UHUD - v1.0
March 22, 625

By Chris Jackson
SYMBOL SET REQUIRED: Master 1


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

After their inconceivable defeat at Badr, the Qureish Meccans had a conference to plot their
revenge on Muhammad. Not only was there a matter of pride, but economics as well; the Muslim
raids on caravans were disrupting trade. In March 625, an expedition was launched to crush the
Muslims.

On March 21, Muhammad had 1,000 men left Medina to meet this new threat. The Meccans had 3,000
men and 200 horses. 300 deserters left Mohammed believing the battle was hopeless, leaving the
Muslims with just 700. Mohammed moved to the foot of Mount Uhud, choosing a battlefield that 
would help his situation.

At the spur of the mountain he put his right wing, to prevent them from getting flanked. On his
left wing he put 50 archers atop a low hill about 40 feet high, called Einen. The early Arabs
have been characterized as being little more than raiders, but here Muhammad employed a strategy
that was typical of what a Persian or Byzantine general might do, as did his enemy. On the Meccan
side, Abu Sufyan led his own army in a similar arrangement - infantry in the center, cavalry on
both wings. The cavalry wings were led by Khalid and by Abu Jahl's son, Ikrama.

The battle began with a flurry of archery from both sides, followed by individual duels, followed
by general fighting. Khalid kept trying to break the left flank to attack Mohammed but kept
getting repulsed by the archers on Einen. The Muslims were badly outnumbered and under-equipped,
but when some key Quresih fell they began to waver and flee. The Muslims broke up to pursue them
and loot their camp, but Khalid and Ikrama countered with a mounted attack on the dispersed 
Muslims and this time took Einen. 

The Muslims were now under attack from their rear and began to waver. The Meccans began to hurl
stones at Muhammad and wounded him. A Meccan named Ibn Qamia knocked Mohammed from his horse and
believed he had killed him. His triumphant cry broke the Muslim spirit and many of them fled to
the hills. The Qureish had won, but did not press their victory because they thought the Muslims
would still fight ferociously, and might be rejoined by those 300 deserters.

70 Muslims died at Uhud, and 22 Meccans were killed. Muhammad had been defeated, but he was still
alive and had about 500 men. Over the next couple of years, as both sides prepared for another
battle, Muhammad would increase this figure to 3000.


SOURCES

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

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


BATTLE NOTES

If the computer loses this battle playing as the Meccans, it's because due to the sheer size
of its huge army, it didn't lumber across the battlefield fast enough. Even with the huge morale
difference the Meccans are almost twice as powerful. This scenario really only exists for 
historical value - it's only the fourth one I've ever done where I had a map!
There were references to swords, spears, shields and lances used by the participants in this 
battle. I simplified this to get the attack ratings I wanted, and let the Muslims be better 
armoured than their opponents which wouldn't have been right. Abu Sufyan isn't mounted because
his group isn't, but he gets 10 movement points anyway.


- Chris Jackson, April 15, 2000
  chrisbjackson@hotmail.com
