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There are two main sources for John's life. The first is the ''[[Severus of Al'Ashmunein (Hermopolis): History of the Patriarchs of the Coptic Church of Alexandria|History of the Patriarchs]]'' by [[Severus Ibn al-Muqaffa|Severus]], Bishop of Al-Ashmunyn ([[Heliopolis (Ancient Egypt)|Heliopolis]]). This draws on two originally independent biographies that mention John: those of [[Pope Isaac of Alexandria]] (690-692 CE) and [[Pope Simeon I of Alexandria]] (692-700 CE). The second source is the Life of [[Pope Isaac of Alexandria|Isaac of Alexandria]] composed by John's successor as bishop of Nikiu, [[Mena of Nikiu]], between 697 and 700 CE.<ref>Felege-Selam Solomon Yirga, '[http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1594681955418996 The Chronicle of John of Nikiu: Historical Writing in Post-Roman Egypt]' (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Ohio State University, 2020).</ref>{{rp|6}}
According to the ''History of the Patriarchs'', John lived under the [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Patriarchs]] [[Pope John III of Alexandria|John III]], [[Pope Isaac of Alexandria|Isaac]], and [[Pope Simeon of Alexandria|Simeon]].
==Chronicle==
The original editor of this text, Zotenberg, argued that John of Nikiû's ''Chronicle'' was originally written mostly in [[Greek language|Greek]], theorising that some of the name forms indicate that John wrote the sections concerning Egypt in [[Coptic language|Coptic]]. Scholarly opinion has shifted, however, to the belief that this chronicle was probably written in Coptic.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Booth |first1=Phillip |title=Shades of Blues and Greens in the Chronicle of John of Nikiu |journal=Byzantinische Zeitschrift |date=2011 |volume=104 |issue=2 |page=557 |doi=10.1515/byzs.2011.013 |s2cid=154173454 }}</ref> The work survives only in a [[Ge'ez]] translation.<ref>The 1883 translation by Zotenberg into French states, less precisely, <nowiki>''</nowiki>translated from the Ethiopic<nowiki>''</nowiki>.</ref> In 1602, an [[Arabic language|Arabic]] translation of the original was made. Sections of the text are obviously corrupted with accidental omissions. Most notably, a passage covering thirty years (from 610 to 640) is missing. The narrative, especially the earlier sections up until the reign of Constantine, has many obvious historical errors.
John's view of the earliest periods of history is informed by sources such as [[Sextus Julius Africanus]] and [[John Malalas]]. The ''Chronicle'' is most noteworthy for its passages dealing with the early 7th century. John covers in detail the revolt of the [[Thracian tribes|Thracian]] armies in [[Maurice’s Balkan campaigns#Renewed campaigns, 597–602|602]] and the subsequent overthrow of the Emperor [[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]] by the usurper [[Phocas]]. His account adds considerably to our knowledge of the reign of Phocas and particularly to the successful revolt against him begun at [[Carthage]] by [[Heraclius]]. Unfortunately, the section dealing with the climactic [[Persian Wars|Persian wars]] waged by Heraclius is not extant.
Perhaps the most important section of John's ''Chronicle'' is that which deals with the invasion and conquest of Egypt by the Muslim armies of [[Amr ibn al-Aas]]. Though probably not an eyewitness, John was most likely of the generation immediately following the conquest, and the Chronicle provides the only near-contemporary account. John describes the major events of Amr's campaign, such as the taking of the
The main English translation of John's Chronicle is that of R.H. Charles. In it, John vividly records the fear that gripped Egypt during the Muslim invasions: <blockquote>Then a panic fell on all the cities of Egypt, and all their inhabitants took to flight, and made their way to Alexandria, abandoning all their possessions and wealth and cattle.<ref>{{cite book|last1= Charles|first1= Robert H|title= The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, Chapter CXIII: paragraph 6|date= 1913}}</ref></blockquote> He also makes several mentions of alleged atrocities committed against the Copts by the Arabs: <blockquote>And these Ishmaelites came and slew without mercy the commander of the troops and all his companions. And forthwith 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.<ref>{{cite book|last1= Charles|first1= Robert H|title= The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, Chapter CXI: paragraph 10|date= 1913}}</ref></blockquote> Also: <blockquote>And thereupon the Moslem made their entry into Nakius, and took possession, and finding no soldiers (to offer resistance), they proceeded to put to the sword all whom they found in the streets and in the churches, men, women, and infants, and they showed mercy to none.<ref>{{cite book|last1= Charles|first1= Robert H|title= The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, Chapter CXVIII: paragraph 8|date= 1913}}</ref></blockquote> John also reports the prohibitive new taxes placed on the native population. In some cases, the taxes were so burdensome that families were forced to sell their children into slavery. He also admonishes Egyptians who abandoned Christianity in favour of Islam.
Writing from a [[miaphysite]] point of view — at odds with the [[
==Notes==
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