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Siege of Marash was led by Muslim forces of Rashidun Caliphate during there campaigns in Anatolia in 638. The city surrendered with out much of bloodshed. This expedition have its importance because it marks the end of the military career of legendary Muslim general Khalid ibn Walid, who was dismissed from army few months after return from the expedition.

Background
Muslims won a crushing victory at Battle of Yarmouk fought in August 636, thus the attempt made by Byzantine emperor Heraclius to rollback Roman Syria was failed, unable to sent more imperial troops to Syria Heraclius made yet an other attempt to re-conquere Syria by the aid of his Christian Arab allies of Jazira. The irregular army of Christian Arabs laid the siege of Emesa in mid-summer of 638. Muslims avoided the battle in open and decided to have a defensive battle at Emesa. All the regiments from out posts in northern Syria were called at Emesa. Christian Arabs were forced to withdraw the siege when by the orders of Caliph Umar Muslim army from Iraq attacked Jazira. The rear elements of the army of Christan Arabs were then attacked by [Mobile guard]] led by Khalid ibn Walid]], and was devestated. Caliph Umar then launched a whole scale invasion of Jazira which was completed with out much of fighting with in few months. As soon as the western part of Jaira was occupied, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah wrote to Umar and asked for Ayadh bin Ghanam operating in western Jazira, to be put under his command, so that he could use him for raids across the northern border. Umar agreed to this request, and Ayadh moved to Emesa with part of the Muslim force sent from Iraq to the Jaira.

The siege
In the autumn of 638, Abu Ubaidah launched several columns, including two commanded by Khalid ibn Walid and Ayadh, to raid Byzantine territory in Anatolia up to as far west as Tarsus. Khalid's objective was Marash, The city lies on a plain at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. The region is best known for its production of salep, a flour made from dried orchid tubers, in late 638 the Muslim army laid the siege to the city which contained a Byzantine garrison. Expecting no help from Emperor the Byzantine garrison surrendered the city on usuall term of Jizya ofered by the Rashidun army, with the terms that the the garrison and the populace be spared. As for material wealth, the Muslim could take all they wished.

Aftermaths
It is narrated that Khalid returned to Qinassarin laden with spoils such as had seldom been seen before, and commented by a Muslim historian that Just the spoils of Marash were sufficient to make the soldiers of this expedition rich for life. Khalid ibn Walid, who was at peak of his military career was dismised by Caliph Umar, due to his immense popularity because of his military prowess. It was a general view that Umar had dismissed Khalid becasue of his personal anger, but it was clarified later by Caliph Umar as:

I have not dismissed Khalid because of my anger or because of any dishonesty on his part, but because people glorified him and were misled. I feared that people would rely on him, rather than Allah, for victory. I want them to know that it is Allah who does all things; and there should be no mischief in the land. Khalid was suggested by many of his campanions to take a strong step against Umar for this, but Khalid though powerful enough to enforce a coup d'état against Umar and siezed the power of Rashidun Empire, rather he chosed to stay away from politics and died four years later in 642 in Emesa. Caliph Umar later, is said to feel embarrassed for his conducts against Khalid, and is reported to have said at his death that he would have appointed Khalid as his successor if he was still alive.

On-line resources

 * A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns Lahore, 1969

Category:Islamic conquests Category:Battles involving the Byzantine Empire Category:Battles of Khalid ibn Walid Iron bridge