(a) Give an account of the Battle of Nihawand. (b) Why was the Battle of Nihawand known as the ‘Victory of Victories'?

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] (a) Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge, given on page 4. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited. The Battle of Nihawand was fought in 642 between the Persians and the Muslims during the caliphate of 'Umar. In his determination to bring back the rich plains of Mesopotamia (Iraq) under his control, Yezdegird rallied support and gathered troops at Nihawand to fight the Muslims.
2. On finding out about Yezdegird's intent 'Umar sent letters to Kufa and Basra ordering the armies to be assembled. The Muslim armies then marched on to Nihawand. One force was stationed on the border between the province of Fars and Isfahan to prevent Persian reinforcements from coming through from the south.
3. The Muslim army of 30 000 was much smaller in size than the Persian army. Both sides however had volunteers in their ranks who had missed the Battle of Qadissiya and were keen to prove themselves in battle.
4. The Persians had located themselves by a ravine and fortified themselves behind trenches. The Muslims in several attempts were unable to lure them out and they only came out from behind their fortified positions when it suited them.
5. In a council of war the Muslims devised a plan on how to lure the Persians out from behind their trenches. It was decided that the Muslim cavalry would advance and attack the trenches and then withdraw to lure the Persians out.
6. The Muslim commander Nau'man ibn Muqarrin kept the main army in check until almost the end of the day and motivated his men by saying that they were fighting for their honour and their faith and when they finally attacked the enemy, victory came swiftly.
7. Most of the army fought on foot with swords; the cavalry began to slip on the blood-soaked ground and the Muslim commander Nau'man was thrown off his horse and killed as well. Despite the adverse conditions the Muslims continued to advance, and the Persians retreated. In the dark, and panicking, many Persians lost their way and fell into the ravine.
8. The surrender of the towns quickly followed the military victory.
9. [4] (b) Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding, given on page 5. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited. Victory at Nihawand gave the Muslims a beautiful country and an ancient civilisation to rule.
10. This victory came to be known as Fath ul Futuh, the Victory of Victories as this was a significant victory in which the chief priest led the post war negotiations and offered a great prize to the Muslims - a large quantity of gems that the king had left for emergencies - in exchange for the lives of the inhabitants.
11. Also, after this victory, 'Umar ordered the invasion of the Persian provinces and by the following year Isfahan, Khurassan, Rayy, Fars and the outlying region of Sindh were conquered.
12. This battle strengthened and enriched the Muslim empire – it made the eastern frontiers more secure and spread Muslim influence both eastwards as well as westwards.