Mu'awiya I's Sindh Campaigns

Mu'awiya I's Sindh Campaigns
Date 661–680 Location Iran and Pakistan Result Sindhi Victory
Belligerents
Ummayad Caliphate	Qayqan
Commanders and leaders
Mu'awiya I Al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufra Al-Harith ibn Murra al-Abdi   † Abdallah ibn Sawwar al-Abdi   † Sinan ibn Salama ibn Muhbiq   † Rashid Ibn Umar  †	Unknown
Strength
4,000+	50,000+
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Mu'awiya I's Sindh Campaigns were various military expeditions and raids conducted by the Umayyads 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 "Zutt of Kaikan"

Background

After the Assassination of Ali, Mu'awiya I began expanding the caliphate by subduing the eastern regions. He sent several campaigns in Iran and recruited Basran forces for consolidation of his reign over Persia. ^[2] Subsequently, several campaigns were made against Turk Shahis in Kabul. ^[3]

Campaigns

First conflict in Qayqan

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

Skirmish with the Turks (664)

Mu'awiya sent an expedition to India under Muhallab ibn Abi Sufra. They advanced up to Bannu and Lahore, two regions between Kabul and Multan. They marched southwards towards Qayqan, however were attacked by the Turks and Medes. Eighteen Turks attacked him where all of them were killed. ^[5]

Second Invasion of Qayqan

Mu'awiya I dispatched Abdullah ibn Sawad with 4000 troops in order to invade Qayqan. Qayqan had various spoils including horses and the inhabitants became rebellious in protection of the mountains. No one in Abdullah's army camps had to kindle fire as enough provisions were carried by them. However one night fire was kindled as a pregnant woman was confined. Abdullah gave the troops to light the fire and the women delivered a marry banquet and entertained the army for 3 days with cooked food . Upon their arrival in Qayqan territory, the Arab forces were attacked by the troops of Jat and Meds provincial chiefs. The Muslims routed the first assault. The local population joined arose in large numbers. They occupied the mountain passes, clashing with the Arab forces. Abdullah ibn Sawad was killed in the conflict. The Arab forces were defeated and fled to Makran. ^{[6] [7]}

Invasion of Sindh (668-670)

Mu'awiya nominated Rashid ibn Amr and Sinan bin Salamah for the conquest of Sindh. Sinan made the troops make an obligation to divorce their wives in order to prevent them from fleeing. 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. Violent clash took place between the two sides which lasted from Fajr to Zuhr where Rashid was killed. Sinan managed to defeat them however the people of Budhia staged an uprising against Sinan and killed him. ^[8]

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. 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.
6. Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. S. Chand Publishing. p. 16. ISBN   978-81-219-0364-6.
7. Mahajan, Vidya Dhar; Mahajan, Savitri (1962). The Muslim Rule in India. S. Chand. p. 10.
8. Ahmad, Dr Aijaz (2022-03-06). New Dimensions of Indian Historiography : Historical Facts and Hindutva Interpretation. K.K. Publications. p. 132.