BUZAKHA - v1.0
mid-September 632

By Chris Jackson
SYMBOL SET REQUIRED: Master 1

approximate man-to-man scale - 1:12

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

For the next couple of years after Uhud, both sides prepared for a decisive battle. Abu Sufyan
assembled the largest army yet, a confederacy of 10,000 men allied for the common goal of 
defeating the Muslims. Muhammad now had 3000 men and prepared a resistance by digging a trench
to defend Medina. In the "Battle of the Trench", a 23-day siege in February-March 627, the
Muslims withstood the attacks and Muhammad's power was greatly strengthened. Casulaties were
four men on both sides.

In 628 the Treaty of al-Huday-biyah was signed which ended hostilities and allowed the Muslims to
make the pilgramage to Mecca in 629. Muhammad continued to gain power over the next couple years,
and the treaty was renounced in late 629 when Christian Arabs defeated another badly outnumbered
Muslim force at Mauta. In January 630 Muhammad marched into Mecca and won it with little
resistance. The idols around the Ka'bah were destroyed and Muhammad triumphed over the city he
once had to flee. 

Muhammad spent the next weeks consolidating the area. At the battle of Hunein on February 1, the
Hawazin led by Malik bin Auf ambushed the Muslims in a valley but were of such low quality they
could not kill any of them, and were defeated with 70 losses in a counter-attack. Eventually the
Hawazin tribe accepted Islam and all resistance was over. Muhammad was now the most powerful man
in Arabia. When he died at Medina on June 8, 632, Arabia was almost ready to expand to the north.

But before this could take place, a schism would have to be resolved. The loss of Muhammad, with
no clear successor, caused a great crisis. Some believed he had designated no successor, while
around Arabia various prophets claimed their own leadership and many tribes renounced allegiance.
Muhammad's closest followers chose the aging Abu Bakr (b. c573), Muhammad's chief advisor and 
father of the Prophet's preferred wife, to be the Islam's first caliph. Small and unimposing, it 
was uncertain if he could provide the leadership Islam badly needed at this time.

Abu Bakr was determined to do away with the so-called apostates, or false prophets, and tactical 
actions with a small army in the summer of 632 took them by surprise, winning back several tribes.
One of these enemy prophets was Tuleiha bin Khuweilad, chief of the Bani Asad tribe. When he 
learned of Abu Bakr's forces, he moved with an army supported by various other local clans to the
plain of Buzakha to the northeast of Medina, by the Aja Range. The Muslim commander sent to attack
him was Khalid, commanding the main portion of Abu Bakr's divided forces. Khalid had led a cavalry
wing against the Muslims at Uhud but had converted to Islam by 629. Both armies encamped on the 
plain and prepared to do battle. Khalid had 6000 men; Tuleiha's strength is not recorded but would
have been higher.

On the morning of battle Tuleiha appointed Uyeina to command his army. The best men in his army were
the 700 of his own tribe, the Bani Fazara. Khalid attacked first, opening up an offensive along the
entire front. Khalid's determined men drove a dent into the enemy center, but they held until Uyeina
lost faith in Tuleiha (who only medidated during the battle looking for divine guidance). Uyeina 
withdrew the Bani Fazara, and from there Tuleiha's army melted away. Uyeina was eventually
captured, but converted to Islam and was allowed to go in peace. Tuleiha also converted and was spared. 
Khalid pressed on and brought more and more rebel tribes to submission, bringing many other 
"fence-sitting" tribes back to Islam in the process. One more powerful enemy still remained.


SOURCES

Akram, A.I. "The Sword of Allah", Dacca: National Publishing House, 1970.

Donner, Fred. "The Early Islamic Conquests". Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1981.

"Islam", Encyclopedia Britannica. www.britannica.com


BATTLE NOTES

Just an introduction battle to try out the early Arab forces, who are going to be used a LOT in
the coming years. The Muslims have higher morale and should win against the computer if they position
their army right and know where to attack and where to defend (on the second turn the enemy will
probably be close enough for you to wheel some cavalry all the way around to their rears and take a
solid bite). When the computer takes on the computer, the Apostates do quite well because they 
flank effectively. This scenario is probably a tougher fight than the historical battle; even with the
30 point difference in morale the Apostates take a while to grind down.


- Chris Jackson, May 11, 2000
  chrisbjackson@hotmail.com
