Among Kutayba’s followers was a certain noble named Nizek, prince of Badghis, and a minister of Jighaya, ruler of Tokharistan, who was in all probability attached temporarily to his court as a prisoner on parole. Nizek had watched Kutayba’s campaigns with keen interest, in the fond hope that he might receive a serious check, and that Transoxiana and Khorasan might be emboldened to throw off the Arab yoke. The great leader’s success in Bokhara convinced the moody rebel of the folly of such anticipations; and he saw only too clearly that the moment had come for the oppressed nationalities of Central Asia to strike a last despairing blow for freedom.128 His first step was to obtain from the unsuspecting Kutayba permission to visit Tokharistan, his next to raise the standard of revolt, which he did on reaching the defiles of Khulm.

As a measure of precaution he sent his valuables for safe keeping to the king of Kabul, whose support he entreated for his arduous enterprise. He sent messengers to the Ispahbad129 of Balkh and to the princes of Merv er-Rud, Talikan, Faryab, and Juzajan, inviting them to join the coalition. All replied in the affirmative. After these negotiations Nizek placed his master Jighaya in chains,130 and dismissed Kutayba’s agent from Tokharistan.

When Kutayba received intimation of this revolt winter was setting in. His army was dispersed, and there only remained with him the contingent supplied by the town of Merv. He sent his brother `Abd er-Rahman, at the head of 2000 men to Balkh, with instructions to remain there inactive till the spring, when he was to proceed to Tokharistan, adding, “Be sure that I shall be near thee.” Towards the end of the winter A.H. 91 (709), Kutayba summoned reinforcements from Abarshahr, Bivard, Sarakhs, and Herat. On their arrival he set out against Talikan, leaving, as was his practice, a trusted follower in charge of the garrison, and another in that of the civil affairs of Merv.131 The first operation was the storming of Merv er-Rud. Its chief had fled, but his two sons who had remained were hanged. At Talikan he met the enemy in the open field, and at the first onslaught the Turks were put to rout by his rear-guard, which was commanded by `Abd er-Rahman. No quarter was given, and all who were not slain outright were hanged,—the line of gibbets extending for a distance of sixteen miles. After appointing an Arab as governor of the town, Kutayba received the submission of Faryab and Juzajan, and placed those towns under one of his lieutenants. He now proceeded to Balkh, where he was peaceably received by the inhabitants; and, after remaining there for a day, advanced into the defiles of Khulm. Meanwhile Nizek had retired to Baghlan and established a camp there, leaving a small force to guard the entrance of the pass. Kutayba halted opposite the castle of Nizek, but found it too strong for reduction. While disheartened at this failure, he received an offer from the king of Rub and Siminjan to point out to him a road leading to the castle in return for an amnesty. Kutayba consented, and, guided by the king, his troops turned the defiles and poured down upon Nizek’s garrison and advance-guard. The Turks were taken at a disadvantage, and all were put to the sword who did not make good their escape. The army of Kutayba now advanced to Siminjan, which was separated by a desert from Baghlan, where Nizek had his fortified camp. Hearing of the approach of Kutayba, the latter retreated to Kerz, a position which was assailable only on one side, and was quite unapproachable for cavalry. Here for two months he sustained a siege, and, as all the approaches were occupied by Kutayba, provisions grew scarce in this retreat. On the other hand, Kutayba dreaded the prospect of remaining in a country so remote and barbarous, and determined to hasten his triumph by the aid of diplomacy. Calling to him a trusted councillor named Sulayman, he ordered him to make his way to Nizek’s camp and endeavour to secure his surrender. Quarter was not to be promised unless it was insisted on, and the messenger was informed that his own fate was at stake. Sulayman, with the certainty of the gallows before him as the result of failure to bring the rebel to terms, obtaining a covering party to guard his retreat, and taking with him several days’ provisions, started for the enemy’s camp.

He was admitted to a parley with Nizek, whom he exhorted to submit to overwhelming force. The prince stipulated for mercy, but was assured that no formal guarantee was necessary. On the understanding that his life would be spared, he surrendered and accompanied Sulayman to Kutayba’s camp. He was at once placed in a tent under strict guard, while his own camp was occupied by the Arab forces. Kutayba then asked instructions from his chief Hajjaj at Basra as to what should be done with the prisoner, and in forty days a reply arrived that he must be put to death. The order was not obeyed without considerable hesitation. For three days Kutayba shut himself up in his tent and held converse with no one. On the fourth he took council with his officers, and all agreed that the breach of faith implied was a just and necessary measure. And so Nizek, with 700 of his followers, was put to death, and their heads were sent to Hajjaj.

The prince of Tokharistan was released from his golden chains and despatched with a retinue to Damascus. The perfidy which Kutayba had practised towards Nizek was too outrageous even for the Arabs, but it was followed by another action scarcely less scandalous. When Kutayba returned to Merv, the king of Juzajan, who had made common cause with Nizek, sent messengers offering his submission on condition that his life should be spared. The terms were agreed to, but Kutayba insisted that the king should present himself in person, and also give hostages. Kutayba, on his side, sent him an Arab hostage named Habib. The king of Juzajan intrusted several members of his own family to Kutayba’s care, and betook himself to Merv, where he concluded a peace with Kutayba. But on his return to his native country he died at Talikan, and the inhabitants, in the belief, real or pretended, that he had been poisoned, slew Habib. On hearing of this Kutayba put all the hostages to death. In the year A.H. 91 (709) Kutayba marched against Shuman, Kesh, and Nakhshab, and after capturing the three towns he sent his brother Rahman to attack the Tarkhun of Soghd. The latter, however, offered to pay tribute, and gave hostages. After accepting this proposal `Abd er-Rahman joined Kutayba in Bokhara, and the two brothers returned to Merv.

Meanwhile the people of Soghd rose against their chief, and set up another named Ghuzek in his stead. The deposed Tarkhun put an end to his own life.

In A.H. 93 (711) Chighan, king of Khwarazm, secretly invited Kutayba to help him against his brother Khorzad, who, though younger than himself, usurped much of his power and appropriated a large share of his possessions. Kutayba, satisfied with the terms offered, arrived unexpectedly at Hazarasp,132 whereupon Khorzad gave himself up, and was handed over as a prisoner to his brother Chighan. After recompensing Kutayba handsomely, he begged him as a further favour to assist him in crushing the king of Khamjerd, who had repeatedly invaded his territory. Kutayba intrusted the operation to his brother, who slew the king, conquered his realm, and brought 4000 slaves to Merv.

Having thus brought his Khwarazmian campaign to a successful termination, Kutayba turned his attention to Soghdiana, which, as related above, had been the theatre of a revolution. He reached Samarkand without adventure, and at once invaded the historic city. The resistance of the Soghdians was most stubborn; they made frequent sorties,133 and defied the besiegers to do their worst. The new king, however, alarmed at the persistence of the Arabs, sent a letter to the king of Shash asking his aid. Two thousand men of Shash set out at once for Samarkand; but Kutayba, hearing of their movements, surprised them in ambuscade and put them to rout. Two days later the king sued for peace. Kutayba agreed to retire on payment of a heavy tribute, but stipulated that he should be allowed to enter the city and build a mosque and inaugurate a religious service. His terms were accepted, but instead of masons he sent 4000 armed Arabs to uproot idolatry. All the graven images of Samarkand were burned, Kutayba himself commencing the conflagration and inaugurating the auto-da-fÉ.

The hostility of Shash was not forgotten. At the beginning of A.H. 94 (712) Kutayba set out from Merv, crossed the Oxus, and marched against Shash and Farghana at the head of a large army.134 The expedition resulted in the reduction of the towns of Shash, Khojand, and Kashan on terms similar to those accorded to the people of Samarkand.135

In A.H. 96 (714) Kutayba set out on his last expedition. He carried the Mohammedan arms farther east than any of his predecessors had done; and, though his conquests on the borders of China were not of a permanent nature, he established an eastern frontier to Islam which has never since been encroached on. Before setting out on this last campaign Kutayba received news of the death of the Caliph Welid, and the succession of Sulayman his brother. As he knew that the Caliph was his enemy he136 took the precaution of carrying his family with him to Samarkand, where they were placed in safe keeping. On this expedition Kutayba reached, and apparently entered, Kashghar, but though it is stated that he conquered the province, we have no particulars of an engagement of any kind.