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Arab Conquest of Syria

633 — 638

The conquest of Syria turns an imperial frontier into a new centre of power

Military history

The strategic problem

The Arab conquest of Syria pits mobile armies against a Byzantine Empire emerging from long wars with Persia. Arab contingents do not win through speed alone: they exploit divisions in command, knowledge of roads and the ability to concentrate reserves in a theatre where the imperial army must protect several cities.

The first advances

Arab armies enter Syria along several axes, take strongholds and compel Byzantium to move one army after another into a theatre difficult to supply.

Concentration at Yarmouk

Arab forces regroup their reserves and refuse to be destroyed separately. The battle drives the Byzantine army towards ravines and destroys its capacity for immediate reconquest.

The fall of Syrian centres

Jerusalem and several Syrian centres negotiate or capitulate according to their circumstances. Control of roads and garrisons turns victory into a change of power.

Explore

1 published battles, in chronological order

Battle · August 636YarmoukIn 636, the imperial army tries to regain the initiative in Syria. Arab forces regroup, resist the attacks and exploit the separation of their opponents. In the reconstruction followed here, the capture of a crossing and the attack on the camp worsen the Byzantine retreat. The victory opens the way to further conquest in Syria.

Military history

Sources

Indirect primary sourceAl-Tabari, Histoire des prophètes et des rois

Arab traditions on the campaigns, commanders and consequences of the conquest.

Academic studyWalter E. Kaegi, Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests

Critique of figures, Byzantine institutions and operational dynamics in Syria.

Specialist overviewHugh Kennedy, The Great Arab Conquests

Chronology, armies, cities and political integration of conquered territories.

Late Arabic primary source, institutional translationAl-Baladhuri, The Battle of the Yarmuk and After

Internet Medieval Sourcebook, traduction de P. K. Hitti et F. C. Murgotten de Kitab Futuh al-Buldan, vol. I, pp. 207–211 : paragraphe « A description of the battle » pour le 20 août, les forces annoncées, les 24 000 combattants arabes et le chiffre traditionnel de 70 000 morts ; paragraphes finaux pour la date en Rajab 15 et les conséquences narratives.

Testimony of the Arabic tradition on date, narrative composition, and result; figures shown as disputed traditions, never as a count. Limited to the case of Yarmouk; this reference does not cover the whole conflict.

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