Al-Djarrah ibn Abdullah
Encyclopedia
Abu `Uqbah al-Djarrah ibn `Abdullah al-Hakami was an Arab
nobleman of the Hakami
tribe. During the course of the early 700s he was at various times governor of Seistan, Khurasan
, Armenia
, and Arran
. He was well-known for his campaigns against the Göktürks
in Central Asia
and against the Khazars
(possibly their allies) in the Caucasus
.
and Seistan around 720 by the caliph
Umar II
. While in Khorasan he fought a series of campaigns against the remnants of the Göktürk Khaganate over Transoxiana
, imposing the jizya
on the conquered population.
named al-Djarrah governor of Armenia
and Arran, placing him in command of the Umayyad offensive against the Khazars and their allies. In 722 al-Djarrah led an Arab army across the Caucasus and fought his way north along the coast of the Caspian Sea
. The following year he sacked the city
of Balanjar
. The Khazar khagan and his court had withdrawn to Samandar
.
Possibly fearful of al-Djarrah's successes, the caliph removed him from command and replaced him with a series of ineffectual commanders.
. Caliph Hisham recalled al-Djarrah and restored him to the governorship of Armenia, which was in the process of being overrun by the Khazars. In 730
a Khazar army led by Barjik
invaded northeastern Persia, including the provinces of Arran and Djibal. At the Battle of Marj Ardabil in 730 al-Djarrah was defeated and killed by the Khazars, who thereafter captured the city of Ardabil
. Al-Djarrah's head was mounted on Barjik's throne.
and Marwan Kru ibn Muhammad
. The desecration of al-Djarrah's corpse a tactical error which enraged the Arabs at the subsequent Battle of Mosul (731 CE) and contributed to their victory there, and Barjik's death.
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
nobleman of the Hakami
Hakami
The Hakami tribe or Tribe of Hakam was an Arabian tribe influential in early Muslim politics, particularly during the Umayyad Caliphate. Prior to the rise of Islam, their territory was in south and western Arabia...
tribe. During the course of the early 700s he was at various times governor of Seistan, Khurasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, and Arran
Arran (Azerbaijan)
Arran , also known as Aran, Ardhan , Al-Ran , Aghvank and Alvank , or Caucasian Albania , was a geographical name used in ancient and medieval times to signify the territory which lies within the triangle of land, lowland in the east and mountainous in the west, formed by the junction of Kura and...
. He was well-known for his campaigns against the Göktürks
Göktürks
The Göktürks or Kök Türks, were a nomadic confederation of peoples in medieval Inner Asia. Known in Chinese sources as 突厥 , the Göktürks under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan The Göktürks or Kök Türks, (Old Turkic: Türük or Kök Türük or Türük; Celestial Turks) were a nomadic confederation of...
in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and against the Khazars
Khazars
The Khazars were semi-nomadic Turkic people who established one of the largest polities of medieval Eurasia, with the capital of Atil and territory comprising much of modern-day European Russia, western Kazakhstan, eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, large portions of the northern Caucasus , parts of...
(possibly their allies) in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.
Early career
Al-Djarrah, whose name means "the surgeon," was born in the latter part of the seventh century CE. His father was Abdullah al-Hakami, a member of a highly-regarded tribe within the Umayyad Caliphate. Al-Djarrah was named governor of KhorasanGreater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
and Seistan around 720 by the caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
Umar II
Umar II
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 717 to 720. He was also a cousin of the former caliph, being the son of Abd al-Malik's younger brother, Abd al-Aziz. He was also a great-grandson of the companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Umar bin Al-Khattab.-Lineage:Umar was born around...
. While in Khorasan he fought a series of campaigns against the remnants of the Göktürk Khaganate over Transoxiana
Transoxiana
Transoxiana is the ancient name used for the portion of Central Asia corresponding approximately with modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, southern Kyrgystan and southwest Kazakhstan. Geographically, it is the region between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers...
, imposing the jizya
Jizya
Under Islamic law, jizya or jizyah is a per capita tax levied on a section of an Islamic state's non-Muslim citizens, who meet certain criteria...
on the conquered population.
In the Caucasus
Yazid IIYazid II
Yazid bin Abd al-Malik or Yazid II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 720 until his death in 724.According to the medieval Persian historian Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Yazid came to power on the death of Umar II on February 10, 720. His forces engaged in battle the Kharijites with whom Umar...
named al-Djarrah governor of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Arran, placing him in command of the Umayyad offensive against the Khazars and their allies. In 722 al-Djarrah led an Arab army across the Caucasus and fought his way north along the coast of the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
. The following year he sacked the city
Battle of Balanjar (723)
In 722 or 723, according to Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Umayyad soldiers under al-Djarrah ibn Abdullah crossed the Caucasus Mountains and attacked Balanjar. The inhabitants of Balanjar tried to defend their town by fastening 3,000 wagons together and circling them around the key fortress on high...
of Balanjar
Balanjar
Balanjar was a medieval city located in the North Caucasus region, between the cities of Derbent and Samandar, probably on the lower Sulak River. It flourished from the seventh to the tenth centuries CE...
. The Khazar khagan and his court had withdrawn to Samandar
Samandar (city)
Samandar was a city in Khazaria on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, south of the city of Atil, in the North Caucasus. The exact location of the city is unknown, but most likely, it was situated on the Terek river near the present-day city of Kizlyar, which, like Samandar, is noted for its...
.
Possibly fearful of al-Djarrah's successes, the caliph removed him from command and replaced him with a series of ineffectual commanders.
Recall and death
In 729 the Umayyad army suffered a series of defeats in the Caucasus at the hands of the Khazar commander BarjikBarjik
Barjik was a Khazar prince who flourished in the late 720s. He is described by al-Tabari as "the son of the Khagan"; his exact status and position is unknown though he may have been the Bek....
. Caliph Hisham recalled al-Djarrah and restored him to the governorship of Armenia, which was in the process of being overrun by the Khazars. In 730
730
Year 730 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 730 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Charles Martel defeats the last independent...
a Khazar army led by Barjik
Barjik
Barjik was a Khazar prince who flourished in the late 720s. He is described by al-Tabari as "the son of the Khagan"; his exact status and position is unknown though he may have been the Bek....
invaded northeastern Persia, including the provinces of Arran and Djibal. At the Battle of Marj Ardabil in 730 al-Djarrah was defeated and killed by the Khazars, who thereafter captured the city of Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
. Al-Djarrah's head was mounted on Barjik's throne.
Aftermath
Al-Djarrah was replaced first by his brother Hadjjadj ibn Abdullah and subsequently by Maslamah ibn Abd al-MalikMaslamah ibn Abd al-Malik
Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Khaganate...
and Marwan Kru ibn Muhammad
Marwan II
Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was killed. He was the last Umayyad ruler to rule from Damascus.In A.H. 114 Caliph Hisham appointed Marwan governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In A.H...
. The desecration of al-Djarrah's corpse a tactical error which enraged the Arabs at the subsequent Battle of Mosul (731 CE) and contributed to their victory there, and Barjik's death.