Rome's last stand in Egypt - Battle of Heliopolis, 640 AD - Arab conquest of Egypt

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🚩Big thanks to Eastern Roman History and Warhawk for collaborating with me on this video. Check out their awesome history content:

🎼 Music:
Instinct - Bensound
Impact Allegretto - Kevin MacLeod
Crypto - Kevin MacLeod
Epidemic Sound
Filmstro

📚 Primary sources:
Al Baladhuri, The Origins of the Islamic State, translated by Philip K. Hittil, Vols. II (New York: Columbia University, 1916).
History of the Patriarchs, Severus ibn al Muqaffaʿ, Alexandrinische Patriarchengeschichte von S. Marcus bis Michael I 61-767, nach der ältesten 1266 geschriebenen Hamburger Handschrift im arabischen Urtext, edited by C. F. Seybold (Hamburg, 1912).
John of Nikiu, The Chronicle of John Bishop of Nikiu, translated by R. H. Charles (London: Williams and Norgate, 1913).

📚 Scholarship:
Booth, P., 'The Muslim Conquest of Egypt Reconsidered' in Zuckerman, C. Constructing the Seventh Century, (Paris, 2013). 639-670.
Butler, A. J., The Arab Conquest of Egypt and the Last Thirty Years of Roman Dominion, Reprint 1978 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1902).
Howard-Johnston, J., Witnesses to a World Crisis: Historians and Histories of the Middle East in the Seventh Century, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010).

#byzantine #documentary #historymarche

[HistoryMarche]

🚩 Join over 4 million people who’ve met with a therapist on BetterHelp and started living a healthier, happier life.

[abdullahshah]

A small correction concerning the map.
By the time Amr invaded egypt, Mesopotamia was firmly in arab control.
By the time of Umar's assassination, the whole of persia was conquered.

[KGF-zfqj]

Fun fact: During the march on Egypt, Amr ibn al-As, known as the cunning of the Arabs, received an important letter from Caliph Umar.
Amr deliberately delayed opening the letter until he entered Egypt. When he finally read it, the message simply said: "If you are already in Egypt then continue with the blessing of god, but If not, halt your advance and return with your army."

[EasternRomanHistory]

It was a great honour to research and write the script for this episode. I received some help from the HistoryMarche team and helped story board the campaign and the big fights.

I am very happy with the final result.

[alvirarahman]

Fun fact: Amr ibn Al-'As actually barely had 4000 men in the beginning of the expedition and was forbidden by Umar (R) to enter Egypt, but Amr ibn Al-'As didn't open the letter sent by Umar (R) forbidding him that, and went on with mere 4000 men. Upon arriving inside Egypt, he requested for more men, and was given 4000 more. Just before arriving in Heliopolis, Amr ibn Al-'As was given 4000 more men, totalling his soldier count to 12000 which was nothing compared to 20, 000++ Romans he had to face. Amr ibn Al-'As wasn't even a military officer btw, he was just another Arab tradesmen, he just happened to know and understand Egypt because of years trading with Egypt.

[-t]

Amr ibn Al-'As then wrote to 'Umar ibn Al-­Khattab telling him that Allah the Almighty had granted them victory and opened Egypt for them. He told him as well that he reached Fayum and Abwat. He also asked for reinforcements because he concluded that the remaining army was not sufficient.

'Umar reinforced him with 4, 000 men. At the head of each 1, 000 was a man who was equal to a 1, 000 men by himself. These 4 vigorous men were Al-Zubair ibn Al-'Awwam, Al-Miqdad ibn 'Amr, 'Ubadah ibn Al-Samit and Muslimah ibn Mukhlid. In his message to 'Amr, 'Umar said, "You had better know that you have 12, 000 men and these twelve thousand will not be defeated because of their small number."

[HistoryoftheUmmah]

Interestingly, the capital of Egypt was under the Rashidun Caliphate was al-Fustat. Cairo was later build by the Fatimid Empire. Many have the misconception that Cairo existed since the days of the Pharoahs.

[Hıyaristanli_mülteci]

The definition of Rashidun Army: Always outnumbered and always the victor

[danielziga]

"An Egyptian called John" - made me laugh so hard

[perioguatexgaming]

The intro is basically summarised in the quran in chapter Rum. Where it was prophesied that the romans will win against the Sassanids.

[rarelife-fh]

3:31 This is why its more appropriate to call these the Muslim/Islamic conquests. Arabs were already familiar with these lands since they lived and traded at the fringes of Eastern Rome and Persia for centuries, some were even Christian or Jewish. What spurred them on to conquer was Islam.

[Mitch-kgch]

I love Roman history so much it’s hard to listen to their humiliating defeats. Anyone else ? 😂

[odd-ysseusdoesstuff]

I like how this invasion was explained:

Roman Egypt was none conquered by sword, it was through the infighting, indecisiveness, and the low morale of the Romans. The Arabian Sword was just the icing on top.

[xrenfgs]

As an Egyptian it is an honour to be part of the Islamic world

[ibrahimmohammed]

رضى الله عن عمرو ابن العاص و الحمدلله على نعمة الاسلام و رحمة الله على الفاتحين 💜💜💜

[TotalFiction]

Please continue your Hannibal series soon🙏 your work is always amazing and i think that series is your magnum opus, would love to see it finished someday

[TheIronChancellor]

I think a series on the Komnenian restoration would be a very good project, as for me that period of history is one of the most interesting ones and I'm sure many agree

[Mickmickster]

Over 1 million subscribers, congratulations!

[ridvirgo]

Must get up early tomorrow for work but this is important too.

[RabbaniRosli]

Considering that Egypt was the breadbasket I’m surprised the praesentalis army was not sent there. Also seems like Heraclius was the only competent general on the Roman side my goodness.