Battle of Marj ar-Rum

Battle of Marj ar-Rum
Part of the Muslim conquest of Syria
(Arab–Byzantine wars)
DateMarch 635
Location
Marj ar-Rum (first battle)
Marj ad-Dimashq (second battle)
33°30′49.71″N 36°16′35.5″E / 33.5138083°N 36.276528°E / 33.5138083; 36.276528
Result Rashidun victory
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan
Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah
Khalid ibn al-Walid
Theodore the Patricius 
Shannash al-Rum 
Sheodore 
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy

The Battle of Marj ar-Rum (Arabic: معركة مرج الروم, lit.'Meadow of Rome'), also known as the Battle of Marj ad-Dimashq (Arabic: معركة مرج الدمشق, lit.'Meadow of Damascus'), was a battle between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire that occurred shortly after the Battle of Fahl, when the Byzantines attempted to recapture Damascus. Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor, sent two separate forces in the effort, one army led by Theodore the Patricius and another led by Shannash al-Rum. The Rashidun army led by Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah and Khalid ibn al-Walid was ordered to assist Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan , who was acting as the garrison commander of Damascus.

The battle consisted of two separate engagements, however, Muslim historians regard these conflicts as a single battle because the fighting occurred concurrently and Khalid participated in both engagements.

The battle is considered as a decisive victory for the Rashidun army as all the Byzantine commanders were killed and the threat of losing Damascus ended.