Battle of Balanjar (723)

Sack of Balanjar (723)
Part of the Arab–Khazar Wars
Date723 CE
Location
Result Umayyad victory
Belligerents
Khazar Khaganate Umayyad Caliphate
Commanders and leaders
Tarkhan Jarrah

The Battle of Balanjar took place during the Khazar–Arab Wars.[1] In 722 or 723, according to Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Umayyad soldiers under al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah crossed the Caucasus Mountains and attacked Balanjar. The inhabitants of Balanjar tried to defend their town by fastening 3000 wagons together and circling them around the key fortress on high terrain, but were defeated in the attack.[2] The Arabs massacred much of the town's population; survivors fled to other towns, including Samandar. The victorious Arab army stole much booty and the soldiers received large sums of money. After this battle, the Arabs went on to capture Samandar and the Muslims once again became a dominant force in Transcaucasia.

  1. ^ Minorsky, Vladimir (1958). A History of Sharvān and Darband in the 10th-11th Centuries. Heffer. p. 106.
  2. ^ Medieval Wars 500–1500. Amber Books Ltd. 2012-09-17. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-78274-119-0.