Saracen Conquest
The Saracen Conquest refers to the military campaigns led by Muslim forces, particularly during the early 7th century, to capture regions including Egypt from Byzantine control. This period was marked by significant tensions between different religious communities, notably between the indigenous Coptic Christians and the Orthodox Byzantine Church, which shaped local responses to the invasion. The main figure in the Egyptian campaign was General ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ, whose efforts resulted in key victories, including the surrender of Babylon and the capture of Alexandria. Islamic historians like Balādhurī and Ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥakam document these events, while Coptic bishop John of Nikiou offers a Christian perspective on the conquest. The success of the Muslim forces not only secured vital resources for the emerging Islamic empire but also facilitated further expansions into North Africa. Overall, the Saracen Conquest significantly influenced the political and religious landscape of the region, establishing a foundation for subsequent Islamic governance.
Saracen Conquest
Also known as: Islamic conquest of Egypt; Muslim conquest of Egypt.
Date: 600-700 c.e.
Locale: Egypt
Background
The Muslim and Christian accounts of the conquest both imply that the Egyptians were at times partial to the Arabs because of continued conflict between the indigenous, monophysite Coptic Church and the orthodox Byzantine Church in Constantinople. Balādhurī and Ibn ՙAbd al-Ḥakam are the two main Islamic historians of the conquest of Egypt. Their accounts are supported in part by John of Nikiou, a Coptic bishop, who wrote a Christian chronicle that includes a short section presenting an Egyptian Christian perspective on the events.
Action
The conquest of Egypt was led by the general ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ, who led the battle for Egypt in the Delta region (639 c.e.) and negotiated for the surrender of Babylon (641/642 c.e.) and later for Alexandria (642 c.e.). Despite caliph ՙUmar ibn al-Khaṭtāb’s initial reluctance to support ՙAmr’s invasion, the general convinced the caliph of the value of extending Muslim control into Africa and issued a decisive defeat against the Byzantine emperor, Heraclius.
Consequences
The conquest of Egypt provided a dependable food supply that could sustain the needs of an emerging Islamic empire. Egypt’s proximity to Arabia proved useful for subsequent conquests into North Africa.
Bibliography
Butler, Alfred J. The Arab Conquest of Egypt. Brooklyn, N.Y.: A & B Publishing Group, 1992.
Donner, Fred M. The Early Islamic Conquests. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1981.