| combatant2 = [[Sogdian city-states]]<br>Kingdom of [[Tashkent]]<Br>[[Ikhshids of Sogdia]]<br>[[Second Turkic Khaganate|Gokturk Khaganate]]
| combatant2 = [[Sogdian city-states]]<br>Kingdom of [[Tashkent]]<Br>[[Ikhshids of Sogdia]]<br>[[Second Turkic Khaganate|Gokturk Khaganate]]
| commander1 = [[Qutayba ibn Muslim]]<Br>Abdul Rahman ibn Muslim<br>Salih ibn Muslim
| commander1 = [[Qutayba ibn Muslim]]<Br>Abdul Rahman ibn Muslim<br>Salih ibn Muslim
| commander2 = [[Gurak]]<br>[[Inel Qaghan]]
| commander2 = [[Gurak]]<br>[[Inel Qaghan]]
| strength1 = 20,000 men
| strength1 = 20,000 men
| strength2 = Unknown
| strength2 = Unknown
The Battle of Samarkand was a military engagement between the Umayyads and the Sogdian ruler of Samarkand. The battle ended in Umayyad victory and the conquest of Samarkand.
After the Umayyad conquest of Bukhara in 709, the Umayyad general Qutayba ibn Muslim dispatched his brother, Abdul Rahman to Samarkand. The Sogdian ruler of Samarkand, Tarkhun, gave tribute to them, which was agreed between them previously. Tarkhun would make peace with the Umayyads in exchange for not invading them.[1][2] The merchants and nobles of Samarkand hated Tarkhun for his weakness and his tribute payment. They planned on deposing and chose a man called Gurak. Tarkhun was deposed and later committed suicide.[3][4] The death of Tarkhun provoked the Umayyads to take revenge for his death. The Umayyads first had to deal with Zunbil of Sistan in 711 and the rebellion of Azkajwar II brother in 712.[5][6]
After some rest, the Umayyads marched to Samarkan in 712. Samarkand was the largest and most powerful city in Sogdia, and it’s effective capital.[7] Qutayba and his brother, Abdul Rahman, marched to Samarkand with an army of 20,000 men. It is said to consist of men from Bukhara and Khawarizm. The Samarkand ruler, Gurak, was determined to put up stiff resistance. He also appealed to other rulers in Transoxinia, mainly the king of Tashkent and the Ikhshid of Farghana, and warned them that Transoxinia would be in danger if they did not help. Both answered his call. They arrived with a large army.[8][9][10]
Kul Tegin was dispatched to lead The Tashkent-Farghan army. The Turks attempted a surprise attack on the Muslims during the night; however, the Qutabya learned of their plans and dispatched his brother, Salih, with a small force and ambushed them. The battle at night was fierce; the Transoxinian alliance fought bravely, but in the end they were defeated. Many were killed, and a small number of prisoners were taken. The Muslims also acquired a large number of weapons and horses. Qutayba allowed the small force to keep their spoils instead of dividing them with the whole army.[11][12][13][14][15]
The defeat of the Transoxinian army discouraged the Sogdians of Samarkand. Qutayba was constantly bombarding the city. This created a breach in the walls, and the time the Muslims were about to assault them, the Samakands sued for peace. The Umayyads later established a garrison in Samarkand[16][17][18][14][15]
Qutayba garrisoned Samarkand with 4,000 men led by his brother Abdulrahman. Gurak remained the king of Sogdia, but his new capital was Ishtixon. The city became a Muslim-only stronghold. Qutabya then removed the fire temples and built a mosque in the city.[19][20] He also ordered the idols in Samarkand to be destroyed. Non-Muslims were allowed to enter if they had permits in the form of clay seals on their hands.[21]
The conquest of Samarkand was a major victory for the Muslims. Qutayba marched further into Sogdia in 713 and began imposing levies on the rest of the territory. Umayyad troops were now coming closer to the borders of Tang dynasty, and both the Arabs and the Sogdians began to send envoys to try to win Chinese support.[22]
- ^ Gibb, H. A. R, p. 41
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 263
- ^ Gibb, H. A. R, p. 42
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 267
- ^ Gibb, H. A. R, p. 42-43
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 267-268
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 268
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 269
- ^ Gibb, H. A. R, p. 44
- ^ Percy Sykes, p. 163
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 269
- ^ Gibb, H. A. R, p. 44
- ^ Percy Sykes, p. 163
- ^ a b Beckwith, Christopher I. (1993). The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia: A History of the Struggle for Great Power Among Tibetans, Turks, Arabs, and Chinese During the Early Middle Ages. Princeton University Press. p. 77. ISBN 0691024693.
In 93 A.H./A.D. 712 Qutayba b. Muslim continued his successful campaigns of conquest by force and trickery. After taking Khwarizmia by treachery, he marched on Samarkand, assisted by Bukharan and Khwarizmian troops. This caused Ghirak, the prince of Samarkand, to write to the king of Tashkent for help. In this hour of need, Qapaghan Qaghan responded. Because Qapaghan had become the protector of Ferghana by his conquest of the Tiirgis and because he had also become the overlord of the king of Tashkent, major support of Samarkand was in order. He sent Kul Tegin, in command of an Eastern Turkic army with men of Tashkent and Ferghana as well, to attack the besieging Arabs. The Arabs defeated them, however, and although the Eastern Turks profited greatly from this expedition into Sogdiana,'” Qutayba still managed to enter Samarkand and establish a garrison there.
- ^ a b Beckwith, Christopher I. (2009). Empires of the Silk Road: A History of Central Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the Present. Princeton University Press. p. 133. ISBN 9780691135892.
In 712 Qutayba seized Khwarizm by trickery and settled an Arab colony there. In that year, he also besieged Samarkand. Its king appealed to Tashkent for help, so as overlords of Tash-kent the Eastern Türk sent an army led by Köl Tigin into Sogdiana in his support. But Qutayba prevailed. The Türk were forced to withdraw, and the Arabs established a garrison in Samarkand
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 269-270
- ^ Gibb, H. A. R, p. 44
- ^ Percy Sykes, p. 163
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 270
- ^ Percy Sykes, p. 163
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 270
- ^ Hugh Kennedy, p. 270-271
- Gibb, H. A. R (1923), The Arab conquests in Central Asia.[1]
- Hugh Kennedy (2007), The Great Arab Conquests How The Spread Of Islam Changed the World We Live in.[2]
- Percy Sykes (1940), A History Of Afghanistan Vol. I.[3]
