qalatul-Muzeeq) and Ma'arra Hims (now Ma'arrat-un-Numan) One by one surrendered in peace to the Muslims and agreed to pay the Jizya. Combatants Eastern Roman Empire Rashidun Caliphate Commanders Vardan (Governor of Emesa) Unknown Cubicularius Theodorus Khalid ibn al-Walid Amr Ibn al-As Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Shurahbil Yazid Ibn Abu Sufyan Strength 80,000[2] - 90,000[3] 32,000 (Al-Waqidi)[4][3] Casualties 50,000 (Al-Waqidi... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine empire. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Events The Arabs invade Palestine. ... Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May - Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths Categories: 635 ... Abū Ubaidah Āmir ibn Abdullāh ibn al-Jarrāḥ (Arabic: ابو عبيده عامر بن عبدالله بن الجراح), more commonly known as Abū Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrāḥ, was one of the ten companions of Muhammad popularly known to have been promised Paradise by the Prophet himself. ... Khalid bin Walid (AKA:Syaifullah/Sword of Allah);(584 - 642) was a Muslim Arab soldier and general. ... Emesa was an ancient city on the Orontes River in Syria. ... Emesa was an ancient city on the Orontes River in Syria. ... Chalcis was an ancient city in Syria (modern Quinnesrin/Qinnasrin). ... A 25,000 Iraqi dinar note printed after the fall of Saddam Hussein A hyperinflation banknote of 50 billion dinara (1993) A 5,000 dinar bill of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (1992) The dinar is the currency unit of various countries, most of them Arabic-speaking or once part... A dragon robe from Qing Dynasty of China A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. ... Brocade can stands for: thick heavy fabric into which raised patterns have been woven. ... Chalcis was an ancient city in Syria (modern Quinnesrin/Qinnasrin). ... In Greek mythology, Calchis was an oracle who told Agamemnon that he had angered Artemis and needed to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia in order to leave Aulis for Troy to fight in the Trojan War. ... For the Patriarch of Jerusalem, see Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem. ... The Orontes River and norias in Hama Location of the governorate of Hama Hama (Arabic: حماه, meaning fortress) is a city on the banks of the Orontes river in central Syria. ... Shaizar or Shayzar was a medieval town and fortress in Syria, ruled by the Banu Munqidh dynasty, which played an important part in the Christian and Muslim politics of the crusades. ... In states ruled by Islamic law, jizya or jizyah (Arabic: جزْية; Ottoman Turkish cizye) is a per capita tax imposed on able bodied non-Muslim men of military age. ...

It was while the Muslims were at Shaizar that they heard of reinforcements moving to Qinnasrin and Emesa. The truce was thus violated by the Byzantine garrison. The arrival of winter gave the Byzantine garrison a further assurance of success. In their forts they would be better protected from the cold than the Muslim Arabs, who were not used to intense cold, and with only their tents to give them shelter would suffer severely from the Syrian winter.^[2] Shaizar or Shayzar was a medieval town and fortress in Syria, ruled by the Banu Munqidh dynasty, which played an important part in the Christian and Muslim politics of the crusades. ... Chalcis was an ancient city in Syria (modern Quinnesrin/Qinnasrin). ... Emesa was an ancient city on the Orontes River in Syria. ...

Heraclius wrote to Harbees, the military governor of Emessa:

The siege

Abu Ubaidah decided to take Emessa first, and thus clear his rear from the enemy before undertaking more serious operations in Northern Syria. Consequently the Muslim army marched to Emesa with Khalid's mobile guard in the lead. On arrival at the city a short battle was fought between Khalid ibn Walid's mobile guard and Byzantine garrison of Emesa, Muslims drove them back and the Romans withdrew into the fort and closed the gates, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah arrived with the rest of the army and deployed it in four groups opposite the four gates of Emesa: The Rashidun Caliphate Army or Rashidun army was the primary military body of the Rashidun Caliphates armed forces of 7th century, serving alongside the Rashidun caliphate Navy. ... The Mobile guard ( متحرك طليعة ), was a light cavalry of Rashidun army during the Muslim conquest of Syria, that remianed under the command of Khalid ibn Walid. ... Khalid bin Walid (AKA:Syaifullah/Sword of Allah);(584 - 642) was a Muslim Arab soldier and general. ... The Mobile guard ( متحرك طليعة ), was a light cavalry of Rashidun army during the Muslim conquest of Syria, that remianed under the command of Khalid ibn Walid. ... The Byzantine Army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine Navy. ... Emesa was an ancient city on the Orontes River in Syria. ... Abū Ubaidah Āmir ibn Abdullāh ibn al-Jarrāḥ (Arabic: ابو عبيده عامر بن عبدالله بن الجراح), more commonly known as Abū Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrāḥ, was one of the ten companions of Muhammad popularly known to have been promised Paradise by the Prophet himself. ...

1. Masdud Gate (to the southwest)
2. Tadmur Gate (to the north-east)
3. Duraib Gate (to the east)
4. Hud Gate (to the west)

Emesa was a circular fortified city with a diameter of rather less than a mile, and it was surrounded by a moat. There was also a citadel atop a hillock inside the fort. Outside the city stretched a fertile plain, broken only on the west by the River Orontes.^[3] Abu Ubaidah himself, together with Khalid and his mobile guard, camped on the north side, a short distance from the Rastan Gate. Abu Ubaidah left the conduct of the siege in the hands of Khalid, who thus acted as the virtual commander of the Muslims for this operation. It was now late November or early December, and the winter was at its peak. The siege continued. Every day there would be an exchange of archery, but no major action took place which could lead to a decision either way. The Byzantine expectations that the Muslims would not be able to withstand the cold of Emesa were proved to be correct to some extant, but not as they imagned.^[4]. It was about the middle of March 636 the worst of the winter was over, when Harbees decided to make a surprise sally and defeat the Muslims in battle outside the fort, as the Byzantine hope of the cold driving the Muslims away vanished, Supplies were running low, and with the coming of spring and better weather the Muslims would receive further reinforcements and would then be in an even stronger position. Early one morning the Rastan Gate was flung open and Harbees led 5,000 men into a quick attack on the unsuspecting Muslim army facing that gate. The speed and violence of the attack took the Muslims by surprise, and although this was the largest of the four groups positioned at the four gates, it was driven back from the position where it had hastily formed up for battle.^[5] A short distance back the Muslims reformed their front and held the attack of the Byzantines, but the pressure became increasingly heavy and the danger of a break-through became clearly evident. Abu Ubaidah sent Khalid ibn Walid to restore the situation. Khalid moved forward with the Mobile guard, took the hard pressed Muslims under his command and redisposed the Muslim army for battle, after all this defensive measures Khalid took the offensive and steadily pushed the Romans back, though it was not till near sunset that the Romans were finally driven back into the fort. The sally had proved unsuccessful. The moated manor house of Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire, England Moats (also known as a Fosse) were deep and wide water-filled trenches, excavated to provide a barrier against attack upon castle ramparts or other fortifications. ... This article is about a type of fortification. ... The Orontes or ‘Asi is a river of Lebanon and Syria. ... The Mobile guard ( متحرك طليعة ), was a light cavalry of Rashidun army during the Muslim conquest of Syria, that remianed under the command of Khalid ibn Walid. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Khalid bin Walid (AKA:Syaifullah/Sword of Allah);(584 - 642) was a Muslim Arab soldier and general. ... The Mobile guard ( متحرك طليعة ), was a light cavalry of Rashidun army during the Muslim conquest of Syria, that remianed under the command of Khalid ibn Walid. ...

Conquest of Emesa

The following morning Abu Ubaidah held a council of war and expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Muslims had given way before the Roman attack, whereupon Khalid remarked:

Abu Ubaidah asked Khalid for his advise and Khalid gave his plan that the next morning there will be fake withdrawal of army from Emesa giving the impression to the Byzantines that the Muslims are raising the siege and withdrawing to the south and they will surely attack the rearguard withdrawing Muslim army and at that moment the army will turn back encircle the Byzantine army and will inhiliate them.^[6] Cover of March 2006 The Rearguard is a student newspaper at Portland State University, located in Portland, OR, that provides, as noted in its logo, a monthly alternative to the other publications on the PSU campus like the PSU Daily Vanguard and the PSU Spectator. ... The Rashidun Caliphate Army or Rashidun army was the primary military body of the Rashidun Caliphates armed forces of 7th century, serving alongside the Rashidun caliphate Navy. ...

According to the plan, early the following morning, the Muslims raised the siege and withdrawing to the south, viewing it as a brilliant military opportunity Harbees immediately collected 5,000 Byzantine warriors and led them out of the fort to chase the Muslims, he launched his mounted force into a fast pursuit to catch up with the retreating Muslim forces and strike them down as they fled. The Byzantine army caught up with the Muslims a few miles from Emesa, the leading elements of Byzantine cavalry were about to pounce upon the 'retreating Muslims' when the Muslims suddenly turned and struck at the Byzantines with ferocity. As the Muslims turned on the Byzantines, Khalid shouted a command at which two mounted groups detached themselves from the Muslim army, galloped round the flanks of the surprised Byzantines and charged from the rear. Steadily and systematically the Muslims closed in from all sides. It is said that Khalid with a small group of elite mounted warriors of Mobile guard reached to the centre of the Byzantines army and here he saw Harbees still fighting, Khalid made for Harbees, but was intercepted by a gaint Byzantines general, who was killed by Khalid after an interesting duel. At the time when the Muslims started their attack on the encircled Romans, a group of 500 horsemen under Maaz ibn Jabal had galloped back to Emesa to see to it that no escaping Roman got into the fort. As these horsemen neared Emesa, the terrified inhabitants and the remnants of the Roman garrison which had not joined the pursuit hastily withdrew into the fort and closed the gates. Maaz deployed his men in front of the gates to prevent the Byzantines in Emesa from coming out and the Byzantines outside Emessa from getting in.^[7] It is recorded that only about a hundred Byzantines got away. The Muslims, on the other hand, lost about 235 dead in the entire operation against Emesa, from the beginning of the siege to the end of the last action. As soon as this action was over the Muslims returned to Emesa and resumed the siege. The local inhabitants offered to surrender on terms, and Abu Ubaidah accepted the offer. This happened around the middle of March, 636. The inhabitants paid the Jizya at the rate of one dinar per man, and peace returned to Emesa.^[8] The Mobile guard ( متحرك طليعة ), was a light cavalry of Rashidun army during the Muslim conquest of Syria, that remianed under the command of Khalid ibn Walid. ... A duel is a formalized type of combat. ... In states ruled by Islamic law, jizya or jizyah (Arabic: جزْية; Ottoman Turkish cizye) is a per capita tax imposed on able bodied non-Muslim men of military age. ... A 25,000 Iraqi dinar note printed after the fall of Saddam Hussein A hyperinflation banknote of 50 billion dinara (1993) A 5,000 dinar bill of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (1992) The dinar is the currency unit of various countries, most of them Arabic-speaking or once part...

Aftermaths

Soon after the surrender of Emesa, the Muslims set out once again for the north, intending to take the whole of Northern Syria this time, including Aleppo and Antioch. They went past Hama and arrived at Shaizar. Here a Roman convoy taking provisions to Qinasarin and escorted by a small body of soldiers was intercepted and captured by Khalid. The prisoners were interrogated, and they provided the information regarding the plan of Heraclius, and concentration of a large Byzantine army at Antioch. This Byzantine army met the Muslims in August 636 at the plain of Yarmouk where the Muslims won a decisive victory against the Byzantines at Battle of Yarmouk. Emesa was an ancient city on the Orontes River in Syria. ... Location of the governorate of Aleppo within Syria Aleppo (Arabic: [ḥalab], ) is a city in northern Syria, capital of the Aleppo Governorate. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Antakya. ... The Orontes River and norias in Hama Location of the governorate of Hama Hama (Arabic: حماه, meaning fortress) is a city on the banks of the Orontes river in central Syria. ... Shaizar or Shayzar was a medieval town and fortress in Syria, ruled by the Banu Munqidh dynasty, which played an important part in the Christian and Muslim politics of the crusades. ... For the Patriarch of Jerusalem, see Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem. ... The Byzantine Army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine Navy. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Antakya. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

References

1. ^ 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
2. ^ Tarikh al-Tabari:Vol. 3, page. 96-97.
3. ^ Damascus and Palmyra: a journey to the East. With a sketch of the state and ... By Charles Greenstreet Addison, Published by Adamant Media Corporation
4. ^ [1]
5. ^ The Byzantine And Early Islamic Near East By Hugh N. Kennedy, Published by Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
6. ^ Waqidi: page. 103
7. ^ http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/gibbon/05/daf05018.htm
8. ^ Waqidi: page. 104