Battle of Balanjar (730s)

Battle of Balanjar
Part of the Second Arab–Khazar War
Datec. 732
Location
Balanjar
Result Umayyad victory
Belligerents
Khazar Khaganate Umayyad Caliphate
Commanders and leaders
Alp Tarkhan † Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik
Strength
Large army 1,000[1]
Casualties and losses
Heavy Low

The Battle of Balanjar was fought around 732 near the Khazar city of Balanjar. The Umayyad army, commanded by the prince Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik, was victorious and advanced on towards Samandar.

After Maslama came to the region, he laid siege to the Hizan (Hayzan) castle in the Shirvan region. He called the people of the region to obey him, but when they refused to obey, he fought with them. As the siege was prolonged and they suffered, they made an agreement with Maslama. Maslama ordered the city's castle to be destroyed. Even though they were given security, they did not keep their word. Thereupon, Maslama put them to the sword. Maslama then made an agreement with the emirs of Cibal on the condition that they would pay their tribute. The emirs of Shervanshah, Lîrânşah, Taberserânşah, Fîlânşah and Cerşânşah agreed. Then he turned to the city of Derbend and besieged it. The Khazars eventually fled and evacuated the castle.

Continuing his march, Maslama advanced as far as Balanjar. Learning that Maslama was advancing in the region and capturing his lands, the Khazar Khan gathered a large army against Maslama. When Maslama learned that the Khazars were moving against him with a large army, he consulted with his soldiers about whether to fight or not. The soldiers stated that they were with him, that they would be martyrs when they died, and that they would achieve the conquest they wanted when they stayed. Severe clashes occurred in the war in which Marwan ibn Muhammad commanded the right wing of the army. Meanwhile, after one of the Khazars said that he had converted to Islam, Hakan's location was learned from him. Maslama called Sübeyt en-Nahrânî, who had previously fought for the Armenian governorship here. Maslama stated that he would give him a great reward if he killed Hakan or captured Hakan along with 1,000 people of his choice. Nahrânî attacked Hakan at night with about 1,000 cavalry he chose. Hakan did not die, but his army was dispersed.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Oktay Bozan: ”Muslim-Khazar Relations in Umayyad Period” p. 118
  2. ^ Oktay Bozan: ”Muslim-Khazar Relations in Umayyad Period” p. 118

Bibliography

  • Kevin Alan Brook. The Jews of Khazaria. 3rd ed. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2018.
  • Douglas M. Dunlop. The History of the Jewish Khazars, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1954.
  • Peter B. Golden. Khazar Studies: An Historico-Philological Inquiry into the Origins of the Khazars. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1980.
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