The Muslim victory at Fahl opened the Jordan Valley to the Rashidun Caliphate and led to the capture of Pella, Beisan, and Tiberias.
Key Facts
- Date
- December 634 or January 635
- Location
- Pella (Fahl) and Scythopolis (Beisan), Jordan Valley
- Byzantine tactic
- Cut irrigation ditches to flood and impede Muslim cavalry
- Byzantine prior defeat
- Routed at Battle of Ajnadayn before regrouping at Pella
- Cities subsequently taken
- Pella, Beisan, Tiberias
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After their defeat at the Battle of Ajnadayn, Byzantine forces retreated and regrouped near Pella and Scythopolis in the Jordan Valley. The Rashidun Muslim army pursued them there, prompting the Byzantines to flood the terrain by cutting irrigation ditches in an attempt to impede the advancing Muslim cavalry and buy time to reorganize their defenses.
Arab Muslim forces of the Rashidun Caliphate engaged the regrouped Byzantine army at or near Pella and Scythopolis in December 634 or January 635. Despite the waterlogged and muddied ground created by the Byzantine flooding tactic, which hampered Muslim cavalry movement, the Muslims pressed their assault and ultimately defeated the Byzantine forces, who suffered reported enormous casualties.
Following the battle, Pella was captured outright, while Beisan and nearby Tiberias capitulated after brief sieges conducted by Muslim detachments. The victory secured Rashidun control over the Jordan Valley and accelerated the broader Muslim conquest of Byzantine Syria.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent