Battle of Dayr al-Jamajim

وقعة دير الجماجم

82 AH

The battle of Dayr al-Jamajim between al-Hajjaj and Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn al-Ash'ath. Al-Tabari records it under the year 82 AH, while noting that some placed it in 83 AH ¹. He describes how the lines were arranged that day ². In al-Mas'udi's account, al-Hajjaj and Ibn al-Ash'ath met at the place known as Dayr al-Jamajim, and there were more than eighty engagements between them in which a multitude perished; this was in 82 AH, and the outcome went against Ibn al-Ash'ath, who went on until he reached the kings of India. Al-Hajjaj kept scheming to kill him until he was killed and his head was brought to him ³.

Overview

The battle of Dayr al-Jamajim was fought between al-Hajjaj and Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn al-Ash'ath. al-Tabari places it in 82 AH, and says that some put it in 83 AH. ¹ He describes the order of the battle lines that day. ²

al-Mas'udi's account

al-Mas'udi says that al-Hajjaj and Ibn al-Ash'ath met at Dayr al-Jamajim. There were between them some eighty battles in which a great number perished, in the year 82 AH. The advantage went to Ibn al-Ash'ath, and he went on until he reached the kings of India. al-Hajjaj kept scheming to kill him until he was killed, and his head was brought to al-Hajjaj. ⁴

Sources

Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk — al-Tabari (ed. Abu al-Fadl Ibrahim) , j.6 p.346

Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk — al-Tabari (ed. Abu al-Fadl Ibrahim) , j.6 p.349

Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi , p. 123

Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi , p.123

Muhammad Qabbani, The Umayyad State from Birth to Fall (Damascus: Dar Wahy al-Qalam, 2006)

Battle of Dayr al-Jamajim

At a glance

Overview

al-Mas'udi's account

Sources