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On the day following the
arrival of the Muslims, Khalid had Kulus and Azazeer brought in
irons near the East Gate where they could be seen by the Romans
on the wall. Here both generals were offered Islam, and both rejected
the offer. Then, in full view of the Roman garrison, the two generals
were beheaded, the executioner being none other than Dhiraar.
For three weeks the siege continued with
no major action except for a few half-hearted Roman sallies which
the Muslims, had no difficulty in repulsing. During the day the
two sides would keep up a sporadic exchange of archery, though no
great damage was suffered by either side. This was to be a siege
to the bitter end. Damascus would, if necessary, be starved into
submission. 1
Soon after Heraclius heard of the defeat
of the Roman army at Marj-us-Suffar by Khalid and the commencement
of the siege of the city, he undertook measures to raise fresh forces.
The recent blows suffered by the Empire were serious enough; but
the successful advance of the Muslims had now created an even more
critical situation, and Damascus itself was in danger. If Damascus
fell, it would be a staggering blow to the prestige it could not
recover without mobilizing the entire military resources of the
Empire-a task not to be undertaken except in the direct emergency.
And Damascus was in danger of falling not because of insufficient
troops in the city but because of insufficient supplies. It had
not been provisioned for a long siege.
Within 10 days of the start of the siege,
Heraclius had raised a new army of 12,000 men drawn from garrisons
in various parts of Northern Syria and the Jazeer. 2
This army was launched from Antioch with a large baggage-train carrying
supplies, and the commander was instructed to reach Damascus at
any cost and relieve the beleaguered garrison. The relief column
marched via Emessa, made contact with Muslim scouts between Emessa
and Damascus, and from here onwards was prepared for battle at a
moment's notice.
On September 9, 634 (the 10th of Rajab,
13 Hijri), a messenger came galloping into Khalid's camp to inform
him that a large Roman army of undetermined strength was advancing
rapidly from Emessa, and in a day or so would make contact with
the blocking force deployed at Bait Lihya. Khalid was not surprised
to hear this, for he had guessed that Heraclius would do everything
in his power to relieve Damascus; and it was for this reason that
Khalid had placed the blocking force on the main route by which
a relief column could approach the city.
He immediately organised a mounted force
of 5,000 men and placed it under Dhiraar. He instructed Dhiraar
to proceed with all speed to the area of Bait Lihya, take command
of the regiment already deployed there and deal with the relief
column approaching from Emessa. He cautioned Dhiraar against being
rash and instructed him to seek reinforcements before committing
his force to battle in case the enemy strength proved too large.
Such words of caution, however, were wasted on Dhiraar; if there
was one quality which he did not possess it was caution. With Raafe
as his second-in-command, Dhiraar rode away from Damascus and picking
up the blocking force, moved forward to a low ridge a little short
of Saniyyat-ul-Uqab (the Pass of the Eagle) and deployed his force
in ambush.
Next morning the Roman army appeared in
sight. The Muslims waited. As the head of the Roman column got close
to the ambush, Dhiraar ordered the attack. His men rose from their
places of concealment, and led by their half-naked commander, rushed
at the Romans. But the Romans were prepared for such a contingency.
They deployed so quickly in battle formation that the action became
a frontal engagement, with the Muslims attacking and the Romans
standing firm in defence on higher ground in front of the Pass of
the Eagle. The Muslims now realised the full strength of the enemy,
which amounted to twice their own. But this did not matter to Dhiraar.
Assaulting furiously in front of his men, he got far ahead of his
comrades and before long was completely surrounded by the Romans.
His enemies recognised him as the Naked Champion; and decided to
take him alive and show him as a prize to their Emperor. Dhiraar
was wounded by an arrow in the right arm but continued to fight
as the Romans closed in. At last, however, after he had suffered
several wounds, he was overpowered by the Romans, who then sent
him to the rear.
1. According to Tabari (Vol. 2, p. 626)
the Muslims also used catapults at this siege; but this is unlikely
because the Muslims had no siege equipment, nor did they know much
about using it.
2. Jazeera literally means island, and this
name was used to designate the region between the rivers Euphrates
and Tigris in present day North-Eastern Syria, North-Western Iraq
and South-Eastern Turkey.
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