Shapur II's Arab campaign
| Shapur II's Arab campaign | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Arab tribes: | Sassanian Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Unknown | Shapur II | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 45,000 | 5,000 | ||||||||
| ||||||
The Arab campaign of Shapur II took place in 325, against the Arab tribes of Arabia. Shapur II decisively defeated all the Arab tribes during his campaign, and became known as Dhū al-Aktāf (ذو الأكتاف, probably meaning “he who pierces shoulders”) to Arabs.[1]
Background
When Shapur II was an infant, his empire was invaded by Arab tribes who managed successfully to go into deep Sasanian territory, trying to conquer the southern part.[1] The Arabs managed to capture the banks of the Karun river and would remain there for years pillaging cities, destroying and looting several towns and villages. These victories gave great morale to the Arabs and gave them hopes of reaching Ctesiphon, the capital of the Sasanian Empire. The reasons for these successes were mainly because of the bad advisers who did not use the capable Sasanian army against the Arabs. Tired of the raids, Shapur II formally ascended the throne in Ctesiphon, and pushed the advisers away and rallied an army to crush the Arabs.[1]
Campaign
Shapur II wanted revenge against the Arab raiders, it was the first military campaign he led in person. He collected an army on the coast of Fars. Shapur II first attacked the Ayad tribe, who were in Iraq, he then crossed the Persian Gulf, reaching Al-Katt, which is the coastal region of Bahrain and Qaṭar. He then attacked the Arabs that lived around the Al Hajar Mountains.[1]
References
Sources
- Pourshariati, Parvaneh (2008). Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran. London and New York: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-645-3.
- Shapur Shahbazi, A. (2005). "SASANIAN DYNASTY". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition. Retrieved 30 March 2014.