Battle of the Baggage

Battle of the Baggage
Part of the Muslim conquest of Transoxiana
Map of Khurasan and Transoxiana in the 8th century
Date 30 September 737 Location Upper course of the Oxus river (modern northern Afghanistan) Result Türgesh victory
Belligerents
Umayyad Caliphate al-Saghaniyan	Türgesh Khaganate Principality of Khuttal and other Transoxianian allies
Commanders and leaders
Asad ibn Abdallah al-Qasri Ibrahim ibn Asim al-'Uqayli	Suluk
Strength
unknown	50,000

The Battle of the Baggage (Arabic: ﻳﻮﻡ ﺍلاﺛﻘﺎﻝ, romanized: Yawm al-athqāl) was fought between the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate and the Turkic Türgesh tribes in September/October 737. The Umayyads under the governor of Khurasan, Asad ibn Abdallah al-Qasri, had invaded the Principality of Khuttal in Transoxiana, and the local ruler called upon the Türgesh for aid. The Umayyad army retreated in haste before the Türgesh arrived, managing to cross the Oxus River just in time, while their rearguard engaged the pursuing Türgesh. The Türgesh crossed immediately after, and attacked the exposed Muslim baggage train, which had been sent ahead, and captured it. The main Umayyad army came to the rescue of the baggage train's escort, which suffered heavy casualties. The failure of the Umayyad campaign meant the complete collapse of the Arab control in the Upper Oxus valley, and opened Khurasan itself to the Türgesh.