Battle of Chains

Battle of Chains
Part of the Muslim conquest of Persia

Map showing the location of Kazima, Uballa and Hufeir in present Kuwait and Iraq respectively.
DateApril 633 AD[1]
Location
Kazima[2]
Result Rashidun Caliphate victory
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Sasanian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Khalid ibn al-Walid Hormozd †[3]
Qubaz
Anoshagan
Strength
18,000 40,000 (primary sources) 15,000–20,000 (modern estimates)
Casualties and losses
Low Heavy

The Battle of Sallasil (Arabic: معركة ذات السلاسل Dhat al-Salasil),[4] often referred to as the Battle of Chains, was the first battle fought between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Sasanian Persian Empire in April 633. The battle was fought in Kazima (present day Kuwait) by the forces of Khalid ibn al-Walid and the Persians under Hormozd. It was fought soon after the Ridda Wars were over and the Arabian Peninsula was united under the authority of the Caliph Abu Bakr. Indeed, it was the first battle of the Rashidun Caliphate in which the Muslim army elected to extend its frontiers outside of Arabia, thus initiating the Arab conquests.[5]

  1. ^ Parvaneh Pourshariati, The Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire, (I.B. Tauris, 2011), 193.
  2. ^ "Chapter 19: The Battle of Chains". Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  3. ^ Parvaneh Pourshariati, The Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire, 193.
  4. ^ Parvaneh Pourshariati, The Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire, 192.
  5. ^ Howard-Johnston, James (June 2010). "The Middle East in the Seventh Century: Arab Conquests". academic.oup.com. pp. 459–460. Retrieved 2023-03-30.