Siege of Latakia (Laodicea) (636)
The Siege of Latakia was a Rashidun caliphate campaign that occurred in 636, during the Muslim conquest of the Levant. The siege of the Byzantine city of Laodicea was led by Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah and 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, two of the Companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
| Siege of Latakia (Laodicea) | |||||||||
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| Part of the Muslim conquest of Syria (Arab–Byzantine wars) | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 | Rashidun Caliphate | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit | |||||||||
Background
After the city of Tartus was subdued in 636, 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit was immediately instructed by his superior, Abu 'Ubaydah to march towards Jablah and Latakia, then known as Laodicea.[1][2]
The siege
During the siege, 'Ubadah met stiff resistance from the local garrison. He saw that the city had a massive gate that could only be opened by many men. 'Ubadah then ordered them to camp at a distance from the city. They dug a trench deep enough to conceal his cavalry. 'Ubadah and his army pretended to return to Homs during the hours of daylight, but later that night he and his army silently returned and hide themselves within the trench.[3]
Believing 'Ubadah and his men had gone, the citizens opened the city gate and drove forth their cattle. 'Ubadah immediately ordered his entire army to attack. The Byzantines, caught by surprise, were unable to close the gate again. 'Ubadah climbed upon the wall and shouted the takbir battle cry, whereupon his soldiers entered into the city. The terrified Byzantine defenders then fled towards Al-Yusaiyid, leaving the city undefended.[3]
Aftermath
The fleeing Byzantine soldiers and the local citizens surrendered to 'Ubadah, who allowed the population to return to their homes, on the condition that they paid the Kharaj land tax.[3]
Latakia was left largely intact by 'Ubadah, who supervised the building of mosques in the city, and stayed to impose Caliphate laws upon the population. He built the great mosque, Jami' al Bazaar or Mosque al-Bazaar. Laodicea, the Latin name of the city, was changed to Latakia (Al-Ladhiqiyah).[3][4]
References
- Taha al-Salmani, Dr. Abdullah. "ملخص البحث". Philadelphia education. University of Mosul. Retrieved 27 January 2020. (in Arabic)
- Basalamah, Dr. Khalid Zeed Abdullah. "Seerah Sahaba". Khalid Basalamah official. Khalid Basalamah official. Retrieved 26 January 2020. (in Arabic)
- al-Baladhuri 1916, pp. 203-204.
- al-Zibawi, Mahmud. "لاذقية العرب(Arabic Lattakia)". Maaber. Retrieved 28 January 2020. (in Arabic)
Sources
- al-Baladhuri, Ahmad ibn Yahya (1916). The origins of the Islamic state : being a translation from the Arabic. 1. New York: Columbia University. OCLC 848335318.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
