In a previous article we talked about the Ikshidid dynasty overthrown and the entrance of the Fatimids to Egypt during the papacy of Pope Mina II as we talked about him till his departure in 957 AD.
Egypt under the rule of the Fatimids
Egypt was under the rule of Ahmad Ibn Ali Ibn Al-Ikhshid when the Fatimids took over it. Moreover he managed the affairs of the country after the death of Kufur Al-Ikhshid.
But as Ahmad was young, he was under the custody of his uncle Al-Hasan Ibn Abid Allah Ibn Tughj Al-Ikhshid who was the actual ruler.
In (358 AH – 969 AD) the leader Jawhar Al-Sqilli came to Egypt, took over it and ended the rule of the Ikhshidid dynasty after it ruled for approximately thirty four years.
Jawhar Al-Siqilli
He was Abu Hassan Jawhar bin Abdullah the Muizz leader. He was one of the greatest leaders of Al-Muizz Ladinullah and he had a special prominence to him. That is why Al-Muizz prepared him to come to Egypt; he gave him countless gold and money, men, ammunition and supplies. He put him in charge of all the previously mentioned things to be able to take over Egypt after the death of Kufur Al- Ikhshid, as Al-Muizz knew that the country’s situation was very vulnerable.
Ibn Taghribirdi mentioned: “Only one ruled Egypt after Kufur Al-Ikshid passed away, Ahmad Ibn Ali Ibn Al-Ikhshid but he was a young youth and that’s why his uncle Al- Hasan Ibn Abid Allah Ibn Tughj ruled on his behalf. Then, there was a shortage in the soldiers’ funds, which led some of them to write a message to Al-Muizz Ladinullah Moad who was in Morocco telling him to send soldiers to hand over Egypt to him. So Al-Muizz sent Jawhar with nearly one thousand Knights or more, weapons and armies.”
Also Ibn Al-Athir mentioned: “That was when Kufur Al-Ikhshid died, there were disputes and a high cost of living took place so each pound of bread was for two Dirhams, and El-Henta ( Wheat without its crust) each Wayba (one-sixth of the Ardeb or Twenty four Kilograms) for one Egyptian Dinar and sixth. When Al-Muizz knew that while he was in Africa, he sent Jawhar to it.”
In addition to what we mentioned before about the role of Yackoub Ibn Killis whose money and property were confiscated in Egypt and he fled to Morocco. He played an important role in the coming of the Fatimids to Egypt and the weakness of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Jawhar Al-Siqilli left Morocco and headed towards Egypt in the early of (358 AH-969 AD). He led his armies to Terogi in the direction of Zawya Saqr in Abu Al Matamir in El-Beheira besides Alexandria where he didn’t face any resistance.
As for how Egypt was conquered, many stories were mentioned such as, each of Al-Maqrizi and Ibn Taghribirdi mentioned that Jawhar made a security covenant with the Egyptians.
But unfortunately he breached that covenant and a fight broke out between Jawhar and his armies and the Ikshidids which ended by the victory of Jawhar. Many of the Ikshidids were killed and defeated. They asked for safety and he granted it to them. After a few months he conquered Egypt.
Ibn Al-Athir mentioned that when the Ikshidids soldiers knew that the leader Jawhar was coming to Egypt, they fled before his arrival. That’s how Egypt was under the rule of the Fatimids.
When Jawhar took over Egypt, he sent the good news to El-Muizz Ladinullah and said that poem: “
Banu Abbas were wandering if Egypt was conquered?
Tell Banu Abbas that It’s over. Egypt was conquered
Jawhar passed Alexandria
carrying good news with triumph”
Jawhar ruled Egypt, gave a speech on its podium, invoked God to support El-Muizz, and ceased to invoke God to support Ibn Al-Abbas. Then he started to build Cairo during the days of Al-Muti Li-Llah Al-Fadl the Abbasid Caliph.
Stories about beautiful Egypt never end!
General Bishop,
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural center
