Siege of Aleppo

Siege of Aleppo.
Part of Byzantine-Arab Wars Campaigns of Khalid ibn al-Walid
Date July–October 637 AD Location Aleppo, Syria Result Decisive Muslim victory
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate	Byzantine Empire, Ghassanids
Commanders and leaders
Khalid ibn al-Walid, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah	Joachim
Strength
17,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Minimal	Unknown but more than Muslims.

Byzantine–Arab Wars Early conflicts Mutah Tabouk Dathin Firaz Rashidun conquest of Roman Syria Qarteen Bosra Ajnadayn Marj-al-Rahit Fahl Damascus Maraj-al-Debaj Emesa Yarmouk Jerusalem Hazir Aleppo Rashidun conquest of Roman Egypt Heliopolis Alexandria Nikiou Umayyad conquest of North Africa Sufetula Carthage Umayyad invasions of Anatolia and Constantinople Iron Bridge Marash Phoenix 1st Constantinople Sebastopolis Tyana 2nd Constantinople Nicaea Akroinon Arab invasions of European territories Cyprus Crete Sicily Southern Italy Later conflicts Krasos Anzen and Amorium Mauropotamos Damietta Lalakaon Bathys Ryax Thessalonica John Kourkouas campaigns Sayf al-Daula campaigns Nikephoros Phokas campaigns John Tzimiskes campaigns Basil II campaigns George Maniakes in Sicily Damietta

Campaigns of Khalid ibn al-Walid Campaigns under Muhammad Uhud Trench Hudaybiyyah Mu'tah Demolition of al-Uzza Banu Jadhimah Ta'if Hunayn Mecca Tabouk Ridda Wars Buzakha Ghamra Yamama Zafar Daumat-ul-Jandal Naqra Conquest of the Persian Empire Chains River Walaja Ullais Hira Ein-ul-tamr Daumat-ul-Jandal Muzayyah Saniyy Zumail Firaz Conquest of Roman Syria Firaz Qarteen Bosra Ajnadayn Marj-al-Rahit Damascus Maraj-al-Debaj Fahl Emesa Yarmouk Jerusalem Hazir Aleppo Campaigns in Armenia and Anatolia Iron Bridge Armenia Kahramanmaraş

The Siege of Aleppo, the Byzantine stronghold and one of few remaining Byzantine castles in the northern Levant after the decisive Battle of Yarmouk, was laid between July and October 637.

Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 Sources 6 External links

Background

After the decisive Battle of Yarmouk, the Muslims marched northward deeper into Syria. After taking many small and large cities, both Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah and Khalid ibn al-Walid met at Qinnasarin, and they marched to Aleppo, where a strong garrison under a Roman general named Joachim held the fort. Aleppo consisted of a large walled city and a smaller but virtually impregnable fort outside the city atop a hill, a little more than a quarter of a mile across, surrounded by a wide moat.

The battle

The Byzantine commander at Aleppo, Joachim, met the Muslim army under the command of Khalid and Abu Ubaidah in the open outside the fort. He was defeated and hastily retreated to the fort. He boldly launched many sallies to break the siege but failed every time. Joachim received no signs of any help from the emperor Heraclius (who could indeed send none). Consequently, around October 637, the Romans surrendered on terms according to which the soldiers of the garrison were allowed to depart in peace. Joachim converted to Islam along with his 4000 (strong) Greek soldiers. He proved himself a remarkably able and loyal officer, and fought gallantly under various Muslim generals.^[1]

Aftermath

Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah sent a column under Malik bin Ashtar to take Azaz on the route to 'Rome'. The region which the Muslims called Rome included the area which is now Southern Turkey east of the Taurus Mountains. Malik, assisted by Joachim, captured Azaz and signed a pact with the local inhabitants, whereafter he returned to Aleppo. The capture and clearance of Azaz was essential to ensure that no large Roman forces remained north of Aleppo, whence they could strike at the flank and rear of the Muslims as the next major operation was launched. As soon as Malik bin Ashtar rejoined the army, Abu Ubaidah marched westwards to capture Antioch, which was captured after the Battle of Iron bridge on October 30, 637.^[1]

References

Sources

• A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns, Nat. Publishing. House, Rawalpindi (1970) ISBN 0-71010-104-X.

External links

• A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns Lahore, 1969