Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/364

 Manuwîl [Manuel], with three hundred ships full of fighters. Manuwîl entered Alexandria and killed all the guard that was in it, with the exception of a few who by the use of subtle means took to flight and escaped. This took place in the year 25. Hearing the news, ʿAmr set out at the head of 15,000 men and found the Greek fighters doing mischief in the Egyptian villages next to Alexandria. The Moslems met them and for one hour were subjected to a shower of arrows, during which they were covered by their shields. They then advanced boldly and the battle raged with great ferocity until the "polytheists" were routed; and nothing could divert or stop them before they reached Alexandria. Here they fortified themselves and set mangonels. ʿAmr made a heavy assault, set the ballistae and destroyed the walls of the city. He pressed the fight so hard until he entered the city by assault, killed the fighters and carried away the children as captives. Some of its Greek inhabitants left to join the Greeks somewhere else; and Allah's enemy, Manuwîl, was killed. ʿAmr and the Moslems destroyed the wall of Alexandria in pursuance of a vow that ʿAmr had made to that effect, in case he reduced the city.

According to certain reports, this invasion took place in the year 23; and according to others, the insurrection took place in the years 23 and 25; but Allah knows best. ʿAmr assessed on the land of Alexandria kharâj; and on its people, poll-tax.

. Some report that al-Muḳauḳis forsook the people of Alexandria when they violated the covenant, but ʿAmr reinstated him with his people on the terms of their first capitulation. Others assert that he died before this invasion.

. Muḥammad ibn-Saʿd