MS03 Battle of Ajnadayn (July 634)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
After Walaja, Khalid ibn al-Walid’s successes against the Sassanids at Muzzayah and Firaz lent full control of the southern region of the Euphrates to the rising Rashidun Caliphate where Khalid set up his new administration. The caliph, Abu Bakr, then ordered Khalid to cease his offensive against the Sassanids and turn instead to Syria to confront the Byzantine Romans. Roman Syria and the Levant were dangerously vulnerable after a quarter century of conflict, so the Muslim general headed west and south across the desert, neutralizing outlying Roman garrisons and strongholds. Abu Bakr sent reinforcements northward from Arabia where they met with Khalid’s army at Bosra. After the fall of Bosra, Roman Emperor Heraclius dispatched his brother Theodore to eliminate the Muslim threat. With him went an Armenian general named Vardan. They met at Ajnadayn, twenty-five miles southeast of Jerusalem, where Theodore’s army was slightly outnumbered by Khalid’s reinforced army. This would be the first major pitched battle of Muslims against the Byzantine Romans.

War Council

Arabs (Tan blocks, Rashidan Inspired Actions)
Leaders: Khalid ibn al-Walid, Abu Ubaydah, Amr ibn al-As, Dhirrar ibn al-Azwar
Command Cards: 5    
Inspiration Tokens: 4    
Break Through Their Lines: The Arab player begins with Double Time card

Byzantine Romans (Purple blocks, Byzantine Inspired Actions)
Leaders: Theodore, Vardan    
Command Cards: 4    
Inspiration Tokens: 2    
Move First
Superior Firepower: The Byzantine player begins with Darken the Sky card

Victory: 5 banners

Special Rules
*The Sword of Allah: An Arab medium cavalry unit may move 4 hexes when ordered by a Mounted Charge card or inspired action
*Byzantine Heavy cavalry do not have bows