Draft:Battle of Thane and Bharuch

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Battle of Thane
Part of Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent
Date636 CE
Location
Thane, a small town near mumbai
Result Chalukya victory
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Chalukya Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Arabs forced to retreat
Battle of Bharuch
Part of Arab conquest of India
Date637
Location
Bharuch, a city in Gujarat
Result Chalukya Victory
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Chalukya Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Casualties and losses
Heavy Unknown

The first incursion by Arabs in India occurred around 636/7 AD, during the Rashidun Caliphate, long before any Arab army reached the frontier of India by land.[1] Uthman ibn Abi al-As al-Thaqafi, the governor of Bahrain and Oman, had dispatched the naval expeditions against the ports and positions of the Sasanian Empire, and further east to the borders of India,[2] as confirmed by the contemporary Armenian historian Sebeos who confirms Arab naval raids against the Sasanian littoral. [2].Rashidun Caliphate was defeated twice by The Chalukyas.

Context[edit]

Uthman, on his own initiative, according to the history of al-Baladhuri, had also launched the first two fleets of Arab naval raids against the ports of the Indian subcontinent, the first of these raids targeted Thane (a small town near Mumbai) and Bharuch (a city in Gujarat). The second raid targeted Debal (a town near Karachi).[3][4]

The assault on Thane, the first Arab raid on India, was commanded by Uthman's brother al-Hakam, who also led the raid on Bharuch.[5] The first set of raids were a failure,[6] and forced the Arabs to retreat.[7] The following raid on Debal was commanded by another brother, al-Mughira.[8] The raids were probably launched in c. 636 according to al-Baladhuri.[9] These expeditions were not sanctioned by Caliph Umar and Uthman escaped punishment only because there weren't many casualties.[10]

The motivation for these expeditions may have been to seek plunder or to attack pirates to safeguard Arabian trade in the Arabian Sea, not to start the conquest of India.[11] However scholars have also expressed the opinion all three raids were successfully repulsed.[12] Arabs led by Suhail b. Abdi and Hakam al Taghilbi later defeated a Sindhi army in the Battle of Rasil in 644 beside the Indian Ocean sea coast, then reached the Indus River.[13] Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab denied them permission to cross the river or operate in Makran and the Arabs returned home.[14]

Battle[edit]

While situated in Oman, Usman orchestrated a naval campaign to capture Thana along the western coast of India. However, the Imperial Chalukyan Navy, led by Pulakeshin II, successfully thwarted the Arab-Islamic naval expedition. The first-ever Arab-Islamic raid on India met with resounding defeat as they were repulsed, compelling their retreat back to Oman.[15][16][17] There is an alternate account that states the victory of Arabs at Tanah.[18][19]

Background[edit]

The backdrop of the Battle of Thane is rooted in the early Arab raids targeting the coastal regions of India. Originating from their secure base in Oman, the Arabs launched expeditions, with one directed towards Tanah (Thana), located near Bombay, around 15 A.H. (A.D. 637). Simultaneously, similar campaigns were undertaken against Barwas (Broach) and the Gulf of Ad-Daibul, specifically at Debal. Historical records, such as those by Al-Baladhuri, highlight a Muslim victory at Debal, but remain silent on the outcomes of the other two raids. Contrarily, the Chach-nama recounts a different narrative, stating that the Muslims suffered defeat, and their leader was killed by the governor of Chach in the Battle of Debal. This period of early Arab incursions and their varying degrees of success laid the groundwork for the subsequent military actions, including the Battle of Thane, and influenced the evolving dynamics of Arab interactions with the Indian subcontinent.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wink. Vol. I 2002, p. 201
  2. ^ a b Hoyland 2015, p. 85.
  3. ^ Baloch 1953, p. 243.
  4. ^ Friedmann 1970, p. 253.
  5. ^ Baloch 1946, p. 251.
  6. ^ Avari, Burjor (2013). Islamic Civilization in South Asia: A History of Muslim Power and Presence in the Indian Subcontinent. Routledge. p. 20. ISBN 9780415580618. Retrieved December 20, 2023. A fleet sent by Caliph Umar in 637 to capture Thana, near Mumbai, failed.
  7. ^ Ishaq 1945, pp. 109, 112.
  8. ^ Ishaq 1945, p. 109.
  9. ^ Ishaq 1945, p. 110.
  10. ^ al-Balādhurī 1924, p. 209: "'Uthmân ibn-abu-l-'Âși ath-Thaķafi ... sent his brother, al-Hakam, to al-Bahrain, and went himself to 'Umân, and sent an army across to Tânah. When the army returned, he wrote to 'Umar, informing him of this expedition and its result. 'Umar wrote to him in reply, ' ... By Allah, I swear that if they had been smitten, I would exact from thy tribe the equivalent.' Al-Hakam sent an expedition against Barwaș [Broach] also, and sent his brother, al-Mughîrah ibn-abu-l-'Âsi, to the gulf of ad-Daibul, where he met the enemy in battle and won a victory."
  11. ^ Sen 1999, p. 346
  12. ^ Indian Resistance To Early Muslim Invaders Upto 1206 AD, P 18 — Dr. Ram Gopal Mishra
  13. ^ Wink. Vol. I 2002, p. 129
  14. ^ Crawford 2014, p. 192
  15. ^ Srivastava, Astirbadi Lal. The Sultanate Of Delhi 711-152 A D. Shiva Lal Agarwala & Company. p. 11.
  16. ^ Mishra, Dr. Ram Gopal (1983). Mishra, Dr. Ram Gopal (December 1992). Indian Resistance to Early Muslim Invaders Up to 1206 A.D. p. 11.
  17. ^ Chopra, Pran Nath (1992). Encyclopaedia of India: Karnataka. p. 23.
  18. ^ Dacca University Bulletin. University of Dacca. 1955. THE Arab expedition against Thana was a success and not a failure. For had it been a failure, it would have resulted in a disaster for the Arabs. Who knows that they might not have been killed to a man? But as it is, nothing of the kind took place. As a matter of fact, they returned home (evidently with flying colours) with not a single soul lost, as is clear from the speech of the Caliph to 'Uthman ath-Thaqafi, who was responsible for the expedition. The Arabs did not proceed further, not because their arms were not victorious, but because they were not allowed to do so by the Caliph 'Umar himself. The reason for the Caliph's action is not far to seek..
  19. ^ Joshi, P. M. (1975). Studies in the Foreign Relations of India, from the Earliest Times to 1947: Prof. H. K. Sherwani Felicitation Volume. State Archives, Government of Andhra Pradesh : copies can be had from the Director of Print. and Stationery. p. 143. In 15/636 the Caliph appointed Usman bin 'As, the governor of Baihrain and Amman. He was a daring and dashing conquerer. Seeking new laurels, he sent his brother Hakim bin Abil 'As to attack India in the same year. A fierce battle was fought resulting in the first Muslim victory on Behruch (Gujarat) and Thana (Bombay). This victory was followed by a second victory over Daibal and Thatta (Karachi) under the seasoned generalship of the second brother of the governor named Mugirah bin Abil 'Asi.
  20. ^ Majumdar, R.C. (1931). Arab invasion of India. Diocesan Press, Madras. p. 28.

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