Early conquests · 636
Battle of Yarmouk
Six days of fighting destroyed the Byzantine field army. Heraclius left Syria for good, and Damascus, Jerusalem and the whole Levant followed.
Key facts
- When
- 636
- Where
- Yarmouk River, on today's Jordan Syria border
- Sides
- Rashidun Caliphate vs Byzantine Empire
- Commanders
- Khalid ibn al-Walid and Abu Ubayda vs Vahan, for Emperor Heraclius
- Result
- Decisive Muslim victory
- Type
- Early conquests
- Chapter
- 1. The Rightly Guided Caliphs
Who led it
- Umar ibn al-Khattabc. 584 to 644
The second caliph, called al-Faruq.
- Khalid ibn al-Walidc. 585 to 642
Called Sayf Allah, the Sword of God.
- Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah583 to 639
One of the ten companions promised paradise, called by the Prophet the trustworthy one of this community.
The wider picture: Abu Bakr and Umar: the great conquests
Within twelve years the Muslims defeated both superpowers of the age. Byzantium lost Syria at Yarmouk and Egypt soon after. Persia lost Iraq at Qadisiyyah and its heartland at Nahavand. Jerusalem surrendered in 637 and Umar came in person to accept it.
More early conquests battles
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