Battle of the Bridge

Al- Hira - Yarmouk - Kadesia - Heliopolis - Nehawend - Constantine I Opel - Opel Constantine II - Talas

As a Battle of the Bridge is defined as the first major battle between the Muslim Arabs and the Persian Sassanids in the context of Islamic expansion. It took place in the autumn of 634.

The battle developed after an Arab army under Abu Ubayd and Muthanna had 633 opened a first serious offensive against the Sassanid ruled Mesopotamia. On behalf of the new Persian king Yazdegerd III. organized its commander Rostam Farrokhzad the defense against the Arabs. Rostams General Bahman Jaduya finally joined the Arabs against in Mesopotamia.

In the autumn of 634, it came to the " Battle of the Bridge ". The two armies stationed themselves on different sides of a small body of water or irrigation ditch near a bridge in the city of Hira. It succeeded the Persians to put the horses of the Arabs by war elephants in a panic. In addition, their archers directed to a massacre of the enemies. The Arabs had to dismount and seek the melee. When Abu Ubayd was trampled by an elephant to death, the Arabs gave lost the battle. Many drowned, others were slain. Few Arabs were able to escape, including Muthanna, the 635, the Battle of Buwaib won, but shortly afterwards died of his suffered in the Battle of the Bridge injuries.

This was the only major defeat suffered by the Arabs during the early expansion. The outcome of the battle shows that the Sassanid Empire would have been basically quite capable, the attacks to resist effectively. The Muslims came through this first defeat under pressure, but after her victory in the decisive Battle of Kadesia finally turned the tide in their favor.