Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

1) The Christian armies arrive in Syria
Part 3:
'Yarmuk
Herac1ius could hardly breathe out of shock when he heard that the Muslims had
conquered Him§, ar-Rastan and Shayzar and had seized all the gifts he had sent for
Herbius. He now awaited the arrival of the armies from the ends of the Roman
Empire. He had written to all Christians asking them to come to his aid. Within a
short while they started arriving. So numerous were they that the vanguard was with
him at Antioch while the rear stretched out to Great Rumiyah. He sent an army to
Caesarea on the Syrian coast to defend Acre and Tiberias. He sent another to Baytul
Muqaddas while he awaited the arrival of the army of Bannes, King of Armenia.
Bannes had raised an army in Armenia which surpassed all that which the other
nations of the Empire had gathered. Bannes arrived with all his officials to meet
Herac1ius. When they neared the town they dismounted and went on foot out of
respect for Herac1ius.They began uttering words of Disbelief, weeping and mourning
over the territories lost to the Muslims.
Herac1ius stopped them and said, "0 followers of Christianity, 0 sons of Holy Water,
I had warned you about these' Arabs but none of you accepted my words. By Christ!
By the True Bible! By the Communion! By the Baptism! These 'Arabs will definitely
rule the ground beneath my throne! Crying is inappropriate except for women. Such
an army has gathered which no king on the face of the Earth can oppose. I have spent
my wealth and manpower to defend you, your religion and your women. Repent unto
Christ for all your sins. Do only good unto our subjects and do not oppress them. Be
patient in battle and do not fight each other. Beware of vanity and jealousy for when
these two qualities descend upon a nation they end up helpless (against their
enemies). I now have a question to which you must respond."
So the Roman leaders and princes said, "Ask whatever you want to, 0 Caesar."
Heraclius : You are today better equipped and have more support than the 'Arabs.
You have more men and tents and power than them. So why is it that you are being
defeated whereas the Persians, Turks and Jaramiqah feared your fighting powers.
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