Early conquests · 634
Siege of Damascus
After a siege of about a month the city surrendered in September 634. The Muslims gave it up before Yarmouk and took it back for good in 636; in 661 it became the Umayyad capital.
Key facts
- When
- 634
- Where
- Damascus, Syria
- Sides
- Rashidun Caliphate vs Byzantine garrison
- Commanders
- Khalid ibn al-Walid and Abu Ubayda vs Thomas, son-in-law of Heraclius
- Result
- City surrendered
- Type
- Early conquests
- Chapter
- 1. The Rightly Guided Caliphs
Who led it
- 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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