Early conquests · 641

Siege of Alexandria

With Alexandria gone, Egypt and its grain passed to the caliphate. Amr founded Fustat, the camp city that later grew into Cairo.

The site of the battle on the 644 map. Shaded: Rashidun Caliphate, 644.

Key facts

When: 641
Where: Alexandria, Egypt
Sides: Rashidun Caliphate vs Byzantine Empire
Commanders: Amr ibn al-As vs Cyrus of Alexandria
Result: City surrendered by treaty
Type: Early conquests
Chapter: 1. The Rightly Guided Caliphs

Who led it

Amr ibn al-Asc. 573 to 664
Conquered Egypt between 640 and 642 and founded Fustat, the camp city that grew into Cairo.

The wider picture: Abu Bakr and Umar: the great conquests

Within twelve years the Muslims defeated both superpowers of the age. Byzantium lost Syria at Yarmouk and Egypt soon after. Persia lost Iraq at Qadisiyyah and its heartland at Nahavand. Jerusalem surrendered in 637 and Umar came in person to accept it.

See the 644 map Read chapter 1

More early conquests battles

All 17 early muslim conquests battles · Battle explorer

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