battle battle major battle army byzantine_empire muslim arab forces battle consisted series engagements lasted days august near today borders syria jordan syria israel east result battle complete muslim victory ended byzantine rule syria regarded decisive battles military history marked great wave islamic conquests death muhammad rapid advance islam order check arab advance recover lost territory emperor sent massive expedition levant byzantine army approached arabs withdrew syria forces plains close reinforced defeated numerically superior byzantine army battle considered greatest military victories cemented reputation greatest cavalry commanders history prelude byzantine wars emperor byzantine_empire conquered overran syria entered occupying managed expel decisively defeated launched major offensive syria following decade able conquer palestine egypt prepared counterattack rebuilt army years later finally launched offensive overwhelming victories allies armenia launched winter offensive winning decisive victory battle threatening persian capital city series disasters overthrown killed coup led son sued peace agreeing withdraw occupied territories byzantine_empire restored jerusalem majestic ceremony rapid political development muhammad preaching islam successfully united single political authority muhammad died june elected political successor troubles emerged soon succession arab tribes openly revolted declared war rebels known wars arabic wars managed unite central authority rebels subdued began war conquest beginning iraq sending brilliant general iraq conquered series successful campaigns confidence grew established stronghold iraq issued arms invasion syria february muslim invasion syria series carefully planned coordinated military operations employed strategy instead pure strength deal byzantine defensive measures muslim armies soon proved small handle byzantine response commanders called reinforcements sent iraq syria reinforcements lead invasion july byzantines decisively defeated damascus fell september followed significant garrison palestine defeated routed died successor determined continue expansion deeper syria previous campaigns led successful replaced having secured southern palestine muslim forces advanced trade route fell struggle conquered early muslims continued conquest levant byzantine counterattack having seized muslims march away byzantine stronghold resided seriously alarmed series setbacks prepared counterattack lost regions iii emperor persia sought alliance married daughter according traditions grand daughter cement alliance prepared major offensive levant mount simultaneous counterattack iraq meant coordinated effort launched offensive coordinate maneuver probably owing exhausted condition government decisive plan missed mark byzantine preparations began late large force concentrated northern syria assembled army consisted contingents byzantines christian arabs force organized armies joint leader armenian garrison commander overall field commander command purely armenian army slavic prince commanded king arabs commanded exclusively christian arab force remaining contingents european placed gregory supervised operation byzantine sources mention son persian general commanders certain army commanded time army split groups palestine jordan damascus region muslim forces geographically divided sought exploit situation planned attack wish engage single pitched battle employ central position fight enemy detail concentrating large forces muslim corps consolidate troops forcing muslims retreat destroying muslim forces separately fulfill strategy lost territory reinforcements sent son probably tie forces besieging town byzantine imperial army moved northern syria middle june byzantine imperial army operate following plan lightly armed christian arabs march hold main muslim army flanking movement moving coast road approach west striking muslims left flank held gregory strike muslims right flank approaching northeast march coastal route occupy attack weakly defended damascus west cut main muslim army corps act reserve approach muslim strategy muslims discovered preparations roman prisoners alert possibility caught separated forces destroyed called council war advised pull troops palestine northern concentrate entire army place ordered concentration troops vast plain near control area cavalry charges possible facilitated arrival reinforcements strong united force fielded byzantine armies position benefited close proximity stronghold case retreat instructions issued return tribute people paid concentrated muslims subject raids pro byzantine forces region strong byzantine force garrisoned attack muslim rear held byzantine army advice muslim forces retreated covering gap lava plains established line camps eastern plain strong defensive position maneuvers pitted muslims byzantines decisive battle tried avoid maneuvers engagements save minor skirmish elite light cavalry byzantine advance guard battlefield battlefield lies western plane syrian south east region currently frontier israel jordan syria east battle fought plain north enclosed western edges deep known joins tributary south stream steep banks ranging height north road east hills hills outside actual field battle strategically prominence battlefield elevation known muslim troops concentrated hill gave good view plain west battlefield accessible places main crossing roman bridge near plain water supplies sustain armies plain excellent cavalry maneuvers troop deployment early accounts place size muslim forces number byzantine forces modern estimates sizes respective armies vary vast majority estimates byzantine army estimates low estimates army original accounts arab sources generally agreeing byzantine army allies outnumbered muslim arabs margin early byzantine source wrote century later accounts battle vary stating lasted day day citation needed army council war command muslim army transferred commander chief muslim army taking command reorganized army infantry regiments cavalry regiments cavalry elite mobile guard held reserve army organized formation tight defensive infantry formation army lined kilometres facing west left flank lying south mile began army right flank road north heights substantial gaps divisions frontage match byzantine battle line kilometres center army command ibn left center right center left wing command right wing center left right wings given cavalry regiments reserve counter attack case pushed byzantines center stood mobile guard personal command occupied leading general army ibn command mobile guard course battle repeatedly critical decisive use mounted reserve sent scouts byzantines observation late july sent lightly armored christian arab forces force repulsed mobile guard skirmish engagement occurred month weaponry helmets included helmets similar silver helmets empire mail commonly protect face neck helmet mail heavy leather roman type boots typical early muslim soldiers armor included hardened leather scale armor mail armor infantry soldiers heavily armored horsemen large wooden shields long spears infantry spears long cavalry spears long short infantry swords like roman long swords long swords usually carried horsemen swords hung bows metres long similar size famous english maximum useful range traditional arabian bow early muslim infantry mobility horseback archer regiments proved effective defending light cavalry attacks byzantine army days muslims plain byzantine army preceded lightly armed moved forward established strongly fortified camps north right flank byzantine army south end plains near mile began left flank byzantines north short distance hills began relatively exposed deployed facing east kilometres long trying cover area gorge south roman road egypt north substantial gaps left byzantine divisions right wing commanded gregory left center formed army armenian army overall command roman regular heavy cavalry distributed equally armies army deploying infantry forefront cavalry reserve rear deployed christian arabs mounted horses force screening main army arrival early muslim sources mention army gregory chains link foot soldiers taken oath death chains man lengths proof courage men displayed willingness die stood retreat chains acted insurance breakthrough enemy cavalry modern historians suggest byzantines adopted roman military formation soldiers stand shoulder shoulder shields held high arrangement men completely shielded sides missile fire soldier providing cover adjoining companion weaponry byzantine cavalry armed long sword known light wooden lance known bow arrows hung saddle belt heavy infantry known short sword short spear lightly armed byzantine troops carried small shield bow hung shoulder arrows cavalry armor consisted mail helmet throat guard lined fabric having fringe cheek piece infantry similarly equipped helmet leg armor light scale armor tensions byzantine army strategy withdrawing occupied areas concentrating troops decisive battle forced byzantines concentrate armies response byzantines centuries avoided engaging large scale decisive battles concentration forces created logistical strains empire ill prepared damascus closest logistical base leader damascus fully supply massive byzantine army gathered plain clashes reported local citizens supply summer end decline greek court sources accused treason command engage large scale battle arabs given muslim armies little choice respond kind relations byzantine commanders tension struggle power christian arab leader largely ignored byzantines given knowledge local terrain atmosphere existed greeks arabs longstanding ecclesiastical feuds factions direct impact certainly underlying tensions effect feuds decreased coordination planning reasons catastrophic byzantine defeat battle battle lines muslims byzantines divided sections left wing left center right center right wing note descriptions muslim byzantine battle lines exactly opposite muslim right wing faced byzantine left wing image instructed engage battle avenues diplomacy explored probably forces ready offensive iraq accordingly sent gregory negotiate efforts proved futile battle invitation came negotiate peace similar end negotiations delayed battles month hand forces threatened confronting armies ordered ibn enter negotiations send commander apparently inviting islam probably delaying tactic employed persian sent reinforcements troops force included companions muhammad veterans battle islamic history included citizens highest rank wife hind present distinct companions ibn ibn ibn son son ibn son son far nephew ali ibn ibn ibn ibn citizen army contrast mercenary age soldiers ranged case son years old case companions promised paradise muhammad present apparently wanting defeat byzantines employed best muslim troops continuing stream muslim reinforcements worried byzantines fearing muslims reinforcements grow powerful decided choice attack reinforcements sent muslims arrived small bands giving impression continuous stream reinforcements order byzantines attack tactic repeated day battle began august dawn armies lined battle mile apart recorded muslim chronicles battle started george unit commander byzantine right center rode muslim line converted islam die day fighting muslim battle began byzantine army sent champions duel muslim specially trained objective enemy commanders possible damage morale midday losing number commanders ordered limited attack infantry forces test strength strategy muslim army overwhelming numerical weaponry superiority achieve breakthrough muslim battle line weak byzantine assault lacked determination soldiers unable press attack muslim veterans fighting generally moderate places especially intense reinforce forward infantry thirds kept reserve deployed engage muslims sunset armies broke contact returned respective camps day phase august decided council war launch attack dawn catch muslim force unprepared conducted morning prayers planned engage central armies muslim centre effort stall main wings muslim army driven away battlefield pushed centre observe battlefield large pavilion built right wing armenian bodyguard force ordered army prepare surprise attack unbeknownst byzantines prepared placing strong outpost line night counter surprises gave muslims time prepare battle center byzantines press hard intending pin muslim centre corps position preventing aiding muslim army areas center remained stable wings situation different commanding byzantine left flank consisted mainly attacked force muslim infantry right flank retreat muslim right wing commander ordered cavalry regiment counterattack byzantine advance stabilized battle line right time byzantine numerical superiority caused retreat muslim base camp phase aware situation wings ordered cavalry right wing attack northern flank byzantine left wing mobile guard attacked southern flank byzantine left wing muslim right wing infantry attacked attack forced byzantine left wing abandon muslim positions gained regained lost ground started corps round situation muslim left wing commanded considerably whilst muslim right wing enjoyed assistance mobile guard left wing numerical advantage byzantines enjoyed caused muslim positions overrun soldiers retreating base camps byzantines broken corps formation gregory army adopted moved slowly good defense cavalry regiment counterattack repulsed despite stiff resistance warriors left flank finally fell camps moment plan appeared succeeding centre muslim army pinned flanks pushed flank broken morale severely damaged retreating muslim army met ferocious arab women camps led hind muslim women dismantled tents armed tent poles charged husbands fellow men singing improvised song directed muslims boiled blood retreating muslims returned battlefield phase managing stabilize position right flank ordered mobile guard cavalry provide relief battered left flank detached regiment ibn ordered attack army left center order create diversion threaten withdrawal byzantine right wing advanced position rest cavalry reserve attacked gregory flank simultaneous attacks flanks byzantines fell slowly maintain formation sunset central armies broke contact withdrew original positions fronts restored lines occupied morning death failure battle plan left larger imperial army relatively successful troops despite smaller number day august failures mistakes previous day launched attacks respective muslim flanks initial success men pushed bothered loss commanders imperial byzantine army decided ambitious plan aimed break muslim army specific points decided press relatively exposed right flank mounted troops maneuver freely compared rugged terrain muslims left flank decided charge junction muslim right center right wing held break apart fight separately phase battle resumed byzantine attacks muslim right flank right center holding initial attacks byzantines muslim right wing fell followed right center said met abused corps managed distance camp held ground preparing counterattack phase knowing byzantine army focusing muslim right launched attack mobile guard muslim right flank cavalry struck right flank byzantines left center cavalry reserve muslims right center struck byzantines left center left flank ordered muslims right wing cavalry strike left flank byzantines left wing combat soon developed fell sides timely flanking attacks saved day muslims dusk byzantines pushed positions start battle day august fourth day prove decisive phase decided persist previous day war plan successful inflicting damage muslim right led armies muslim right wing right centre assistance christian arabs led muslim right wing right center fell entered mobile guard feared general attack broad wouldn able precaution ordered left centre left wings respectively attack byzantine armies respective fronts attack result byzantine prevent general advance imperial army phase divided mobile guard divisions attacked flanks byzantine left center infantry muslim right center attacked flanking manoeuvre byzantines fell muslim right wing renewed offense infantry attacking cavalry reserve attacking northern flank byzantine left wing byzantine left center retreated attacks byzantine left wing having exposed southern flank fell mobile guard dealing armenian afternoon situation end byzantine horse taken field subjected troops intense preventing penetrating byzantine lines muslim soldiers lost sight byzantine arrows day known day lost eyes veteran believed lost eye day muslim armies fell regiment led left corps covered retreat muslims cavalry attacking byzantine armies reorganized counterattack regain lost positions men seriously injured dead day childhood friend mortally wounded died later evening day day offense troops failed achieve breakthrough suffered heavy casualties especially mobile guard flanking early august fifth day battle sent muslim camp truce days fresh negotiations held supposedly wanted time troops deemed victory reach declined offer till muslim army adopted largely defensive strategy knowing byzantines apparently longer eager battle decided offensive reorganized troops accordingly cavalry regiments grouped powerful mounted force mobile guard acting core total strength cavalry group mounted warriors effective mounted corps offensive attack day rest day passed planned trap byzantine troops cutting route escape natural barriers battlefield steep west south east northern route blocked muslim cavalry passages metres deep west strategically important bridge sent cavalry night secure bridge moved northern flank byzantines captured bridge maneuver prove decisive day day august final day battle action simple bold plan attack cavalry force intended drive byzantine cavalry entirely battlefield infantry formed bulk imperial army left cavalry support exposed attacked flanks rear time planned push determined attack turn left flank byzantine army drive west phase ordered general attack byzantine cavalry left wing byzantines cavalry engaged byzantine left wing cavalry rest attacked rear byzantine left wing infantry muslim right wing pressed attack byzantine left wing fell collapsed fell byzantine left center greatly remaining muslim cavalry attacked byzantine left wing cavalry rear held half muslim cavalry routing battlefield north muslim right wing infantry attacked byzantine left center left flank muslim right center attacked phase noticing huge cavalry maneuver muslims ordered cavalry group quick organize disparate heavy cavalry squadrons wheeled cavalry attack concentrating byzantine cavalry squadrons falling flank moving formation disorganized byzantine heavy cavalry soon routed dispersed north leaving infantry fate phase byzantine cavalry completely routed turned byzantine left center held attack muslim infantry byzantine left center attacked rear cavalry finally broken phase retreat byzantine left center general byzantine retreat started took cavalry north block northern route escape byzantines retreated west bridge safe crossing deep captured bridge plan night unit mounted troops sent block fact route wanted byzantines retreat byzantines surrounded sides fell deep steep slopes tried escape waters smashed rocks killed flight large number soldiers managed escape slaughter greek informant army conquest damascus died battle muslims took prisoners battle captured subsequent pursuit died battlefield managed escape reach managed escape later short time came terms muslims soon defected byzantine court aftermath immediately operation mobile guard moved north pursue retreating byzantine soldiers found near damascus attacked ensuing fight escaped fate men killed entered damascus said welcomed local residents city news disaster reached devastated enraged blamed loss primarily referring marriage niece tried province resources men money defend province instead retreated cathedral observed service summoned meeting advisers cathedral situation told unanimously accepted fact defeat god decision result sins people land including took sea ship constantinople night said ship set sail farewell syria saying farewell long farewell syria fair province thou art enemy peace syria beautiful land enemy abandoned syria holy relics held jerusalem secretly boarded ship protect invading arabs said emperor fear water bridge cross constantinople abandoning syria emperor began concentrate remaining forces defence egypt instead fell muslims created zone central ordering forts east evacuated muslims invaded captured led commanded right flank army evaluation battle seen example military history inferior force manages overcome superior force superior imperial byzantine commanders allowed enemy battlefield choosing substantial tactical disadvantage knew force superior numbers day battle conducted essentially defensive campaign suited relatively limited resources decided offensive attack final day battle degree imagination courage byzantine commanders managed display commanded numerically inferior force needed men muster confidence dispatch cavalry regiment night assault seal critical path retreat anticipated enemy army leadership considered finest generals history use mounted warriors battle showed understood potential strengths weaknesses mounted troops mobile guard moved quickly point changing course events appeared quickly away change course events field byzantine commanders manage deal mounted force use sizable advantage army effectively byzantine cavalry played significant role battle held static reserve days pushed attacks obtained decisive breakthrough fourth day unable exploit appeared decided lack resolve imperial commanders caused difficulties commanding army internal conflict arab mere muslim arab army consisted larger veteran troops original strategy destroy muslim troops syria needed rapid quick deployment commanders ground displayed qualities ironically field carried small tactical scale planned grand strategic scale rapidly deploying forces able temporarily concentrate sufficient forces specific locations field defeat larger byzantine army detail able numerical superiority count unfavorable terrain prevented large scale deployment point attempt concentrate superior force achieve critical breakthrough offensive days battle line remained remarkably static stands stark contrast successful offensive plan carried final day reorganised virtually cavalry committed grand manoeuvre won battle book islam war describes battle
Battle of Yarmouk