On this day: Battle of Yarmouk marked start of Islamic expansion in North Africa
On August 20, 636, the six-day Battle of Yarmouk ended with Arab forces defeating the Byzantine army, opening the way for Islamic expansion across North Africa and the Middle East.
Nearly 1,400 years ago, from August 15 to 20, 636, a battle at the Yarmouk River proved decisive for the future course of the region's and the world's history. Over six days of fighting, an Arab army clashed with the forces of the Byzantine Empire.
The battle and its commanders
The Arab forces were led by the military commander Khalid ibn al-Walid, described as a brilliant strategist. On the opposing side stood the army of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius. The battle ended in a decisive Arab victory, crushing Byzantine resistance.
Historical consequences
The defeat at Yarmouk became a turning point: afterward, the Byzantine Empire was no longer able to halt the expansion of Islam. Arab influence rapidly spread across North Africa and other parts of the Middle East, reshaping the political and religious map of these territories for centuries to come.
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