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1.
The description of these duels and the dialogue are taken from Waqidi: pp. 19-21.
Page 5
The Romans stood firm for an hour or so, but could not hold the Muslims longer. The
loss of a large number of their officers, including the two top generals, had had a
depressing effect on their spirits; and the fact that Damascus stood just behind, beckoning
to them to come and be safe within its walls acted as a temptation to withdraw. So they
retreated, in good order, leaving behind a large number of dead. The Roman army arrived
at the city and entered its walls, closing the gates behind it.
The Muslims spent the night on the plain, and the following day marched to the city.
Here, on August 20, 634 (the 20th of Jamadi-ul-Akhir, 13 Hijri), Khalid launched the
Muslim army into the siege of Damascus.
1
Khalid had already left behind a mounted detachment at Fahl to keep the Roman garrison
occupied and prevent it from coming to the aid of Damascus or interfering with the
movement of messengers and reinforcements from Madinah. Now he sent out another
detachment on the road to Emessa to take up a position near Bait Lihya, about 10 miles
from the city,
2
and instructed its commander to send out scouts to observe and report the
arrival of Roman relief columns. If unable to deal with such columns himself, the
detachment commander would seek Khalid's help. Having thus arranged a blocking
position to isolate Damascus from Northern Syria, which was the most likely region
whence relief columns could approach Damascus, Khalid surrounded the city with the
rest of the army (See Map 17 below).
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amascus now held a Roman garrison of about 15,000 to 16,000 soldiers, a considerable
civil population comprising the permanent inhabitants and a large number of people from
the surrounding region who had taken refuge in the city. The Muslim strength at
Damascus is not recorded, but must have been quite a bit less than in the preceding
month. Muslim dead in the three battles just fought - at Ajnadein, at Yaqusa and at the
Marj-us-Suffar - undoubtedly ran into four figures; and thousands more must have been
wounded in these battles and rendered unable to participate in the siege. Moreover, a
group had been sent out as a blocking force and a detachment left at Fahl. In view of all
this, I estimate the Muslim strength at Damascus at about 20,000 men. With this strength
Khalid besieged the city.
He positioned the corps of Iraq, which included elements of the Mobile Guard, at the East
Gate. He placed the bulk of this corps under Raafe, and himself stayed a short distance
away from the East Gate with a reserve of 400 horsemen from the Mobile Guard. He
established his headquarters in a monastery which, as a result, became known as Dair
Khalid, i.e.
Monastery of Khalid
(and it is believed that the monks living in this
monastery helped the Muslims in various ways, including the care of the Muslim
wounded).
3
At each of the remaining gates, he deployed a force of 4,000 to 5,000 men
whose commanders were as follows (See Map 18 below):
Gate of Thomas :
Shurahbil
,
Jabiya Gate :
Abu Ubaidah
,
Gate of Faradees :
Amr bin Al Aas
,
Keisan Gate :
Yazeed
,
Small Gate :
Yazeed.
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To the corps commanders Khalid gave instructions to the effect that they would: (a) camp
outside bow-range of the fort; (b) keep the gate under observation; (c) move archers up to
engage any Roman archers who appeared on the battlements; (d) throw back any Roman
force which sallied out from the gate; and (e) seek Khalid's help in case of heavy
pressure. Dhiraar was placed in command of 2,000 horsemen from the Mobile Guard, and
given the task of patrolling the empty spaces between the gates during the night and
helping any corps attacked by the Romans.
With these instructions the Muslim corps deployed, and the siege began. Tents were
pitched, and Dhiraar started his patrolling. Every main avenue of relief and escape was
closed, but this applied only to formed bodies of men. Individuals could still be lowered
from the wall at many places during the night, and thus Thomas was able to keep in touch
with the outside world and with Heraclius at Antioch.
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