Mu'awiya I's Sindh Campaigns

Mu'awiya I's Sindh Campaigns
Part of Umayyad campaigns in India
Date 661–680 Location Iran and Pakistan Result Sindhi victory
Belligerents
Umayyad Caliphate	Kingdom of Qayqan
Commanders and leaders
Mu'awiya I Al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufra Al-Harith ibn Murra   † Abdallah ibn Sawwar   † Sinan ibn Salama   † Rashid ibn Amr   †	Unknown
Strength
4,000+	50,000+
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

Mu'awiya I's Sindh Campaigns were various military expeditions and raids conducted by the Umayyad Caliphate during the reign of Mu'awiya I in order to subdue the region of Sindh. ^[1] These raids were against the Kingdom of Qayqan, which was governed by a Sindhi tribe called the "Zutt of Qayqan".

Background

After the assassination of the fourth Rashidun caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, the long-time governor of the Levant, Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, took over the Caliphate from Ali's eldest son Hasan, and established the Umayyad dynasty. Mu'awiya began expanding the Caliphate by subduing the eastern regions. He sent several campaigns in Iran and recruited Basran forces to consolidate Umayyad rule over Persia. ^[2] Subsequently, several campaigns were made against Turk Shahis in Kabul. ^[3]

Campaigns

First conflict in Qayqan

In 662, Al-Harith ibn Murra al-Abdi who had succeeded in his previous campaign against Qayqan during Ali's reign, was slain along with some of his troops in Qayqan. ^[4]

Skirmish with the Turks (664)

Mu'awiya I sent a military expedition to India under Al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufra. The Umayyad forces advanced up to Bannu and Lahore, two regions between Kabul and Multan. They marched southwards towards Qayqan, but were attacked by the Turks and Medes. Eighteen Turks attacked him and all of them were killed. ^{[5] [6]}

Second Invasion of Qayqan

Mu'awiya dispatched Abdallah ibn Sawwar al-Abdi with 4000 troops in order to invade Qayqan. Qayqan had various spoils including horses and the inhabitants rebelled in the protection of the mountains. Upon their arrival in the territory of Qayqan, the Arab forces were attacked by the troops of the provincial chiefs of the Jats and Medes. The Muslims routed the first assault, but the local population rose up in large numbers. They occupied the mountain passes, clashing with the Arab forces. Abdullah ibn Sawad was killed in the conflict, and the Arab forces were defeated and routed to Makran. ^{[7] [8]}

Invasion of Sindh (668-670)

Mu'awiya chose Rashid ibn Amr and Sinan ibn Salama ibn Muhbiq for the conquest of Sindh. Sinan made the troops make an obligation to divorce their wives if they fled. They first attempted to invade Makran. Although Sinan managed to establish control over some regions of Makran, the locals rebelled against him. Rashid and Sinan reached Qayqan in order to collect revenues and established a garrison town in Makran for further conquests. They arrived in the mountains of Bharj and Mauzar whose inhabitants gathered 50,000 troops against the Arabs. A violent clash took place between the two sides which lasted from Fajr to Zuhr and Rashid was killed. Sinan managed to defeat them, but the people of Budhia then staged an uprising against Sinan and killed him. ^[9]

References

1. Zakeri, Mohsen (1995). Sāsānid Soldiers in Early Muslim Society: The Origins of ʻAyyārān and Futuwwa. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 195. ISBN   978-3-447-03652-8.
2. Rehman, Abdur (1979). The Last Two Dynasties of the Śahis: An Analysis of Their History, Archaeology, Coinage, and Palaeography. Centre for the Study of the Civilizations of Central Asia, Quaid-i-Azam University. p. 57.
3. Petrie, Cameron A. (2020-12-28). Resistance at the Edge of Empires: The Archaeology and History of the Bannu basin from 1000 BC to AD 1200. Oxbow Books. p. 71. ISBN   978-1-78570-306-5.
4. Jairazbhoy, Rafique Ali (1995). Foreign Influence in Ancient Indo-Pakistan. Sind Book House. p. 164. ISBN   978-969-8281-00-7.
5. Roy, Kaushik (2015-06-03). Warfare in Pre-British India – 1500BCE to 1740CE. Routledge. p. 86. ISBN   978-1-317-58692-0.
6. Gordon, Matthew (2001-01-01). The Breaking of a Thousand Swords: A History of the Turkish Military of Samarra (A.H. 200-275/815-889 C.E.). SUNY Press. p. 162. ISBN   978-0-7914-4796-3.
7. Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. S. Chand Publishing. p. 16. ISBN   978-81-219-0364-6.
8. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar; Mahajan, Savitri (1962). The Muslim Rule in India. S. Chand. p. 10.
9. Ahmad, Dr Aijaz (2022-03-06). New Dimensions of Indian Historiography : Historical Facts and Hindutva Interpretation. K.K. Publications. p. 132.