Umayyad invasions of Egypt

The Umayyad invasions of Egypt were a series of incursions and military expeditions against the governorship of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr who was loyal to the Caliphate of Ali, ordered by Mu'awiya I and led by Amr ibn al-As.

Umayyad invasions of Egypt
Part of First Fitna
Region under the control of Caliph Ali   Region under the control of Mu'awiya   Region under the control of Amr ibn al-As
Date 657–658 Location Egypt Result Umayyad victory Territorial changes Egypt brought under Umayyad rule
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Pro-Alids	Umayyad Caliphate Uthmaniyya
Commanders and leaders
Ali ibn Abi Talib Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr † Malik al-Ashtar X Al-Harith bin Juhman al-Jufi  † Ibn Mudahim † Kinana ibn Bishr al-Tujibi †	Mu'awiya I Amr ibn al-As Yazid bin al-Harith al-Kinani (WIA) Muawiya bin Hudayj al-Sakuni Abu al-A'war Maslama ibn Mukhallad al-Ansari
Strength
2,500+	6,000+

Political instability in Egypt

In 658 CE, Egypt faced significant political instability, intensified by the First Fitna (656–661), the first civil war among the Muslims triggered by the assassination of Uthman ibn Affan. Following his death, Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law and cousin of Prophet Muhammad, took leadership of the Caliphate, Ali's leadership was rejected by several supporters of Uthman, including a faction led by Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the governor of Syria. For the consolidated of his power over Egypt he appointed Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, the son of Abu Bakr, as the governor of Egypt.^[1][2]

Muhammad's appointment turned to be unpopular, specifically amongst the supporters of Uthman. This led to tensions between factions which supported Ali and those who sought revenge for Uthman’s death. The situation further worsened when Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr was unable to quell the growing resistance from the local Uthmanid opposition, who saw Ali's leadership as illegitimate. The instability in Egypt was a result of lack of popular support for Ali's rule and Muhammad's governorship which paved way for the Uthmanids to gain support for their agendas.^[3]

As the scenario intensified, Mu'awiya I, sought to support the dissidents and weaken Ali's rule over Egypt, he focused on the capital issues of the instability. Mu'awiya sent a force, led by Amr ibn al-As, to lay an offensive against Egypt. Amr, who was previously a governor of Egypt, gathered support from the Uthmanids. The Umayyad forces swiftly defeated the troops led by Muhammad. After their victory, Amr ibn al-As restored himself as the governor of Egypt pledging allegiance to Mu'awiya and consolidating Umayyad stronghold over Egypt and initiating a turning point in the First Fitna.

Expeditions against the Uthmanids

Uthmanids under Yazid bin al Hārith grouped at Kharbita, who had good ties with the predecessor of Muhammad, Qays ibn Sa'd. Muhammad launched an offensive against them but suffered setbacks, he initiated a second expedition which too failed to put a defeat against the Uthmanids.^[4]

Invasion of Egypt (658)

In 658 CE, the political instability in Egypt, inflamed by the First Fitna, lay base for the Umayyad takeover of Egypt. Following the death of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, the governor of Egypt under Ali ibn Abi Talib, the region fell into turmoil. The local Egyptian forces, split between the supporters of Ali and supporters Uthman ibn Affan, supported by the Umayyad forces of Mu'awiya I, who led the face of opposition of Ali's rule across the Caliphate.

Mu'awiya sent his forces under Amr ibn al-As for the annexation of Egypt. The Umayyad force was documented to be around 6,000 troops, while the forces of Ali, led by Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, were approximately 2,500. The military engagement resulted in the setback of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr's forces establishing Umayyad authority over Egypt as Amr ibn al-As as its governor, the conflict lay a turning point towards consolidation of the Umayyad Caliphate.^[5][6][7][8]

See also

• Battle of Siffin
• Mu'awiya I's Southern Campaigns (658-661)
• Persian revolts against Ali (656-661)