Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

Battle of Marj al-Rahit

Battle of Marj al-Rahit was a battle fought on 18 August AD 684 at Marj Rahit, in what is now Syria. It was part of Second Fitna, which ran from AD 680 to AD 692. The recorded result: Umayyad victory. Recorded strength: 6,000 or 13,000, mostly infantry against 30,000 or 60,000, mostly cavalry.

See it on the globe Read the article

Fought18 August AD 684
WhereMarj Rahit, Syria33.584N, 36.462E
OutcomeUmayyad victory
BelligerentsUmayyad Caliphate; Banu Kalb; Kindites; Ghassanids; Banu Tayy; Banu al-Qayn; Tanukh; Banu Judham (Banu Wa'il branch)againstZubayrid Caliphate; Banu Sulaym; Banu Amir; Ghatafan; Bahila; Himyarites; Banu Ghani; Banu Judham (Banu Sa'd branch)
Part ofSecond FitnaAD 680 to AD 692

Where it sits in Second Fitna

Battle of Karbala, AD 680Battle of al-Harrah, AD 683Siege of Mecca, AD 683Battle of Marj al-Rahit, AD 684Battle of Ayn al-Warda, AD 684Battle of Sala and Salbara, AD 685Battle of Khazir, AD 686Battle of Maskin, AD 691Siege of Mecca, AD 692AD 680AD 692Battle of Marj al-Rahit, AD 684
9 placed engagements of Second Fitna in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date18 August AD 684
PlaceMarj Rahit, Syria
33.584N, 36.462E
KindBattle, medieval
Strength6,000 or 13,000, mostly infantry30,000 or 60,000, mostly cavalry
Casualties and losses80 nobles
Commanders
  • Al-Dahhak ibn Qays al-Fihri
  • Zufar ibn al-Harith al-Kilabi
  • Nu'man ibn Bashir
  • Natil ibn Qays
Battle of Marj al-RahitBattle of Marj al-RahitBattle of Marj RahitCharge at Khan AyashCapture of DamascusSiege of DamascusSiege of DamascusCharge at Khan AyashCapture of DamascusSiege of DamascusBeirutHomsṬarābulusHaifaNazarethAs SuwaydaTadmurAd Nabk100 km33.584N, 36.462E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 3 times between AD 634 and 1918.

In the same war

Battle of Marj al-Rahit is one of 179 engagements of the 7th century in the atlas and one of 133 in present-day Syria.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2281774, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Marj Rahit (684), revision 1380476064, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.