Battle of Baykand

Battle of Baykand
Part of the Muslim conquest of Transoxiana
Map of Khurasan and Transoxiana in the 8th century
Date 729 Location Poykent and Bukhara (modern Uzbekistan) 39°39′43″N 64°04′16″E / 39.662°N 64.071°E / 39.662; 64.071 Result Umayyad victory
Belligerents
Umayyad Caliphate	Türgesh Khaganate and Transoxianian allies
Commanders and leaders
Ashras ibn Abdallah al-Sulami Qatan ibn Qutayba Al-Harith ibn Surayj Ghurak	Suluk

The Battle of Baykand was fought in 729 between the Turkic Türgesh khaganate and its Soghdian allies and the Arabs of the Umayyad Caliphate at Baykand, a town near Bukhara in Transoxiana (in modern Uzbekistan). The Arab army, under the governor of Khurasan Ashras ibn Abdallah al-Sulami, campaigned across the Oxus River to suppress a large-scale rebellion of the subject Soghdian princes that had broken out the previous year and received Türgesh support. As the Arab army advanced on Bukhara, it was encircled by the Türgesh and cut off from water. A series of engagements followed that almost ended in a disaster for the Arabs like the "Day of Thirst" five years earlier, but in the end, through the inspirational bravery of a few Arab leaders and the actions of the vanguard under al-Harith ibn Surayj and Qatan ibn Qutayba, the Arabs broke through and reached Bukhara, which they laid siege to.