Siege of Bilistan

The Siege of Bilistan was conducted by Marwan ibn Muhammad in response to Arbis Ibn Basbas, King of Lakzan, refusing to heed the summons of the Caucasian feudal lords to Derbent. Arbis refused to submit to the Caliphate's expansion in the Eastern Caucasus, resulting in Marwan's invasion of Lakzan.

After reaching the fortress of Bilistan, located in the middle reaches of the Samur River, Marwan began besieging the city. The mountainous terrain surrounding the fortress gave the defenders an advantage during the early stages of the siege, resulting in heavy Arab casualties and prolonging the siege.

According to one account, Arbis left the fortress at night with a group of his men to seek assistance from the Khazar ruler. Along the way, he set up camp and ordered his men to take a sheep from a shepherd and slaughter it for food. The shepherd, unaware of Arbis's identity, shot him with a bow, killing him.

Although Arbis's resistance prolonged the Arab campaign in Lakzan, the fortress of Bilistan eventually fell after prolonged resistance to the Arab forces.