Great Commanders in History

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General Ali

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Khalid Al-Walid

In having the distinction of being undefeated in over 80 battles against the Sassanid Persian and Eastern Roman empires, he is regarded as one of the finest military commanders in history.
[edit] Conquest of Iraq
Entering Iraq with his army of 18000, Khalid won decisive victories in 4 battles: Battle of Chains, fought in April 633 CE; Battle of River, fought in the 3rd week of April 633 CE; Battle of Walaja, fought in May 633 CE, and Battle of Ullais, fought in the mid of May, 633 CE. By now the Persian court was down and out. In the last week of May 633 CE, the capital city of Iraq fell to the Muslims after resistance in the Battle of Hira. After resting his armies, Khalid moved in June 633 CE towards Al Anbar, which resisted and was defeated in the Battle of Al-Anbar, and eventually surrendered after a siege of a few weeks in July 633 CE
Khalid then moved towards the south, and conquered the city of Ein ul Tamr after the Battle of ein-ul-tamr in the last week of July, 633 CE. By now, almost the whole of Iraq was under Islamic control. Khalid got a call of help from northern Arabia at daumat-ul-jandal, where another Muslim Arab general, Ayaz bin Ghanam, was trapped among the rebel tribes. Khalid went to daumat-ul-jandal and defeated the rebels in the Battle of Daumat-ul-jandal in the last week of August, 633 CE. Returning from Arabia, he got news of the assembling of a large Persian army. Within a few weeks, he decided to defeat them all separately to avoid the risk of defeat to a large unified Persian army. Four divisions of Persian and Christian Arab auxiliaries were present at Hanafiz, Zumiel, Sanni and Muzieh. Khalid divided his army in three units, and decided to attack these auxiliaries one by one from three different sides at night, starting from the Battle of Muzieh, then the Battle of Sanni, and finally the Battle of Zumail. In November 633 CE, Khalid perished those armies in his series of three sided attacks at night. These devastating defeats ended Persian control over Iraq. In December 633 CE, Khalid reached the border city of Faraz, where he defeated the combined Persian and Roman army in the Battle of Faraz. This was his last battle in Iraq.
Conquest of Byzantine Empire
Caliph Abu Bakr congratulated Khalid over his victories and gave him a new task to enter the Byzantine province of Syria and command Islamic armies there. The Byzantine province of Syria in those days consisted of modern day Syria,Jordan,Israel,Palestine,Lebanon and Southern Turkey. Passing through the Syrian Desert, Khalid with his half army of 9000 warriors entered Syria in June 634 A.D and commanded the 23000 Muslim army present there under the command of 4 generals, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, Yazid bin Abu-Sufyan, Sharjeel bin Hosanna and Amr ibn al-A'as. After only one day of his arrival, Khalid set out for conquest of Syria. He reached the town of Sawa, and defiant forces present there resisted a bit but later in the evening surrendered the city and agreed to pay tribute. He moved to Aarak city in the same day, and this city too surrendered and agreed to pay tribute. The next day Khalid moved to Tarmad city, which surrendered as well. He moved further and cities of Sakhna and Qadma also surrendered and agree to pay tribute. The next day city of Qarteen and Hawwareen were captured after small battle of Qarteen and battle of Hawareen. After dealing with all these cities, Khalid moved towards Damascus, after three days journey he reached a mountain pass, 20 miles from Damascus which is now known asSanita-al-Uqab( Uqab pass) after the name of Khalid's army standard. From here he moved away from Damascus towards rest of the Islamic armies which were still near the Syrian-Arabia border. At Maraj-al-Rahab, Khalid defeated a Ghassanid army of Christian Arabs in a short Battle of Marj-al-Rahit. By now he was moving away from Damascus, the stronghold of Byzantines, and towards the city of Basra. Khalid reached Basra after 3 days at a time when Sharjeel bin Hassana's 4000 army was fighting the 12000 Roman army. As soon as Khalid reached there with his 9000 warriors, the Roman army retreated and fortified themselves in the castle. After few days they came out and were defeated in the Battle of Basra and again retreated to castle and surrendered the city. 130 Muslims died, and by now it was almost mid of July 634 A.D. Muslims soon heard of gathering of 90,000 Roman army at Ajnadayn, after which all the divisions of Muslim army joined Khalid at Ajnadayn on 24 July 634, and the Muslim army became 32,000 in number. Khalid defeated Roman there on 30 July 634 A.D in Battle of Ajnadayn. After one week Khalid moved to Damascus, and on his way there he defeated an other Roman army in the battle of Yakosa in mid-august 634 A.D. Tomur, the son-in-law of Emperor Heraclius, sent another army to stop Khalid but they too were defeated in the battle of Maraj-al-Safar on 19 August 634 A.D. The next day Khalid finally reached Damascus and besieged the city for 30 days, having defeated the Roman reinforcement sent by emperor Heraclius at battle of Sanita-al-Uqab 20 miles from Damascus. Khalid's forces withstood 3 Roman attacks that tried to break the siege, and finally attacked and conquered the city on 18 September 634 A.D after Battle of Damascus. The Roman army was given a deadline of 3 days to go as far as they can, with their families and treasure, or simply agree to stay in Damascus and pay tribute. After the three days deadline was over, the Muslim cavalry under Khalid's command attacked the Roman army by catching up to them using an unknown shortcut at battle of Maraj-al-Debaj
THATS Y HE SHOULD BE ONE OF THE GREATEST COMMANDERS OF ALL TIME.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
Hannibal Barca

Hannibal Barca One Master Of Tactics Nearly Destroyed Rome He Took It Down To His Knees
Yes, the combined mastery of strategy, operational manoeuvre, tactics, logistics and ability to maintain a multi-ethnic force (and mercenaries) as a viable force would make him one of the earliest and greatest military leaders.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
Khālid ibn al-Walīd

In having the distinction of being undefeated in over 80 battles against the Sassanid Persian and Eastern Roman empires, he is regarded as one of the finest military commanders in history.

THATS Y HE SHOULD BE ONE OF THE GREATEST COMMANDERS OF ALL TIME.
I think the greatest problem with the claim is that it is largely based on purely Islamic sources, and very biased at that. However undoubtedly the conquest period in the history of Islam is not to be under-rated, and I'm sure he had played a very significant part in the process. Other then having the attribute of personal bravery (and apparently imposing physique), what else can be said about Khalid?
 

Zzims

New Member
Because he is famous for.....???
Remained undefeated through out his Military career which was an extensive one, Design the fall of the Sassanids and the Byzantium Military in the Middleeast. Both of these empires were still far from refered as fallen empires. Most battles he fought against the Sassanid and Byzantium was under great disadvatanges for him and his men.

He carefuly picked out his own battlefield ;for example Battle of Yarmouk and Battle of Chains.

I think the greatest problem with the claim is that it is largely based on purely Islamic sources, and very biased at that. However undoubtedly the conquest period in the history of Islam is not to be under-rated, and I'm sure he had played a very significant part in the process. Other then having the attribute of personal bravery (and apparently imposing physique), what else can be said about Khalid?
Ditto to any Western military commanders.
 

LancerMc

New Member
Zzims is correct in that the west doesn't teach much about the great Muslim leaders during the foundation of Islam and how it changed the world. In opposite the Muslim world probably doesn't teach much about famous Western Generals like Lee, Moltke, and others. Thats the handy thing about this forum we can learn things from people around the world.

Just the opinion of a history buff always willing to learn something new.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
Zzims is correct in that the west doesn't teach much about the great Muslim leaders during the foundation of Islam and how it changed the world. In opposite the Muslim world probably doesn't teach much about famous Western Generals like Lee, Moltke, and others. Thats the handy thing about this forum we can learn things from people around the world.

Just the opinion of a history buff always willing to learn something new.
Yes, agreed, but it is very difficult to be objective when the only source of information is Koranic sura.

For example the battle on Yarmuk involved reportedly a 200,000 strong Byzantine army. Many would argue that this size force was an impossibility for an early Byzantine force, and that even if raised it was likely to have been a peasant army rather then a 'Roman' army, i.e. legion based. Being undefeated in 80 battles is surely an achievement, but what are these battles and by what means was this record achieved? It seems to me that this is the problem with learning about early Islamic military leaders - a lack of objectivity and detail.
I am however all too willing to listen :)
 

Zzims

New Member
Yes, agreed, but it is very difficult to be objective when the only source of information is Koranic sura.

For example the battle on Yarmuk involved reportedly a 200,000 strong Byzantine army. Many would argue that this size force was an impossibility for an early Byzantine force, and that even if raised it was likely to have been a peasant army rather then a 'Roman' army, i.e. legion based. Being undefeated in 80 battles is surely an achievement, but what are these battles and by what means was this record achieved? It seems to me that this is the problem with learning about early Islamic military leaders - a lack of objectivity and detail.
I am however all too willing to listen :)
Thats abit incorrect my friend. The Koranic Sura never mentioned any of Khalid's Battles or Campaigns, most of these information are keep by historian of those conquered regions, the information might be some what questionable, but still stories passed down from one generation to another never really vyer of course.

During the time of Khalid's campaign, The Byzantians were superbly organize Military Power. Hundreds of years well before Islam came. Emperor Hiracles had some of the finest troops from Slavs, Armenians, and Arabs known for the warrior like traits. Western Roman was still in barbarian control. Khalid knew of these factors as huge obstacles. Out match in numbers and arms, he supplemented in Mobility and Zeal. Too me this era was the first known Chilvary among enemies and conquered cities.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
Thats abit incorrect my friend. The Koranic Sura never mentioned any of Khalid's Battles or Campaigns, most of these information are keep by historian of those conquered regions, the information might be some what questionable, but still stories passed down from one generation to another never really vyer of course.

During the time of Khalid's campaign, The Byzantians were superbly organize Military Power. Hundreds of years well before Islam came. Emperor Hiracles had some of the finest troops from Slavs, Armenians, and Arabs known for the warrior like traits. Western Roman was still in barbarian control. Khalid knew of these factors as huge obstacles. Out match in numbers and arms, he supplemented in Mobility and Zeal. Too me this era was the first known Chilvary among enemies and conquered cities.
I must admit that the period is not my strong area and I will have a deeper look and talk to someone who is better informed.
Thank you for bringing up the points.
Cheers
 

shimmy

New Member
Moses

If you think of the Book of Exodus from a military viewpoint , I think Moses was a great military tactician and leader.
 

fieldmarshal

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Yes, agreed, but it is very difficult to be objective when the only source of information is Koranic sura.

The revalation of the Quran was complete in the life of Hazrat Mohammad(SAW) and unlike other holy texts the wording of the Quran has remained unchanged, down to a comma for the last 1400 years. Now the events posted above regarding Khalid bin Walid happened well after the passing of the Hazrat Mohammad(SAW).
So they are not mentioned in the Quran or for that matter in Hadees, they are from historical accounts, writers and books, which are pretty authentic.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
The revalation of the Quran was complete in the life of Hazrat Mohammad(SAW) and unlike other holy texts the wording of the Quran has remained unchanged, down to a comma for the last 1400 years. Now the events posted above regarding Khalid bin Walid happened well after the passing of the Hazrat Mohammad(SAW).
So they are not mentioned in the Quran or for that matter in Hadees, they are from historical accounts, writers and books, which are pretty authentic.
As I understand it Khalid lived during emergence of Mohammad, fought against him and later for him, and this much is in the Quran. Everything else about his life is dating from decades later.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
If you think of the Book of Exodus from a military viewpoint , I think Moses was a great military tactician and leader.
I was told that although there appears to be about 10 years of Moses's life missing from the text (after he ran away from Egypt) and apparently he spent this time being a mercenary general in the service of Kushites.

There is also evidence that Abraham used the first recorded instance of surprise night attack, Isaak appears to have been the first military leader to have faced a conflict over strategic resources (water wells), and Jacob was the first to employ the manoeuvre of hidden enveloping flanking movement against Edomites.

The Hebrew Bible also appears to be the first record of organised armies, mention of officers, and volunteers, as well as exemption from military service. It also happens to be the first text that recognised the values of having a campaign purpose, troop motivation (the rule of levites), and maintenance of objective (in Joshua's Canaan camapign).

Cheers
 

fieldmarshal

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  • #257
As I understand it Khalid lived during emergence of Mohammad, fought against him and later for him, and this much is in the Quran. Everything else about his life is dating from decades later.

Wt i said above was that the events mentioned above r from a time when the Prophet was no more. I never said that khalid was not present during the time of the Prophet.
 

Zzims

New Member
Anything regarding Khalid is according to Historian, The holy Quran never mentioned about Khalid or his campaigns.
 

Tasman

Ship Watcher
Verified Defense Pro
Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa in Preveze Against the Crusaders

Barbaros Hayreddin Pasha was certainly a great naval commander. Originally a Turkish privateer, he later became an Ottoman admiral. At the Battle of Preveza, on 27 September 1538, he commanded an Ottoman fleet that defeated a numerically more powerful Christian fleet commanded by the Italian Andrea Doria. His leadership established a dominance over Genoa and Venice and established Ottaman control over the Mediterranean for the next three decades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarossa_(Ottoman_admiral)
http://www.dzkk.tsk.mil.tr/english/Tarihce/OsmanliKaptanPasalar.asp

The Preveza class of submarines in the Turkish Navy is named after the battle and a Meko 200 frigate is named Barboros.

Cheers
 
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