The battle of Samura (327 AH)

وقعة سمورة (٣٢٧هـ)

Shawwal 327 AH

Samura

al-Nasir's hundred-thousand-strong expedition against king Rudhmir of the Jalaliqa at Samura in Shawwal 327, three days after the month's eclipse — initially a Muslim victory, it turned when the besieged sortied and killed some fifty thousand after they had crossed the ditch; Umayya ibn Ishaq supposedly dissuaded Rudhmir from pursuing the survivors 1.

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Era
Abbasid Fragmentation
Region
al-Andalus & Europe
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Wars and campaignsBattles

Overview

A battle took place at Samura in Shawwal 327 AH between Abd al-Rahman al-Nasir, ruler of al-Andalus, and Rudhmir, king of the Jalaliqa (Galicians). al-Mas'udi says that the army of al-Nasir reached a hundred thousand or more, and that it took place three days after an eclipse of the sun in that month. 2

How the battle went

al-Mas'udi relates that at first the victory was with the Muslims, then they were besieged and entered the town. After they crossed the ditch, about fifty thousand of them were killed. 2

After the battle

al-Mas'udi relates a report that Umayya ibn Ishaq prevented Rudhmir from pursuing the survivors, warning him of an ambush and encouraging him toward the wealth of the camp. Then Abd al-Rahman sent his armies against the Jalaliqa, and twice as many of them perished as of the Muslims who had been killed. 2

The date is reported from al-Mas'udi alone, and it needs an additional source.

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Had participant
عبد الرحمن الناصر لدين الله الأموي· Rudhmir king of the Jalaliqa
Occurred at
Samura

People and things also explored

تلقب عبد الرحمن الناصر بأمير المؤمنين· سفارات أوروبا إلى الناصر بالزهراء· هزيمة بلنجر (32هـ)· The Conquest of Khaybar· The Battle of the Trench (al-Ahzab)· The Conquest of Mecca (Fath Makka)· غزوة ذات الصواري (31هـ)· The Expedition of Banu al-Mustaliq (al-Muraysi')

Sources

  1. Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p. 359-360
  2. Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p.359-360
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The battle of Samura (327 AH)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/battle-of-samura-327/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.

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تلقب عبد الرحمن الناصر بأمير المؤمنين

When the umma's affairs weakened, the Abbasid pillars tottered and the Qarmatians and innovators overran the provinces, the Andalusian amir Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad the Umayyad grew resolute: 'I am the worthiest of the caliphate' — he styled himself amir al-mu'minin al-Nasir li-Din Allah, mastered most of al-Andalus, rooted out the usurpers and took seventy fortresses. Now there were three men in the world called amir al-mu'minin: the Abbasid in Baghdad, this one in al-Andalus, and the Mahdi at Qayrawan.