The Levant Egypt North Africa Anatolia & Constantinople Border conflicts Sicily and Southern Italy Naval warfare Byzantine reconquest Ridda Wars Conquest of Sasanian Persia Conquest of Byzantine Syria Campaigns in Africa Campaigns in Armenia and Anatolia The siege of Emesa was laid by the forces of Rashidun Caliphate from December 635 up until March 636.

After a decisive victory at the Battle of Ajnadayn, the Muslim army conquered Damascus after a long siege in September 634 AD.

[1] Muslim armies raided many cities in northern Syria, as well as the major towns of Arethusa, Hama, Shaizar, Apamia (known today as Qalaat al-Madiq) and Al Ma'arra (now Maarrat al-Nu'man).

[2] Heraclius wrote to Harbees, the military governor of Emesa, "The food of these people is the flesh of the camel and their drink its milk.

Abu Ubaidah decided to take Emesa first, and thus cleared his rear flank from the enemy before undertaking more serious operations in northern Syria.

On arrival at the city, a short battle was fought between Khalid ibn Walid's mobile guard and the Byzantine garrison of Emesa.

[5] A short distance back the Muslims reformed their front and held the attack of the Byzantines, but the pressure became increasingly heavy and the danger of a break-through became clearly evident.

Viewing it as a brilliant military opportunity, Harbees immediately collected 5,000 Byzantine warriors and led them out of the fort to chase the Muslims.

It is said that Khalid with a small group of elite mounted warriors of mobile guard reached the centre of the Byzantines army and there he saw Harbees still fighting.

As these horsemen neared Emesa, the terrified inhabitants and the remnants of the Roman garrison which had not joined the pursuit hastily withdrew into the fort and closed the gates.

[8] Soon after the surrender of Emesa, the Muslims set out once again for the north, intending to take the whole of Northern Syria this time, including Aleppo and Antioch.

Here a Roman convoy taking provisions to Qinnasrin and escorted by a small body of soldiers was intercepted and captured by Khalid.

[10][11] In 637-638 AD, Heraclius resorted to enlist the large swath of Arab Christian allies which inhabited al-Jazira, or upper Mesopotamia, area to mount counter offensive against the encroaching Caliphate forces.

[12][13][14][15][16] This resulted in panic aroused among the coalition forces that bogged down outside the wall of Emesa, which prompted them to abandon the siege and hastily goes to their endangered homeland.

However, Khalid ibn Walid taking his cavalry to pursue the retrating coalition forces and inflicted heavy losses to them.