AMRU, or AMnou, a distinguished leader of the Sa racens, and conqueror of Egypt. 1 le was nearly con temporary with Mahomct. His mother was a woman of a character so infamous, that, when requested to name his father, she was unable to decide among live of her lovers; but, from the resemblance of the child to Aasi, an illustrious person of the tribe of Korcish, he appears to have been acknowledged and educated as his son. In early life, Amru was tainted with the preju dices of his kindred, who were idolaters; and having an inclination to poetry, he indulged himself in writing satirical verses against the doctrine and person of Ma hornet. It was not long, however, before he declared his belief in the mission of that warlike prophet; and, whether convinced by reason, or gained over by inte rest, he persevered in his attachment to the new reli gion with such undeviating uniformity, that it was said of him, " there never was a Moslem more sincere and stedfast in the faith." The proselyte to Mahometanism must draw his sword in its defence. It is required of him, that his belief shall be fixed and implicit ; and also, that he shall zealously endeavour to increase the num ber of the faithful, by offering to all whom his arm can subdue, the simple conditions of death, tribute, or sub mission to the prophet. With this direct and effectual logic, Amru was not unacquainted. Having gained considerable reputation in Irak, he was appointed by the caliph Omar to serve against the Christians in Pa lestine, under Obeidah, the leader of the Arabs in that province ; and, while he distinguished himself by his address and courage in the field, he never lost sight of the great object which all true Moslems are bound to pursue. Safety and freedom were the immediate re wards of those who acknowledged the authority of Ma hornet. Of the zeal of Amru to increase the number of proselytes, an instance, worthy of notice, is given by the historians of the period in which he lived. As he was advancing to the siege of Cxsarea, near which place Constantine, the son of the emperor Heraclius, was posted with a body of troops, this young prince sent some Christian Arabs to examine the camp of the Mos lems. One of the spies IN as taken, and instantly cut to pieces by the followers of Amru. But when the account of the fact was brought to the general, he testified the highest disapprobation, and forbade so precipitate an execution of vengeance in all time to come; alleging as a reason to his soldiers, that the persons whom they were about to kill, might choose rather to embrace the Islam, than to suffer death. After this expression of zeal, a conference took place between the opposite lead ers. The general of the Greeks made overtures towards a pacification ; but his proposals were rejected by Amru, who, declared, that he would listen to no terms of ac commodation, unless the emperor agreed to adopt the religion of Mahomet, or acknowledge himself the tribu tary of Omar. Both sides, therefore, prepared for action.
vsarea fell into the hands of the Arabians, A. D. 6S8; and all the maritime towns of Syria, were subjected to the dominion of the caliph.
Upon the death of Obeidah, the chief command in Palestine devolved upon Amin ; and he had shown him self to be every way qualified for the high station which he was about to occupy. Not contented, however, with opposing the Christians in Syria, he resolved to advance into Egypt. Accordingly, he left his position at Gaza, and was proceeding to Farmah, or Pelusium, (justly re garded as the key to that country,) when he was over taken by a messenger, with a letter from Omar, the contents of which he would not examine till his forces had entered the Egyptian territory. But he had no sooner reached the vicinity of Farmah, than he assem bled his officers, and read to them the following man date, addressed to himself : " If you are still in Syria," said the caliph, " retreat without delay ; but if, at the receipt of this letter, you are within the frontiers of Egypt, advance with confidence, and depend on the suc cour of God and your brethren." declared aloud his resolution to obey. Advancing with confidence, and trusting to the aid which the caliph had pointed out, he quickly reduced Pelusium ; and opened to his followers the whole country, as far as Heliopolis and the neigh bourhood of Cairo. From Pelusium, or Farmah, he pro ceeded to Memphis, which resisted his arms for nearly seven months; till, threatened by the inundation of the Nile, he roused the courage of his soldiers, and enter ing the fortress, with the shout of " God is victorious!" made himself master of the place. Here, too, on the
eastern bank or the river, he built the city of Fostat ; the ruins of which are at present distinguished by the name of Old Cairo. After the taking of Memphis, and the subjection of the Coptic Christians to the authority' of Omar, Amru drove the fugitive Greeks before him towards Alexandria ; and invested that large and popu lous city, furnished with all the means of subsistence and defence. The natives of Egypt, anxious for the expulsion of their tyrants, devoted their labours to the service of the Arabians ; and the caliph, from the throne of Medina, despatched his messengers, and encouraged his troops to their noblest efforts of valour and skill. On the other hand, the defendants of Alexandria made a vigorous resistance, and by their unwearied exertions, protracted the siege to the period of fourteen months. At length, however, the Saracens prevailed ; the Greeks were forced to embark their dispirited numbers, and the assailants rushing forward, planted the standard of Ma hornet on the walls of the Egyptian capital. During this memorable siege, the adventurous courage of Amru brought hum on one occasion into a situation of great danger. As he was entering the citadel, his troops were driven back, and he remained a prisoner, together with a slave, in the hands of the Christians. He was instant ly led into the presence of the governor, who was un acquainted with his rank ; but the haughty mien, and resolute language of the captive, betrayed his superior quality, and an attendant lifted his battle-axe in order to punish him for his insolence. At this moment, the slave, with astonishing presence of mind, struck his master a violent blow upon the face, and commanded him, in an angry tone, to be silent in the company of those whom he ought to respect. The governor was deceived ; he listened to the offer of a treaty, and dismissed the pris oners, in the hope of concluding the war by an honour able accommodation. The fate of the Alexandrian li brary is known to every one who is conversant with an tiquity, and has been well described by the learned Abul pharagius, (Dynast. p. 114, vers. Pocock.) It was the desire of Antal to preserve that noble collection of manuscripts, at the request of Amnioninslopontis the grammarian. But such was the integrity of the Arabian chief, that is would not alienate the smallest portion of what he conceived to be the property of the caliph ; and accordingly he wrote to Aleclina, that the pleasure of Omar might be known. " If these wri tings," said the caliph, " agree with the book of God they are useless ; and if not, they ought to be destroy ed." This fanatical sentence was executed with blind and zt Mous obedience ; and the volumes were employed to heat the baths of the city. Sec ALEXANDRIA.
After the conquest ol Egypt, the fortune of Amru partook of the vicissitudes to which a despotic govern ment is generally subject. He was removed from the government of Egypt, by the jealousy of Othman, who restored him twice on occasions of emergency, but again displaced him when the danger was over. On the accession of Ali, he joined the malcontents, and swore allegiance to Moawiyah, the competitor of that distinguished person ; and the sect of the Kharijites having conspired against him, he very narrowly escaped with life. At length, during the caliphate of NIJawiyab, he died in his palace oil the banks of the Nile, A. D. 663, and in the year of the Hegira 43. He was one of the greatest among the Arabs of his time. Quick in apprehension, wise in council, and of matchless bravery, he united in his character every quality which forms a successful leader in war, and an useful governor in peace. The following anecdote, which has been recorded as a proof of his modesty, shows a dignified consciousness of his own merit. When he was on a visit to Medina, the caliph wished to examine the sword which had destroyed so many of the Christian warriors : but Amru, pulling from its scabbard an ordinary cimiter, and, marking the surprise of the caliph, addressed him in the following words : " Alas," said he, 66 the sword itself, without the arm of its master, is neither sharper nor more weighty than the sword of Pharisdak the poet." Gibbon's Hist. of the .Rom. Em/i. vol. v. p. 331, et seq. Abulpharagius, Dynast. p. 114, versione Pocock. Ockley's Hist. of the Saracens, vol. i. and ii. Mod. Univers. Hist. vol. i. et seq. Rendudot, Hist. dies. Patriarch, p. 170. Re land de Jure Milian% Mahommedanorum, vol. iii. Dissert. p. 37. (ii)