arab wars arab wars series conflicts fought armies successor respective historians usually distinguish major periods conflict second arab wars arab military confrontation involved sporadic raids isolated clashes period middle 7th century end 8th century arab wars result attempts secure control established arab invasion early ended defeat arab force led outside town hostilities broke raids forth led distinguished generals ibn arabs able capture southern capital little impact nomadic remained able launch devastating raids deep raid inflicted major defeat forces battle killing turn defeated year pushed north recovered major arab military outpost colony replaced future period relatively localized warfare followed led north massive expedition reached capital securing form submission arabs withdrew campaign marked end large scale warfare powers establishing northernmost muslim outpost securing muslim dominance time long wars weakened army contributed eventual fall dynasty years later relations muslims remained largely peaceful apart raids resulting failed efforts secure marriage alliance arab governors local princes occasional warfare continued region local muslim collapse state late 10th century great wars 8th century repeated background strategic motives arab wars long series military conflicts nomadic peoples settled regions south range dating antiquity great passes pass centre gates invasion routes classical times defence destructive raids peoples came regarded chief duties imperial regimes south built long line fortifications feature prominently arab conflict built early 6th century strategic choke point gateway persian means knot gates north south reflected popular belief middle eastern cultures alexander great divine assistance barred commonly regarded echo invasions eventually place early medieval writers came identify nascent regarded heir lesser extent byzantine tradition consciousness arab adopted notion words historian duty protect settled world northern added muslim concept division world house islam pagan armies consequently represented different military armies disposed cavalry contingent light heavy infantry extent battle arab cavalry limited initial phases fighting foot hand adopted elements south possessed towns remained largely tribal semi nomadic power like central asian counterparts practiced highly mobile form warfare relying highly skilled hardy cavalry historian writes prove difficult opponents muslims partly state highly organized center fall bring sudden collapse rapid surrender eastern range main theatre arab conflict arab armies aiming gain control known arabic gate gates cities location established certainty modern researchers referred capitals different arab writers functioned winter summer capitals respectively later impact arab attacks moved capital north mouths extent arab wars linked struggle byzantine empire eastern fringes asia minor theatre war byzantine emperors pursued close relations amounted virtual alliance period question including exceptional acts marriage emperor princess possibility linking byzantines armenia grave threat especially given proximity metropolitan province syria armenia left largely quiet granting wide ranging autonomy byzantines likewise active campaigning given common threat posed raids found neighbouring willing allies notably suggested arab wars motivated muslim desire byzantine defences north idea borne limited nature conflict probable byzantines encouraged attack relieve mounting pressure eastern frontier early 8th century considerably diversion muslim armies northwards resulting marriage alliance future emperor constantine princess issue control northern branch suggested motive conflict disputes claim pointing warfare declined precisely period greatest expansion traffic middle 8th century conflicts arab war aftermath campaigned byzantine war subject western turks sacked joined byzantines siege contribution proved decisive eventual byzantine victory war years exercised control approximately modern georgia modern modern arabs came conflict result phase muslim expansion arabs reached armenia launched raid arabs defeated byzantine army armenia reinforced contingents followed attempt advance capital arabs heavily defeated battle city resulting death brother muslim troops years later repelled campaign outbreak arab priorities fronts muslims repeating attack early 8th century launched raids loosely muslim dominion launched raid albania defeated local prince time civil war muslim world large scale raid successful capturing booty prisoners climax second arab war relations powers remained relatively quiet early years 8th century time stage new round conflict set time byzantine political authority grip armenia suppression large scale rebellion armenia annexed arabs faced control western parts comprising modern georgia remained free direct control rival powers war broke general son conquered drove deeper territory trying success subdue living north opposed general launched raids south albania response raided force driven arabs ibn man conflict main phase war began winter year launched invasion armenia inflicted crushing defeat syrian army local governor ibn february march response sent celebrated generals syrian troops north swiftly successful driving recovered advanced tried defend capital ringing citadel wagons arabs broke apart stormed city august inhabitants killed enslaved managed flee north despite success arabs defeated main army like forces dependent cities supplies continuing threat army forced arabs abandon attempt capture retreat south sources obscure activity led campaign north campaign response raided south february inflicted crushing defeat battle rivers cyrus lasted days followed success capturing bringing lands muslim muslim commander campaign pass process secured muslims flank possible attack conversely gave muslim army second invasion route territory new replaced brother held post governor time remained concerned operations byzantines sent ibn engaged consolidating muslim authority albania campaigning cyrus regions probably preoccupied supervising year census year sons launched major invasion albania laid siege employed use advanced siege machines shows according militarily sophisticated nation mere disorganized pack able defeat banks drive north river arabs position clearly prompted personally direction faced time sides escalated conflict probably reinforced syrian troops took offensive recovered pass apparently lost period expedition pushed territory campaigning onset winter forced return achieved expedition unclear year repeated invasion ended calls near disaster arab sources report arab troops fought thirty days mud continuous rainfall scoring victory september great victory open question return ambushed arabs simply abandoned baggage train fled pass safety aftermath campaign replaced energy campaigning failed produce desired results arabs lost control northeastern thrust defensive having defend invasion arab reaction returned offensive pass arab sources report reached far capital modern historians consider launched certain forced retreat south defend albania unclear came pass managed army lay siege city capital mass muslim settlers families total lived walls learned led army rapid march south engaged outside city walls day battle december army annihilated fell command passed brother unable prevent 10th century historian reports took prisoners city army surrounding countryside raided province attacking settlements detachments reaching far northern adjacent metropolitan province syria defeat major shock muslims time faced enemy penetrating deep borders appointed veteran military leader ibn command forces muster immediately including refugees paid gold persuaded fight small managed recover lake van moved northeast south relieve siege near came strong army defeated killing rescuing prisoners surviving fled north pursuit despite success relieved command early imprisoned result jealousy appointed governor armenia came troops took offensive restored provinces albania muslim allegiance punishment resisted advance reached found garrison bypassing fortress advanced north following retreating details campaign sources confused appears took forced retreat confrontation reportedly killed wounded march south attacked near arab army dug trench defeated taking advantage victory evicted poisoning water supply founded city military colony syrian troops returned rest army favoured contingents south winter occupied abandoned towns despite capture record apparently unsatisfactory replaced brother march later reign summer led men north lands accounts campaign confused ibn records reached returned captured livestock campaign described terms strongly reminiscent expeditions open doubt hand reports led far limited campaign country immediately north retired spend winter active south raised iii position presiding prince armenia effectively granting country broad autonomy exchange service soldiers alongside armies unique concession points according manpower crisis faced time byzantines strengthened ties alliance common enemy marriage constantine princess final phase war expedition period quiet set replaced governor armenia spring undertook campaigns lost sight resigned appointed post unable launch local expeditions fortresses near pass ruler north captured local prince defeated killed attributes inactivity exhaustion arab armies draws parallel contemporaneous quiet phase arabs suffered series costly defeats hands addition record arabs concluded peace information muslim sources ignore tactical ruse designed gain time preparations arabs prepared massive strike intended end war good apparently went damascus person persuade project successful army strong assembled comprising regular forces syria volunteers armenian troops armed camp followers servants number clearly real size army huge force certainly largest sent secured rear armenian factions hostile arabs client pushed driving ruler seek refuge fortress black_sea coast byzantine laid siege forced retire outbreak troops launched offensive men governor ibn advanced north coast bulk forces crossed pass armies met pushed reaching according arab sources capital arab sources contain details campaign reports attacked living region took captives avoided battle sent detachment troops ibn surprised swamp ensuing battle arabs killed including took captive said requested peace converted islam recognized authority took large numbers captives eastern settled according killed arab governor fled north rode killed expedition climax arab wars actual results arab campaigns discouraged warfare recognition islam arab supremacy evidently presence arab troops deep territory presence sustained long furthermore credibility conversion islam disputed account probably reflects closer original sources suggests minor lord converted islam placed charge conversion apparently contradicted fact court embraced judaism official faith decision clearly owed great deal determination avoid emphasize independence christian byzantine muslim arab true impact campaigns warfare arabs ceased decades arab military activity continued launching repeated expeditions princes northern notably campaigns according closer raids designed seize extract tribute pay arab army attempts permanent conquest despite success establishing stable frontier anchored critical long term results second arab war arab control reality limited coast land poor expenses sustained wars furthermore need maintain large garrison depleted army main pillar regime eventually weakening syrian army major factor fall dynasty muslim civil wars revolution followed later conflicts resumed raids muslim territory succession reaching deep 9th century consolidated control gates seriously attempted challenge muslim control southern conflict resulted diplomatic manoeuvre attempting strengthen ties ordered governor armenia marry daughter marriage took place amidst celebration died years later infant child suspected muslims poisoning daughter launched devastating raids south leadership named devastated albania armenia captured managed escape capture returned north thousands captives booty years later deposed ruler tried induce campaign restore throne refused probably result brief period anti byzantine orientation foreign policy resulting disputes powers period helped throw byzantine peace reigned arabs major attack took place attribute attack failed marriage alliance according georgian sources desired marry beautiful daughter sent general invade capture central region art occupied prince taken captivity years taken captive committed suicide furious executed arab hand attribute plans governor famous marry daughters died journey south different story reported invited attack local arab magnate retaliation execution father governor general ibn according arab sources raided far necessitating dispatch troops ibn new governor forces ibn reserve arabs continued clash sporadically 9th 10th centuries warfare localized far lower intensity great wars 8th century ottoman historian records period warfare lasting linked raids time allowed pass lands threat progressive collapse power 10th century defeats hands like realm contracted core lower removed reach arab muslim reports war probably refers instead end found refuge enemies records remnants consisting thousand households arrived territory rebuilt settled
Arab–Khazar wars