In 751, the Battle of Talas was fought between the Abbasids under Ziyad ibn Salih against the Tang under Gao Xianzhi during the Wars of Arab Expansion.
Why did it happen?
In 618, the Tang Dynasty overthrew the Sui Dynasty to become the new rulers of China. Under their rule, China entered a Golden Age of cultural and military splendour. Under Emperor Xuanzong (712-756), the Tang extended their influence westward into Central Asia. In 750, the Abbasid Dynasty replaced the Umayyad Dynasty as the ruler of the Islamic Caliphate, which stretched from Spain in the west to Afghanistan in the east. As stated by R.G. Grant, “A confrontation with Arab armies carrying the Islamic faith eastward was almost inevitable” (Grant, 2011, p.118). When a Tang army under Gao Xianzhi crossed the Pamir Mountains, the local Uighur rulers appealed to the newly installed Abbasids to protect them. In July 751, the Arab and Chinese armies confronted each other on the banks of the Talas River.
Who was involved?
The Abbasid army at Talas numbered 40,000 infantry and cavalry. The infantry was arrayed in the centre, with cavalry on the flanks and archers in the vanguard. Ziyad ibn Salih commanded a small cavalry force in the rear. The Tang army at Talas numbered 10,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry. Like the Abbasid army, the Chinese infantry was arrayed in the centre with 18,000 Turkish cavalry on both flanks. In addition, archers and crossbowmen were arrayed in front of the infantry, while Gao Xianzhi led a force of 2,000 Chinese cavalry in the rear.
What happened?
Both sides began the battle with arrow fire between their archers. The Tang archers and crossbowmen inflicted heavier casualties on the Abbasid archers, who retreated behind their infantry. As the Abbasid and Tang infantry engaged each other, the Tang infantry, equipped with better armour, began gaining the upper hand over the more lightly-armed Arabs. At the height of the battle, 18,000 Turkish cavalry in the Tang army betrayed Gao Xianzhi and attacked his Chinese infantry in the rear. Seeing his army surrounded, Gao Xianzhi fled with his bodyguard of 2,000 cavalry, leaving behind 8,000 killed or captured. Abbasid casualties numbered 10,000 killed.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of Talas was an Abbasid victory. In many ways, the battle was a turning point in world history. While in the east, the Tang Dynasty began an inexorable decline from 755 onwards, in the west, the Abbasid Caliphate profited. In addition to the Turkish and Iranian peoples of Central Asia converting to Islam, Chinese prisoners captured in the battle introduced paper to the Islamic World, from whence it spread to Christian Europe. The Tang dynasty collapsed in 907, while the Abbasid Caliphate lasted until 1258, when its capital, Baghdad, fell to the Mongols.
Bibliography
Grant, R.G. 1001 Battles That Changed the Course of History. London, Cassell Illustrated, 2011.
Grant, R.G. Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat. London, Dorling Kindersley, 2005.
HistoryMarche. “Battle of Talas, 751 AD: Part 2/2.” YouTube video, 12:03. June 28, 2020. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7joMVV_IFpc
Kings and Generals. “Battle of Talas 751 - Abbasid - Tang War DOCUMENTARY.” YouTube video, 9:05. February 19, 2018. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9UhfRKAOc
Comentarios