Siege of Damascus (634)

Siege of Damascus (634)

siege, battle

Part of	Muslim conquest of Syria
Country	Syria
Ein location	Damascus
Coordinate location	33°30′47″N 36°17′31″E
Tym dem start	21 August 634
End tym	19 September 634

De siege of Damascus (634) last from 21 August to 19 September 634 before de city fall to de Rashidun Caliphate. Damascus be de first major city of de Eastern Roman Empire to fall insyd de Muslim conquest of Syria.

De last of de Roman–Persian Wars end insyd 628, after Heraclius conclude a successful campaign against de Persians insyd Mesopotamia. At de same time, Muhammad unite de Arabs under de banner of Islam. After ein death insyd 632, Abu Bakr succeed am as de first Rashidun Caliph. Suppressing several internal revolts, Abu Bakr seek to expand de empire beyond de confines of de Arabian Peninsula.

Insyd April 634, Abu Bakr invade de Byzantine Empire insyd de Levant wey he decisively defeat a Byzantine army at de Battle of Ajnadayn. De Muslim armies march north wey dem lay siege to Damascus. Dem take de city after a monophysite bishop inform Khalid ibn al-Walid, de Muslim commander in chief, say e be possible to breach city walls by attacking a position dem only lightly defend at night. While Khalid enter de city by assault from de Eastern gate, Thomas, commander of de Byzantine garrison, negotiate a peaceful surrender at de Jabiyah gate plus Abu Ubaidah, Khalid ein second in command. After de surrender of de city, de commanders dispute de terms of de peace agreement. De commanders finally gree say de peace terms wey Abu Ubaidah give dem go be met. De peace terms include an assurance say Muslims no go undertake pursuit against de departing Roman convoy for three days. Dem acquiesce to de peace terms, e be three days after de surrender of de city wey Khalid set out after de Damascan refugees towards Antioch wey he defeat dem insyd battle six days later, near present day Al Jayyad.

Background

Map wey dey detail de Rashidun Caliphate ein invasion of Levant

Insyd 610, during de Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628, Heraclius cam be de emperor of de Byzantine Empire after he overthrow Phocas. While Heraclius focus ein attention on de internal affairs of ein empire, de Sassanid Persians conquer Mesopotamia, dem overrun Syria insyd 611, wey dem enter Anatolia to occupy Caesarea Mazaca. Insyd 612, Heraclius expel de Persians from Anatolia. Insyd 613, he launch a counter offensive against Syria, buh na dem decisively defeat am.

Over de next decade, de Persians conquer Palestine den Egypt wey Heraclius rebuild ein army, wey dey prepare for a new offensive, wich he launch insyd 622. He achieve substantial victories over de Persians den dema allies insyd de Caucasus den Armenia. Insyd 627, he launch a daring winter offensive against Persia insyd Mesopotamia, wey he win a decisive victory at de Battle of Nineveh. Dis victory threaten de Persian capital city of Ctesiphon.

Siege site

Dem locate strategically, Damascus attract merchants from all over de world. Dem know de city as de paradise of Syria.

De fortifications match ein importance. De main part of de city be enclosed by a massive 11 m (36 ft) high wall. De fortified city approximately be 1,500 m (4,900 ft) long den 800 m (2,600 ft) wide.

De wall get six gates:

• De East Gate (Bab Sharqi)
• De Gate of Thomas (Bab Touma)
• De Jabiya Gate (Bab al-Jabiya)
• De Gate of Paradise (Bab al-Faradis)
• De Keisan Gate (Bab Kisan)
• De Small Gate (Bab al-Saghir)

Although de River Barada run along de north wall of Damascas, e be too shallow to be of defensive importance.

At de time of de Syrian campaign, de Byzantine Commander of Damascus be Thomas, son-in-law of Emperor Heraclius. A devout Christian, he be known for ein courage den skill at command, den sanso for ein intelligence den learning.