Battle of Yarmouk

[barca]

The battle of Yarmouk has been considered as one of the most important turning points leading to the loss of much of the Byzantine empire to Islam.

 

The Battle lasted several days and a superior Byzantine force was eventually wiped out by the Arabs. The Byzantines were well known as experts in military strategy. What military innovations did the Arabs bring to the field?

[sylla]

The battle of Yarmouk has been considered as one of the most important turning points leading to the loss of much of the Byzantine empire to Islam.

 

The Battle lasted several days and a superior Byzantine force was eventually wiped out by the Arabs. The Byzantines were well known as experts in military strategy. What military innovations did the Arabs bring to the field?

 

From a purely military standpoint, a most critical contributor was definitively the command of Kh?lid ibn al-Wal?d, a tactician of the same magnitude as let say Timur or Alexander Magnus.

[barca]

From a purely military standpoint, a most critical contributor was definitively the command of Khālid ibn al-Walīd, a tactician of the same magnitude as let say Timur or Alexander Magnus.

 

The main military innovation from Khalid and his peers has often been described as naval-like tactics, fundamentally based on the desert ecology and extremely mobile autonomous units integrated by desert native populations; these units were effectively supported by camel transport and an outstanding cavalry.

 

Whenever such units were at risk, they retired to the deep desert, relying in the ultimate absolute inability of their enemies to follow them there at their own risk.

 

Therefore, it was relatively easy for the Islamic armies to attack wherever they liked with almost absolute impunity, at least until their enemies learned the trick and as long as deep desert was available.

 

 

We certainly know how the Mongols were able to defeat Islamic armies. What would Alexander have done?

[barca]

The main military innovation from Khalid and his peers has often been described as naval-like tactics, fundamentally based on the desert ecology and extremely mobile autonomous units integrated by desert native populations; these units were effectively supported by camel transport and an outstanding cavalry.

 

Whenever such units were at risk, they retired to the deep desert, relying in the ultimate absolute inability of their enemies to follow them there at their own risk.

 

Therefore, it was relatively easy for the Islamic armies to attack wherever they liked with almost absolute impunity, at least until their enemies learned the trick and as long as deep desert was available.

 

 

 

I read the account of the battle several times, and I wasn't able to see the big picture. Your description of their tactics is very helpful.

 

It seems that there were a number of incidents during the battle where the arabs were driven back, only to be shamed by their women to regroup and form a counter attack. Presumably this was possible because the Byzantines were unble to follow up and pursue the arabs as they retreated into the dessert.

[sylla]

We certainly know how the Mongols were able to defeat Islamic armies.

[barca]

The main military innovation from Khalid and his peers has often been described as naval-like tactics, fundamentally based on the desert ecology and extremely mobile autonomous units integrated by desert native populations; these units were effectively supported by camel transport and an outstanding cavalry.

 

Whenever such units were at risk, they retired to the deep desert, relying in the ultimate absolute inability of their enemies to follow them there at their own risk.

 

What is the best source describing these tactics?

[sylla]

What is the best source describing these tactics?

[DecimusCaesar]

It's odd that such an important battle has so thoroughly dropped out of public memory in the way that Hastings, Gettysburg or Stalingrad hasn't. Rarely is the battle even mentioned on a list of the most importnat battles of the Middle Ages.

 

I personally believed that it paved the way for the spread of Islam and Arabic culture throughout the Middle East, and really put Islam on the political map. Before that the Byzantines and the Sassanid Persians had dismissed the Arabs as a primitive people on the edge of empire. Yarmouk showed them that they were a force to be reckoned with. I'm in agreement with George Nazfiger when he said - "Although Yarmouk is little known today, it is one of the most decisive battle in human history...... Had Heraclius's forces prevailed, modern world could be so changed as to be unrecognizable."

 

It's a real tragedy that after all of Heraclius's stunning victories over the Sassanid Empire, that he'd be brought low at the moment of his greatest glory by an outside force.

 

I was happy to see that one of the first titles in the best selling Osprey campaign titles was about Yarmouk - there's a link to it below:

 

Yarmuk (Osprey Military)

[sylla]

It's odd that such an important battle has so thoroughly dropped out of public memory in the way that Hastings, Gettysburg or Stalingrad hasn't. Rarely is the battle even mentioned on a list of the most importnat battles of the Middle Ages.