Arab conquest of Kaikan
The Arab conquest of Kaikan (alternatively Kikan, Kiknan, Qaiqan or Qayqan) was a military campaign by the
Arab conquest of Kaikan | |
---|---|
Part of Kaikan | |
Result | Arab victory |
Territorial changes | Kaikan annexed to the Caliphate |
Umayyad Caliphate
Imran bin Musa al Barmaki
Abdallah ibn Sawwar al-Abdi
History
The first raid is noted by the historians Al-Baladhuri, Ibn Sa'd and Khalifah ibn Khayyat to have taken place in 658 AD. Kaikan was known as al-Qiqan to them and located near Quetta. Harith ibn Murrah al-Abdi and Sayfi ibn Fil al-Shaybani had participated in this raid.[2]
The fourth Caliph Ali sent the second expedition to Sindh under Harith ibn Murrah al-Abdi in 660 (according to Al-Baladhuri).[3] However, the Chach Nama states Saghar bin Zuar had been appointed, not Harith.[4]
After a successful raid in Sindh in 662, Harith turned his attention to Kaikan. Harith had outfitted a formidable Muslim army with nobles and chiefs. This army encountered no real opposition till it reached the treacherous terrain of Kaikan. The Jats and Meds fought against the Arab army and managed to defeat it.[5] Harith along with his followers was killed in this battle in the year 42 AH (662 AD).[5][6] This was a huge blow for the Caliph, and so, for the next twenty years, every successive Caliph made Kaikan a special target for conquest and sent as many as six expeditions, five of which failed to make any permanent impact in Sindh.[7]
Emir Abd Allah ibn Amir, or the Caliph Mu'awiya I himself, is said to have sent Abdallah ibn Sawwar al-Abdi to Sindh. He is said to have fought in Kaikan and captured some spoils, but is said to have been killed by the Turks.[8]
Ziyad ibn Abihi (also known as Ziyad ibn Abu-Sufian), during the reign of Mu'awiya I, appointed Rashid ibn Omar al-Judaidi, a member of the Azd tribe, to the frontiers of Sindh. al-Judaidi was the first Arab to win a battle against Kaikan, but was killed by the Meds.[7] Ziyad then appointed al-Manzar (also spelt al-Mundhir) ibn al-Jarud al-Abdi (also known as Abu-l-Ash’as) to Sindh. al-Manzar is said to have conquered Kaikan.[9]
When
Aftermath
The Arabs called the Jats (
See also
- Raja Dahir
- History of Sindh
References
- ^ Barve, Shashikant V. (1995). Introduction to Classical Arabic: A Contribution to Islamic and Oriental Studies. S.V. Barve. p. 451.
- ISBN 978-90-04-08551-0.
- ^ Al-Baladhuri 1924, p. 210/728.
- ^ The Chachnamah An Ancient History Of Sind 1900. Translated by M K Fredunbeg. Karachi: Commissioners' Press. 1900. pp. 60/76.
- ^ a b D. Rao, Vasant; Gokhale, Balkrishna Govind; D'Souza, A. L. (1966). Ancient Indian History and Culture. A.R. Sheth. p. 323.
- ^ Siddiqi, Amir Hasan (1971). Decisive Battles of Islam. Jamiyatul Falah Publications. p. 107.
- ^ a b Islam, Arshad (1990). History of Sindh During The Pre-Mughal Period (PhD Thesis) (PDF). Aligarh: core.ac.uk.
- ^ al-Hamawi, Yaqut. Mu'jam al-Buldan [Dictionary of Countries] (in Arabic). p. 423.
- ^ Al-Baladhuri 1924, p. 213/731.
- ISBN 978-9-693-5-12366.
- ^ Barve, Shashikant V. (1995). Introduction to Classical Arabic: A Contribution to Islamic and Oriental Studies. S.V. Barve. p. 451.
- ^ a b c Zakeri 1995, p. 195.
- ^ Zakeri 1995, p. 196.
Bibliography
- Zakeri, Mohsen (1995). Sāsānid Soldiers in Early Muslim Society: The Origins of ʻAyyārān and Futuwwa. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-03652-8.
- Al-Baladhuri (1924). Kitab Futuh Al-buldan: The Origins Of The Islamic State Vol 2. Translated by Murgotten, Francis Clark. New York: Columbia University.