adding link← Previous revisionRevision as of 03:41, 18 October 2026 Line 33: Line 33: *Domentianus *Domentianus *Theodosius *Theodosius *Anastasius *[[Anastasius (prefect of Egypt)|Anastasius]] *[[John, Duke of Barca|John of Barca]]{{KIA}} *[[John, Duke of Barca]]{{KIA}} *[[Aretion]]{{KIA}} *[[Aretion]]{{KIA}} *[[Menas (Coptic general)|Menas]] *[[Menas (Coptic general)|Menas]] Line 105: Line 105: Babylon was a fortified city, and [[Theodorus (prefect of Egypt)|Theodore]] had indeed prepared it for a siege. Outside the city, a [[ditch (fortification)|ditch]] had been dug, and a large force was positioned in the area between the ditch and the city walls. The Muslims besieged the fort, a massive structure {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} high with walls more than {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=off}} thick and studded with numerous [[tower]]s and [[bastion]]s and a force of some 4,000 men. Early Muslim sources place the strength of the Byzantine force in Babylon at about six times the strength of the Muslim force. For the next two months, fighting remained inconclusive, with the Byzantines repulsing every Muslim assault. Babylon was a fortified city, and [[Theodorus (prefect of Egypt)|Theodore]] had indeed prepared it for a siege. Outside the city, a [[ditch (fortification)|ditch]] had been dug, and a large force was positioned in the area between the ditch and the city walls. The Muslims besieged the fort, a massive structure {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} high with walls more than {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=off}} thick and studded with numerous [[tower]]s and [[bastion]]s and a force of some 4,000 men. Early Muslim sources place the strength of the Byzantine force in Babylon at about six times the strength of the Muslim force. For the next two months, fighting remained inconclusive, with the Byzantines repulsing every Muslim assault. Realising that Babylon was too strong to take, Amr sent a detachment to raid the city of [[Faiyum]]. The Byzantines had anticipated that and so had strongly guarded the roads that led to the city and had fortified their garrison in the nearby town of [[Lahun]]. At this time, the governor of Faiyum was Domentianus, while Theodosius was the prefect of its province, [[Arcadia Aegypti]], and Anastasius was the prefect of [[Alexandria]]. The defence of Arcadia Aegypti was entrusted to a certain John, whom [[Hermann Zotenberg]] identifies with the [[John, Duke of Barca]] or Barcaina mentioned by [[Nikephoros I of Constantinople|Nicephorus]]. He had brought the [[Ecthesis]] and a portion of the [[True Cross]] from [[Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople|Patriarch Sergius]] to Cyrus, and was likely on a direct commission from Emperor [[Heraclius]]. Realising that Babylon was too strong to take, Amr sent a detachment to raid the city of [[Faiyum]]. The Byzantines had anticipated that and so had strongly guarded the roads that led to the city and had fortified their garrison in the nearby town of [[Lahun]]. At this time, the governor of Faiyum was Domentianus, while Theodosius was the prefect of its province, [[Arcadia Aegypti]], and [[Anastasius (prefect of Egypt)|Anastasius]] was the prefect of [[Alexandria]]. The defence of Arcadia Aegypti was entrusted to a certain John, whom [[Hermann Zotenberg]] identifies with the [[John, Duke of Barca]] or Barcaina mentioned by [[Nikephoros I of Constantinople|Nicephorus]]. He had brought the [[Ecthesis]] and a portion of the [[True Cross]] from [[Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople|Patriarch Sergius]] to Cyrus, and was likely on a direct commission from Emperor [[Heraclius]]. When the Muslims realised that Faiyum was also too strong for them to take, they headed towards the [[Western Desert (North Africa)|Western Desert]], where they looted as many cattle and animals as they could. They subsequently headed to a town in the Faiyum district named Bahnasa (not to be confused with [[Oxyrhynchus]] 50 miles further south), which was defeated and the city was captured. According to [[John of Nikiû]], "they compelled the city to open its gates, and they put to the sword all that surrendered, and they spared none, whether old men, babe, or woman."{{cite web |url=https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/nikiu2_chronicle.htm|title= John, Bishop of Nikiu: Chronicle. London (1916). English Translation|website= tertullian.org}} The Arabs then noticed that John, with a small group of 50 men, had been following them. John and his men retreated to their base at [[Abusir el-Meleq|Abûît]], but their hiding place was betrayed by a [[Bedouin]] chief and they were all killed. When the Muslims realised that Faiyum was also too strong for them to take, they headed towards the [[Western Desert (North Africa)|Western Desert]], where they looted as many cattle and animals as they could. They subsequently headed to a town in the Faiyum district named Bahnasa (not to be confused with [[Oxyrhynchus]] 50 miles further south), which was defeated and the city was captured. According to [[John of Nikiû]], "they compelled the city to open its gates, and they put to the sword all that surrendered, and they spared none, whether old men, babe, or woman."{{cite web |url=https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/nikiu2_chronicle.htm|title= John, Bishop of Nikiu: Chronicle. London (1916). English Translation|website= tertullian.org}} The Arabs then noticed that John, with a small group of 50 men, had been following them. John and his men retreated to their base at [[Abusir el-Meleq|Abûît]], but their hiding place was betrayed by a [[Bedouin]] chief and they were all killed.