KUTAYBA’S LAST CAMPAIGNS
Among Kutayba’s followers was a certain noble named Nīzek, prince of
Bādghīs, and a minister of Jighāya, ruler of Tokhāristān, who was in
all probability attached temporarily to his court as a prisoner on
parole. Nīzek had watched Kutayba’s campaigns with keen interest,
in the fond hope that he might receive a serious check, and that
Transoxiana and Khorāsān might be emboldened to throw off the Arab
yoke. The great leader’s success in Bokhārā convinced the moody rebel
of the folly of such anticipations; and he saw only too clearly that
the moment had come for the oppressed nationalities of Central Asia to
strike a last despairing blow for freedom.[128] His first step was to
obtain from the unsuspecting Kutayba permission to visit Tokhāristān,
his next to raise the standard of revolt, which he did on reaching the
defiles of Khulm.
As a measure of precaution he sent his valuables for safe keeping
to the king of Kābul, whose support he entreated for his arduous
enterprise. He sent messengers to the _Ispahbad_[129] of Balkh and to
the princes of Merv er-Rūd, Tālikān, Fāryāb, and Jūzajān, inviting
them to join the coalition. All replied in the affirmative. After
these negotiations Nīzek placed his master Jighāya in chains,[130] and
dismissed Kutayba’s agent from Tokhāristān.
When Kutayba received intimation of this revolt winter was setting
in. His army was dispersed, and there only remained with him the
contingent supplied by the town of Merv. He sent his brother `Abd
er-Rahmān, at the head of 2000 men to Balkh, with instructions to
remain there inactive till the spring, when he was to proceed to
Tokhāristān, adding, “Be sure that I shall be near thee.” Towards the
end of the winter A.H. 91 (709), Kutayba summoned reinforcements from
Abarshahr, Bīvard, Sarakhs, and Herāt. On their arrival he set out
against Tālikān, leaving, as was his practice, a trusted follower in
charge of the garrison, and another in that of the civil affairs of
Merv.[131] The first operation was the storming of Merv er-Rūd. Its
chief had fled, but his two sons who had remained were hanged. At
Tālikān he met the enemy in the open field, and at the first onslaught
the Turks were put to rout by his rear-guard, which was commanded
by `Abd er-Rahmān. No quarter was given, and all who were not slain
outright were hanged,--the line of gibbets extending for a distance
of sixteen miles. After appointing an Arab as governor of the town,
Kutayba received the submission of Fāryāb and Jūzajān, and placed those
towns under one of his lieutenants. He now proceeded to Balkh, where he
was peaceably received by the inhabitants; and, after remaining there
for a day, advanced into the defiles of Khulm. Meanwhile Nīzek had
retired to Baghlān and established a camp there, leaving a small force
to guard the entrance of the pass. Kutayba halted opposite the castle
of Nīzek, but found it too strong for reduction. While disheartened at
this failure, he received an offer from the king of Rūb and Siminjān
to point out to him a road leading to the castle in return for an
amnesty. Kutayba consented, and, guided by the king, his troops turned
the defiles and poured down upon Nīzek’s garrison and advance-guard.
The Turks were taken at a disadvantage, and all were put to the sword
who did not make good their escape. The army of Kutayba now advanced
to Siminjān, which was separated by a desert from Baghlān, where
Nīzek had his fortified camp. Hearing of the approach of Kutayba, the
latter retreated to Kerz, a position which was assailable only on one
side, and was quite unapproachable for cavalry. Here for two months he
sustained a siege, and, as all the approaches were occupied by Kutayba,
provisions grew scarce in this retreat. On the other hand, Kutayba
dreaded the prospect of remaining in a country so remote and barbarous,
and determined to hasten his triumph by the aid of diplomacy. Calling
to him a trusted councillor named Sulaymān, he ordered him to make his
way to Nīzek’s camp and endeavour to secure his surrender. Quarter was
not to be promised unless it was insisted on, and the messenger was
informed that his own fate was at stake. Sulaymān, with the certainty
of the gallows before him as the result of failure to bring the rebel
to terms, obtaining a covering party to guard his retreat, and taking
with him several days’ provisions, started for the enemy’s camp.
He was admitted to a parley with Nīzek, whom he exhorted to submit to
overwhelming force. The prince stipulated for mercy, but was assured
that no formal guarantee was necessary. On the understanding that his
life would be spared, he surrendered and accompanied Sulaymān to
Kutayba’s camp. He was at once placed in a tent under strict guard,
while his own camp was occupied by the Arab forces. Kutayba then asked
instructions from his chief Hajjāj at Basra as to what should be done
with the prisoner, and in forty days a reply arrived that he must be
put to death. The order was not obeyed without considerable hesitation.
For three days Kutayba shut himself up in his tent and held converse
with no one. On the fourth he took council with his officers, and
all agreed that the breach of faith implied was a just and necessary
measure. And so Nīzek, with 700 of his followers, was put to death, and
their heads were sent to Hajjāj.
The prince of Tokhāristān was released from his golden chains and
despatched with a retinue to Damascus. The perfidy which Kutayba had
practised towards Nīzek was too outrageous even for the Arabs, but it
was followed by another action scarcely less scandalous. When Kutayba
returned to Merv, the king of Jūzajān, who had made common cause with
Nīzek, sent messengers offering his submission on condition that his
life should be spared. The terms were agreed to, but Kutayba insisted
that the king should present himself in person, and also give hostages.
Kutayba, on his side, sent him an Arab hostage named Habīb. The king
of Jūzajān intrusted several members of his own family to Kutayba’s
care, and betook himself to Merv, where he concluded a peace with
Kutayba. But on his return to his native country he died at Tālikān,
and the inhabitants, in the belief, real or pretended, that he had been
poisoned, slew Habīb. On hearing of this Kutayba put all the hostages
to death. In the year A.H. 91 (709) Kutayba marched against Shūmān,
Kesh, and Nakhshab, and after capturing the three towns he sent his
brother Rahmān to attack the Tarkhūn of Soghd. The latter, however,
offered to pay tribute, and gave hostages. After accepting this
proposal `Abd er-Rahmān joined Kutayba in Bokhārā, and the two brothers
returned to Merv.
Meanwhile the people of Soghd rose against their chief, and set up
another named Ghūzek in his stead. The deposed Tarkhūn put an end to
his own life.
In A.H. 93 (711) Chighān, king of Khwārazm, secretly invited Kutayba
to help him against his brother Khorzād, who, though younger than
himself, usurped much of his power and appropriated a large share of
his possessions. Kutayba, satisfied with the terms offered, arrived
unexpectedly at Hazārasp,[132] whereupon Khorzād gave himself up,
and was handed over as a prisoner to his brother Chighān. After
recompensing Kutayba handsomely, he begged him as a further favour to
assist him in crushing the king of Khāmjerd, who had repeatedly invaded
his territory. Kutayba intrusted the operation to his brother, who slew
the king, conquered his realm, and brought 4000 slaves to Merv.
Having thus brought his Khwārazmian campaign to a successful
termination, Kutayba turned his attention to Soghdiana, which, as
related above, had been the theatre of a revolution. He reached
Samarkand without adventure, and at once invaded the historic city.
The resistance of the Soghdians was most stubborn; they made frequent
sorties,[133] and defied the besiegers to do their worst. The new king,
however, alarmed at the persistence of the Arabs, sent a letter to
the king of Shāsh asking his aid. Two thousand men of Shāsh set out at
once for Samarkand; but Kutayba, hearing of their movements, surprised
them in ambuscade and put them to rout. Two days later the king sued
for peace. Kutayba agreed to retire on payment of a heavy tribute, but
stipulated that he should be allowed to enter the city and build a
mosque and inaugurate a religious service. His terms were accepted, but
instead of masons he sent 4000 armed Arabs to uproot idolatry. All the
graven images of Samarkand were burned, Kutayba himself commencing the
conflagration and inaugurating the _auto-da-fé_.
The hostility of Shāsh was not forgotten. At the beginning of A.H. 94
(712) Kutayba set out from Merv, crossed the Oxus, and marched against
Shāsh and Farghāna at the head of a large army.[134] The expedition
resulted in the reduction of the towns of Shāsh, Khojand, and Kāshān on
terms similar to those accorded to the people of Samarkand.[135]
In A.H. 96 (714) Kutayba set out on his last expedition. He carried
the Mohammedan arms farther east than any of his predecessors had
done; and, though his conquests on the borders of China were not of a
permanent nature, he established an eastern frontier to Islam which
has never since been encroached on. Before setting out on this last
campaign Kutayba received news of the death of the Caliph Welīd, and
the succession of Sulaymān his brother. As he knew that the Caliph
was his enemy he[136] took the precaution of carrying his family
with him to Samarkand, where they were placed in safe keeping. On
this expedition Kutayba reached, and apparently entered, Kāshghar,
but though it is stated that he conquered the province, we have no
particulars of an engagement of any kind.