Battle of Istakhr (650–653)

The Battle of Istakhr was fought in 650 between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Sasanian Empire. It was the last battle between the both states, and ended with the city of Istakhr being sacked by the Muslims. After the battle, Persia came under Muslim rule.

Battle of Istakhr
Part of the Muslim conquest of Persia
Date650
Location
Estakhr, Iran
Result

Rashidun Caliphate victory

  • Collapse of the Sasanian Empire
  • End of the Muslim conquest of Persia
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Sasanian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Salman the Persian
Strength
+40,000
Casualties and losses
40,000

Battle

In 650–51, the Sasanian emperor Yazdegerd III made Estakhr, which is approximately 8 km northeast of Persepolis, the new capital of Sassanian Empire and tried to plan an organized resistance against the Arabs; and after some time he went to Gor, but Estakhr failed to put up a strong resistance. The Muslim leader Salman the Persian, who had knowledge of Sasanian tactics, instructed the Muslim forces to dig a large trench in the path of the Sasanian forces.[1] This strategy prevented the Sasanians to from succeeding in the battle. The city was soon sacked by the Muslims, who killed over 40,000 defenders. The Muslims then quickly seized Gor, Kazerun and Siraf, while Yazdegerd III fled to Kerman. Thus ended the Muslim conquest of Fars; however, the series of revolts still haunted the town until it was pacified for once by AD 693 and the status as provincial capital was moved to Shiraz.[2]

Notes
  1. Kambin 2011, p. 24.
  2. Iran By Andrew Burke

Bibliography
  • Kambin, Parviz (2011). A History of the Iranian Plateau: Rise and Fall of an Empire. iUniverse. ISBN 9781462035465.
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