The Battle of Yarmouk
The Byzantines leadership by all accounts should have won the battle at Yarmouk in 636. Nevertheless, due to failed leadership, lack of knowledge of the enemy, and poor logistics the Byzantines were defeated by the Arab Muslims with a force much smaller but smarter than the Byzantines. Define the Subject
The “Battle of Yarmouk” was a battle fought in Syria, in 636 AD, along the Yarmouk River in the Yarmouk valley, about 40 miles southeast of the Golan Heights. The Byzantines and the Arabs fought in this battle. The Byzantines Roman Emperor was Heraclius, who is reported as getting to old to command the battle himself sent Vahan the Armenian to be the overall field commander. Vahan had his own army made up of pure …show more content…
The four Arab armies regrouped on a plane north of the Yarmouk River (see Figure 1). The western edge of the plain was a deep ravine with steep banks that connects into the Yarmouk River. A roman bridge was the only main crossing for the ravine. The Yarmouk River runs along the northern side of the plain. There was only one main crossing for the ravine a roman bridge. To the south was a desert with a few routes to go through rough terrain. On the southeastern side was another ravine with steep banks. The plain itself was almost completely flat and provided excellent terrain for cavalry. The Arab forces set their forces on the southern side of the plain to retreat to the desert if they need to retreat. The Byzantine forces amassed their troops on the north side of the plain. Both the Arabs and the Byzantines used four sections for their battle lines: the left wing, the left center, the right center, and the right wing. The Byzantine forces dispersed its troops evenly throughout the formations, with infantry regiments taking up the front with a cavalry regiment in reserve of the
The Byzantines leadership by all accounts should have won the battle at Yarmouk in 636. Nevertheless, due to failed leadership, lack of knowledge of the enemy, and poor logistics the Byzantines were defeated by the Arab Muslims with a force much smaller but smarter than the Byzantines. Define the Subject
The “Battle of Yarmouk” was a battle fought in Syria, in 636 AD, along the Yarmouk River in the Yarmouk valley, about 40 miles southeast of the Golan Heights. The Byzantines and the Arabs fought in this battle. The Byzantines Roman Emperor was Heraclius, who is reported as getting to old to command the battle himself sent Vahan the Armenian to be the overall field commander. Vahan had his own army made up of pure …show more content…
The four Arab armies regrouped on a plane north of the Yarmouk River (see Figure 1). The western edge of the plain was a deep ravine with steep banks that connects into the Yarmouk River. A roman bridge was the only main crossing for the ravine. The Yarmouk River runs along the northern side of the plain. There was only one main crossing for the ravine a roman bridge. To the south was a desert with a few routes to go through rough terrain. On the southeastern side was another ravine with steep banks. The plain itself was almost completely flat and provided excellent terrain for cavalry. The Arab forces set their forces on the southern side of the plain to retreat to the desert if they need to retreat. The Byzantine forces amassed their troops on the north side of the plain. Both the Arabs and the Byzantines used four sections for their battle lines: the left wing, the left center, the right center, and the right wing. The Byzantine forces dispersed its troops evenly throughout the formations, with infantry regiments taking up the front with a cavalry regiment in reserve of the