Recently, many people have been talking about the comparison of casualties in the Battle of Talas, and they want some specific data. Therefore, it has to be said that they are very professional. The specific data of casualties on both sides in the Battle of Talas will be brought to you by the editor. If you are interested, you can take a look together. There is no big problem.
1、 Comparison of casualties in the Battle of Talas
(Two statements)
1. 70000 casualties on the Arab side; The Tang army suffered 15000 casualties.
2. 30000 casualties on the Arab side; The Tang army suffered 8000 casualties.
2、 The forces of the participating parties in the Battle of Talas
(3 statements)
1. 200000 Arabs; The Tang army had 20000 soldiers.
2. 70000 Arabs; The Tang army had 10000 soldiers.
3. The Arabs initially had 200000 troops, and later increased their troops to 300000; The Tang Dynasty Expeditionary Force consisted of 24000 soldiers.
3、 Introduction to the Battle of Talas
Talas, located near Taraz in present-day Kazakhstan. The famous Battle of Talas broke out in 751 AD, between the Tang Empire (Tang Dynasty) and the Arab Empire (Black clothed Great Food). So it is called the strongest battle between empires in history.
1. Background of the Campaign
From the 6th to the 8th century AD, there were three empires on the Eurasian continent, namely the Byzantine Empire, the Arab Empire, and the Tang Empire. After going through the reigns of Emperor Taizong, Emperor Gaozong, and Emperor Xuanzong, the Tang Empire successively established a Western Regions governance system in Central Asia, with the Anxi Protectorate and the Beiting Protectorate as the core. Almost at the same time, Arab populations in the Middle East were rapidly rising and expanding through wars into an unprecedented empire spanning across three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. After annexing the entire West Asia and most of Central Asia, the Arabs began to make contact with the Tang Empire, but did not cross its borders. In the third year of Kaiyuan (715 AD), the Arab alliance with Tubo launched an attack on the Central Asian country of Balkhana on the Syr Darya River, but was defeated by the Tang army. This was the first military confrontation between the Tang Empire and the Arab Empire.
In the ninth year of the Tianbao era (750 AD), Gao Xianzhi launched a military campaign against the state of Shiguo, citing the lack of official etiquette. Shi Guo surrendered, but Gao Xianzhi broke his promise and kidnapped the king to present to Emperor Xuanzong, and led his army to massacre the city. The prince of the Stone Kingdom, who narrowly escaped, sought help from the Abbasid dynasty in Arabia. In 751, Gao Xianzhi took the initiative to launch a preemptive attack and led a 30000 strong coalition army on a long journey. In the end, they encountered the army of Da Shi in Talas, and the Tang army suffered a major defeat.
The Battle of Talas was an inevitable consequence of the expansion of the two major empires in the East and the West.
2. The impact of battles
2.1 Impact on the Tang Empire. This battle had almost no impact on the territory of the Tang Dynasty. Although the Tang Dynasty was defeated, it still controlled the Western Regions and continued to expand. Just a few years later, the “An Lushan Rebellion” broke out, and in order to quell the Tang Empire, the elite troops from the Western Regions were transferred eastward. From then on, the influence of the Tang Dynasty in Central Asia gradually lost.
2.2 Impact on the Arab Empire. This victory was the only time for the Arab Empire to defeat the Anxi army in several border conflicts with the Tang Dynasty.
2.3 Promoted cultural exchange between the East and the West. Many captured Tang soldiers came to the Arab Empire, among whom were excellent craftsmen who imparted the advanced science, technology, and skills of the Tang Dynasty to the Arabs, promoting the development of science and culture in the Arab Empire. Arabs also introduced advanced science and technology from China to Europe, promoting the development and progress of the West.
2.4 Changed the religious landscape in Central Asia. After the Tang Empire withdrew from Central Asia, the Arab Empire’s rule over the region opened a new page in its history. The people of Central Asia began to convert to Islam, and Islamic civilization took root on this land and has continued to this day.
The scale of the Battle of Talas was not large, only a skirmish. Both sides did not invest all their troops, so they did not fundamentally shake each other’s foundations.
