Battle of Marj ar-Rum

Battle of Marj ar-Rum
Part of the Arab–Byzantine Wars and the campaigns of Khalid ibn al-Walid
Date March 635[1] Location Marj ar-Rum (first battle) Marj 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 army	Byzantine army
Commanders and leaders
Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Khalid ibn al-Walid	Theodore the Patricius † Shannash al-Rome † Sheodore †
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
	Heavy

The Battle of Marj ar-Rum (Meadow of Rome^[2]), also known as the Battle of Marj Dimashq (Meadow of Damascus^[2]), was a conflict between the Rashidun caliphate and the Byzantine Empire. The battle 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 a second army led by Shannash al-Rome.^[3][4] The Rashidun army led by Abu Ubaydah 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 due to the fact that the fighting occurred concurrently and that Khalid participated in both engagements.^[2][5]

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.