From the Arabian historians of these events we may gather that thus far the Saracen armies were little better than a fanatic mob.  Many of the men fought naked.  It was not unusual for a warrior to stand forth in front and challenge an antagonist to mortal duel.  Nay, more, even the women engaged in the combats.  Picturesque narratives have been handed down to us relating the gallant manner in which they acquitted themselves.

Fall of Jerusalem.  From Damascus the Saracen army advanced northward, guided by the snow-clad peaks of Libanus and the beautiful river Orontes.  It captured on its way Baalbec, the capital of the Syrian valley, and Emesa, the chief city of the eastern plain.  To resist its further progress, Heraclius collected an army of one hundred and forty thousand men.  A battle took place at Yermuck; the right wing of the Saracens was broken, but the soldiers were driven back to the field by the fanatic expostulations of their women.  The conflict ended in the complete overthrow of the Roman army.  Forty thousand were taken prisoners, and a vast number killed.  The whole country now lay open to the victors.  The advance of their army had been east of the Jordan.  It was clear that, before Asia Minor could be touched, the strong and important cities of Palestine, which was now in their rear, must be secured.  There was a difference of opinion among the generals in the field as to whether Caesarea or Jerusalem should be assailed first.  The matter was referred to the khalif, who, rightly preferring the moral advantages of the capture of Jerusalem to the military advantages of the capture of Caesarea, ordered the Holy City to be taken, and that at any cost.  Close siege was therefore laid to it.  The inhabitants, remembering the atrocities inflicted by the Persians, and the indignities that had been offered to the Savior’s sepulchre, prepared now for a vigorous defense.  But, after an investment of four months, the Patriarch Sophronius appeared on the wall, asking terms of capitulation.  There had been misunderstandings among the generals at the capture of Damascus, followed by a massacre of the fleeing inhabitants.  Sophronius, therefore, stipulated that the surrender of Jerusalem should take place in presence of the khalif himself Accordingly, Omar, the khalif, came from Medina for that purpose.  He journeyed on a red camel, carrying a bag of corn and one of dates, a wooden dish, and a leathern water-bottle.  The Arab conqueror entered the Holy City riding by the side of the Christian patriarch and the transference of the capital of Christianity to the representative of Mohammedanism was effected without tumult or outrage.  Having ordered that a mosque should be built on the site of the temple of Solomon, the khalif returned to the tomb of the Prophet at Medina.