Sieges of Baghdad
There have been at least 8 major sieges of Baghdad.
Sieges of Baghdad | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
Forces of Al-Ma'mun Iraqi Government
Supported by: United States United Kingdom (Air Support) |
Forces of Al Amin Seljuqs of Hamadan Golden Square
Supported by: Iraq | ||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
Al-Ma'mun Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffaq Mu'izz al-Dawla Al-Musta'sim † Tekkelu Muhammad Sultan Khan George W. Bush Tommy Franks Tony Blair Brian Burridge |
Al-Amin † Muhammad b. 'Abdallah Nasir al-Dawla Muhammad II ibn Mahmud Hulagu Khan Murad IV Murat IV Rashid Ali al-Gaylani Saddam Hussein Qusay Hussein Sayf al-Din al-Rawi Ra'ad al-Hamdani | ||||
Strength | |||||
At least 19,000 7000+ unknown number of militias (including Ahdath, Ayyārs and Naffatuns) 50,000 300 troops still loyal to the Safavids and the city commander 40,000 infantry Royal Guard 30,000 |
30,000 Seljuqs 120,000–150,000 Deserted Safavid troops and army that Suleiman brought in winter to Baghdad 35,000 infantry Sixth Army (25,000 men) 3rd Infantry Division 45,000 | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
Unknown Low Unknown 50,000 soldiers Entire garrison Unknown, but small 34 killed 1 A-10 Thunderbolt II shot down 2 M1 Abrams tanks destroyed 17 unarmored vehicles destroyed |
High Unknown but heavy Unknown but believed to be minimal High Over 9,000 taken prisoner 1,700–2,120 killed (Independent estimate) 2,320 killed (U.S. military estimate) |
Abbasid caliphate
- In 812, Caliph Al Ma'mun sent his general Tahir ibn Husayn to capture Baghdad and depose his brother Caliph Al Amin. The siege was successful; Taher captured the city and executed the caliph.
- The Siege of Baghdad (1136) by the Seljuks
- The Siege of Baghdad (1157) in which the Seljuqs of Hamadan along with the Zengid of Mosul unsuccessfully besieged Baghdad.
- The Siege of Baghdad (1258) was a victory for the Mongol leader Hulagu Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan. who captured Baghdad and burnt it to the ground.
Ottoman Empire
- In 1534 Ottoman sultan Suleyman I (the Magnificent) captured the city (see Capture of Baghdad (1534))
- In 1624 Abbas I of Persia (Saffavid dynasty) captured the city (see Capture of Baghdad (1624))
- In 1638 Ottoman sultan Murat IV recaptured the city (see Capture of Baghdad (1638))
Modern era
- The Fall of Baghdad (1917) in which the British and Indian capture of Ottoman-controlled Baghdad during World War I.
- The 2003 invasion of Baghdad with the US capture of Saddam Hussein-controlled Baghdad following the Coalition's invasion of Iraq.