battle battle arabic fought pass modern large arab army days july besieging commander sent request relief newly appointed governor ibn army attacked pass army managed pass reach suffered enormous casualties men men commanded attack rear relief effort annihilated battle detailed accounts entire era survives history halted reversed muslim expansion decade background region arabic conquered muslims ibn muslim reign following muslim conquest persia century native iranian inhabitants autonomous local rulers remained volatile sent petition chinese military aid muslims response attacks began native launched uprisings suppressed great brutality governor ibn successor muslim ibn suffered major disaster called day trying capture years forces limited defensive efforts win support local population taxation native converts islam undertaken half hearted soon reversed heavy handed arab actions alienated local large scale uprising coupled invasion led abandonment region forces hope reversing situation early appointed new governor experienced recently engaged difficult security situation time illustrated fact needed escort cavalry crossing attacked riding link army predecessor previous year advanced hard fought campaign hard pressed escort able repel attack link forces recovered soon army withdrew north muslim army followed scored victory battle fought near city retired troops winter winter rebellions broke south hitherto muslim rule forced set dispersed men quell revolt left seriously weakened early laid siege appeals aid arrived city governor ibn despite opinion army veteran leaders wait forces cross men resolved march immediately rescue battle advance old led held instead led army kilometres south received news scouts sent detachments wells line march initially suggested route west mountains village ibn leaders advised easily set fire route instead favoured direct approach steep short kilometres miles long expressed possibility catch surprise followed counsel entrance pass decision unpopular army largely outsider usual tribal emerged began pressed men course subsequent events described detail history kings turn draws work earlier historian written century events armies met pass represented different military armies disposed cavalry contingent light heavy infantry extent battle arab cavalry limited initial phases fighting foot stark contrast typical central asian realm army composed exclusively cavalry skill especially horse natural combined extremely dangerous opponents adept fluid highly mobile fighting style exploited slower moving arabs historian writes allied local iranian princes provided opposition early muslim armies encountered supported troops rulers attacked army pass days left friday distance kilometres miles attacked arab army stopped meal arab vanguard ibn ibn overwhelmed able deploy main body army placing troops according tribal right left arabs erected earthworks lines initial attack directed arab right pushed placed centre direct battle joined ranks greeted hostility standard bearer reported told win benefit life win survive speak word reports man seventeen successive standard killed battle indicative fight arabs initially met attack horseback casualties mounted herald ordered fight foot trenches forming spear wall measure helped muslims hold ground eventually sides battle ceased day casualties arabs suffered baggage gathered ibn near attacked virtually annihilated day launched renewed attacks arabs repelled arabs engaged vigorous drew near ordered troops arab camp instead attacking having initial onslaught sent ordering come assistance attack garrison initially reluctant aware effectively suicide mission threats forced comply leaving small garrison led men help local guide managed reach roughly kilometres miles force crossing mountains confronted reportedly advice king set fire dry advised slow infantry advance fronted spear wall standard anti cavalry tactic knowing troops weary desperate decided instead launch cavalry charge hopes breaking force reach troops heat description charged broke battle soon confused affair sides hindered smoke dust raging flames end arab army lost scattered destroyed cavalry thousand force perished diversion break army exited officers persuaded camp spend night instead making city advice proved sound caught likely annihilated army open ground camp fortifications completed day renewed attack point arabs hard pressed promised army slaves freedom fight saddle blankets armour attacks repelled despite heavy casualties army reached days battle aftermath impact remained months october allowing army recover besieged resolved meet battle managed inflict defeats early november raise siege entered day returned leaving token garrison men withdrawn north winter evacuated city muslim inhabitants relieved arab army escaped battle wholly arab victory according victory best high casualties suffered muslims sources record publicly disastrous defeat suffered hands battle year 10th century historian puts muslim casualties total poets time number judging numbers replacements ordered sent levied aftermath battle estimates dead suffered heavy losses gives figure dead arab losses led rapid deterioration muslim position remained governor death early time muslims lost control north save region events increased regime representatives exemplified words standard bearer reports words albeit possibly later addition battle said certain troops hands luxury loving man fear according passages poems leadership testimony frustration forced fight continuous campaigns benefit generals worst fronts central government special syrian army hitherto opinion faced similar hardships observes day tribal appear army leading suppose annihilated men given fighting troops remain course divisions paralleled syrian ones appears particularly emphasis day practically turning point war turks far concerned subsequent period turbulent revolts anti local necessitated introduction loyal syrian troops province addition sent collapsed following murder leader new governor ibn able largely restore position extending muslim control aftermath setbacks similar disasters need reinforce stretched military financial resources especially case powerful syrian army main pillar regime reinforce distant provinces eventually weakening syrian army major factor fall dynasty civil wars revolution followed
Battle of the Defile