al-Qadisiyyah

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

As the thread name suggests it's about al-Qadisiyyah. What were the army sizes and composition? The deployment and factors behind each day's events. And ultimately why was a more powerful and larger imperial army defeated by the invaders.

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

Arabic shock cavalry which was used very similarily to Hannibal's cavalry in most aspects except that Hannibal used armoured cavalry like cataphracts which the Arabs later used.
Muhammad trained the Arabic army with mostly skirmishing skills and guerrilla war fare so hiding was not uncommon. Also it seems that the Sassanids were in a period of downfall which might explain their need to conquer Arabia. According to some sources say the Sassanids used elephants and this did not much help them when they started frenzying. Also most of the cavalry the Sassanids had were cataphracts and it must be taken into consideration that since this was in the middle east the cataphracts wore themselves down chasing light units and when the light units turned and attacked the cataphracts could not respond. Also the Sassanids were backed by a river which prevented their swift maneuvres as they had few space but were also being constantly targeted by archers and spearmen.












there are more pictures but it is overall repetitive back and forth skirmishing.

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

This doesn not fully explain the battle, since the majority of the Persian force were allegedly infantry, and the Sassanid infantry were lightly equipped. What strikes me is the fact that the meatshield infantry actually managed to hold the line and even push the Arabs back.

[Lysimachos11]

Be aware that the wikipedia article on this battle is very unreliable. It's pages long of text without a single decent reference (just two that merely point to a book with no page numbers and some raw primary sources). So if you want to know about the battle start reading somewhere else.

Those maps for example are made by the same wikipedia child that wrote most of the article.

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

That I figured. Hence why I MADE A THREAD.

[Legio]

Qadasiya is somewhere between the modern towns of Nejf and Abu Sukhair. It was here that Saad drew up his army. To his rear lay the desert, to his right the marshes of the Euphrates, and in front of him the river itself. The Euphrates was cut by several streams in the area of the battle. It was across these streams that Rustem advanced, over what was known as the 'Old Euphrates'. It is now known as Balakubas. After building a dam to cross this body of water, Rustem drew up his lines to face the Arabs. In the meantime, Saad had taken sick and was transported to a small fort near the battlefield, where he watched from either the roof or a window. Sources on this vary, but it had a negative effect on morale. After all, the commander was to lead the charge. However, Saad was able to direct the battle from there with a superior view of the field.

Tradition holds that Chapter 8 of the Qoran was then recited before each regiment/division of the Arab army; this was the chapter that dealt with the Battle of Bedr and any lessons to be learned from it. Glory, etc.

The Persians initiated the battle itself by advancing on the assembled Arab troops. Champions of the latter army rode forward to challenge Persians to single combat. As the battle got hotter the elephants emerged from gaps in the Persian line and one of the Beni was thrown into confusion. I've forgotten which one. Beni Asad, however, stood firm despite suffering many casualties. The Beni Temeem, seeing the plight of their comrades, focused on the elephants and their riders. Having thus relieved their allies, the Arab army was able to reform ranks and repulse further attacks by the Persians. That was the end of the first day.

The fighting did not begin again until noon of the second day, as the dead and wounded of both sides had to be collected and taken care of. The Arabs were fighting against better odds that day as the elephants, their crew, and their equipment had been effectively neutralized. Soon afterwards something appeared on the horizon.

Arab reinforcements, straight from the Syrian army!

Their advance guard entered the battle led by Qaqaa, arriving late, but reportedly having time to charge the enemy thirty times that day. There was some classic disguised camelry frightening horses and one soldier seeking martyrdom charged the Persians alone, hoping to slay Rustem. He got pretty far but nowhere near the commander before collapsing of what can only be assumed to be a dozen wounds. The second day ended with the Arabs still standing with the Persians just as resolute.

The third day again began with clearing away the dead. The Arabs spent the night singing, dancing, and reciting poetry. Their spirits were only raised when the rest of the reinforcements arrived. However, the Persian elephants were brought back into the fray. Saad ordered Qaqaa to deal with them. A number of Arab cavalry dismounted and poked at them with long spears/lances. Most of the day was spent jabbing at the elephants in this manner.

During the night small groups of Bedouins harassed the Persian camp, starting an engagement neither commander could control. It was here that the 'night of fury' began the dawn of fury. The fighting raged for hours. The Persians began to waver. Wind threw up the sand and for one terrible moment it seemed as if this would be another Yarmouk. The Persian center broke. Rustem was discovered and slain where he sat. At this turn of events the Persian broke and ran. Two regiments who were positioned near the dam escaped relatively intact; the rest were scattered in all directions. Thirty regiments, however, fought and died to the last man.

Around 25% of the Arab force had been killed. I haven't seen numbers of wounded. Even so it is a bloody figure. The great banner of the Sassanids was captured and Persian rule in the region shattered.


I relied mainly on memory and a cursory flip through John Bagot Glubb's The Great Arab Conquests. There is a section on the battle from pages 185 to 203. Keep in mind that it's an oldish book and I'm no expert.

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

Phew, I thought the thread was getting closed or something. I appreciate your input, thanks.

[Legio]

No worries. I'll look deeper into the book tomorrow. Here's a rather colorful illustration of the battle:




Nice elephants, no?

[equites]

this video explains the morale and details of the Arabs before the battle.