Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

532 HISTORY OF PERSIA chap.
to Medina. The victory which was easily won is known
as the " Battle of the Chains," from the fact that some
of the Persian soldiers were chained together to prevent
flight.
The pursuit that followed nearly led to disaster, thej
victors being met by Persian reinforcements at the great
Tigris canal. For some time the Moslems were in imminent
danger and compelled^ to act on the defensive
but on the arrival of their main body a second victory was
secured, and more spoils rewarded the splendid valour oi
Khalid, who ranks among the great generals and leader*
of men. Yet a third
victory was won at Walaja, near th<
junction of the Tigris and Euphrates, over a combinec
Persian and Arab force, but on this occasion after
desperate contest.
A month later Khalid fought the hardest battle of the
entire campaign. Having marched northward up the
Euphrates he was attacked by a large army composed of
Arabs and Persians at AUis, which lies almost exactly
halfway
between Obolla and Hira. The fight began with a
charge of the Arabs, who fought on behalf of Persia, in
which their leader was slain by Khalid. The Persian army
then attacked, and the issue hung long in the balance
before it inclined to Khalid, who had vowed that his foes'
blood should flow in a crimson stream. To redeem his
savage oath he collected every prisoner for a general
butchery, and the corn of the victorious host was ground
by a crimson river. Khalid continued his march up the
western channel of the Euphrates and surprised Amghisia.
He then used water transport and besieged Hira, which
capitulated in spite of its strength, and was granted easy
terms. This part of the campaign was concluded by the
of Anbar and Ain Tamar to the north.
capture
But the victor was not destined to enjoy repose. An
urgent summons for aid arrived from lyas, who was
attempting to co-operate with him by way of Duma in
the middle of the desert, but who was unable to hold his
own. The arrival of Khalid, fresh from his victories,
changed the entire position, and the hostile tribes were
attacked by the combined forces and defeated with heavy