The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire . 131 [There seems to be no early authority for this anecdote.] 132 Both Eutychius (Annal. torn. ii. p. 319) and Elmacin (Hist. Saracen, p. 28)concur in fixing the taking of Alexandria to Friday of the new moon of Moharramof the twentieth year of the Hegira (December 22, 640). In reckoning back-wards fourteen months spent before Alexandria, seven months before Babylon, & might have invaded Egypt about the end of the year 638 ; but we are assuredthat he entered the country the 12th of Bayni, 6th of June (Murtadi, Merveilles deI
The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire . 131 [There seems to be no early authority for this anecdote.] 132 Both Eutychius (Annal. torn. ii. p. 319) and Elmacin (Hist. Saracen, p. 28)concur in fixing the taking of Alexandria to Friday of the new moon of Moharramof the twentieth year of the Hegira (December 22, 640). In reckoning back-wards fourteen months spent before Alexandria, seven months before Babylon, & might have invaded Egypt about the end of the year 638 ; but we are assuredthat he entered the country the 12th of Bayni, 6th of June (Murtadi, Merveilles deIEgypte, p. 164. Severus, apud Eenaudot, p. 162). The Saracen, and afterwardsLewis IX. of France, halted at Pelusium, or Damietta, during the season of theinundation of the Nile. [For date see Appendix 20.] ^33 Eutych. Annal. tom. ii. p. 316,319. [Alexandria capitulated, see Tabari, 463 ; John of Nikiu, ch. 121. Al-Baladhuri, like Eutychius, has the false statementthat it was stormed. Cp. E. W. Brooks in Byzantinische Zeitschrift, iv. p. 443.]. Chap. LI] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 481 and directed his lieutenant to reserve the wealth and revenueof Alexandria for the public service and the propagation of thefaith. The inhabitants were numbered; a tribute was imposed;the zeal and resentment of the Jacobites were curbed, and theMelchites who submitted to the Arabian yoke were indulged inthe obscure but tranquil exercise of their worship. The intelli-gence of this disgraceful and calamitous event afflicted the de-clining health of the emperor; and Heraclius died of a dropsyabout seven weeks after the loss of Alexandria.^^* Under theminority of his grandson, the clamom-s of a people, deprived oftheir daily sustenance, compelled the Byzantine court to under-take the recovery of the capital of Egypt. In the space of fouryears, the harbour and fortifications of Alexandria were twiceoccupied by a fleet and army of Eomans. They were twiceexpelled by the valour of Amrou, who was recalled b
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