BATTLE OF

YARMOUK BY:ROSHAIL ASLAM

Who was the battle of Yarmouk between?

The Byzantine Empire's army and the Arab Muslim troops of the Rashidun Caliphate engaged in a
significant conflict known as the Conflict of the Yarmuk. The fight, which lasted six days in August
636, took place southeast of the Sea of Galilee, close to the Yarmouk River (also known as the
Hieromyces River), at what are now the frontiers of Syria-Jordan and Syria-Israel. The fight ended
with a total Muslim victory, bringing an end to Byzantine sovereignty in Syria.

Why did the Battle of Yarmouk start?

During the Roman Empire and the reign of Hericulus, there was the emergence of the wave of Islam
in Arabia because of Muhammad (Peace be upon him). After his death, Abu Bakr a close companion
of the prophet took over as a caliph he had to face a lot of conflict in terms of Arab groups openly
rebelling against him these wars were known as the Ridda wars despite that he was a strong leader
he handled that matter and worked towards expanding the Muslim empire against the Byzantine
Empire the Muslims could not solely rely on numerical strength because of their inability to match the
number of their enemy the Muslim general Khalid bin-al Waleed here alongside the caliph expanded
the Muslim empire with close consideration and extremely well done strategic planning After Abu bakr
same was done by caliph Umar. Coming back to the Battle of Yarmouk, The war between the
Byzantine Empire and the Arab Muslim armies of the Rashidun Caliphate led to the Battle of
Yarmouk. The Rashidun Caliphate strove to enlarge its realm while the Byzantine Empire dominated
the area. The conflict between the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire lasted for several years
before the battle. The continual territory conflicts and power struggles between the two empires can
be deduced as the cause of the war.

Why is the Battle of Yarmouk important?

The Rashidun Caliphate greatly benefited from the Battle of Yarmouk whereas the Byzantine Empire
suffered a serious blow. While battling to maintain their hold on the Middle East, the Byzantines had
been steadily losing territory. The Byzantines' vulnerability was exploited by the Muslim troops, who
won the Battle of Yarmouk. With the help of this triumph, they were able to annex Syria and the
Levant, and over the next decades, they would further their conquest of the Middle East and North
Africa.

The strategies of the Muslim army that helped them win:

Khalid convened a council of war and gave Abu Ubaidah the advice to withdraw troops from Northern
and Central Syria as well as Palestine and to concentrate the whole Rashidun army in one area. As
control of the region allowed for horse attacks and enabled the arrival of reinforcements from Umar,
Abu Ubaidah ordered the consolidation of troops in the large plain close to Jabiyah so that a powerful,
unified force could be deployed against the Byzantine army. In case a retreat was required, the
location also profited from its close proximity to the Rashidun stronghold of Najd.

What happened after the war and what stopped the Romans from fighting for Syria again?

After the operation, Khalid and his mobile guard headed north to hunt down the fleeing Byzantine
soldiers and assaulted them when they were discovered close to Damascus. Vahan, who had
managed to avoid what had happened to the majority of his troops at Yarmuk, was likely slain in the
next battle. When Khalid arrived in Damascus, the locals greeted him and helped him retake the city.

Heraclius was saddened and furious when word of the catastrophe reached Antioch. He ascribed the
loss to his wrongdoings, particularly his marriage with his niece Martina. If he had the means, he
would have attempted a retake of the province, but at this point, he lacked both the soldiers and the
means to defend it.