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Hamilcar4532 (talk | contribs) →Chronicle: I have supplemented the paragraph on John's reports of atrocities against the Copts during the invasion with some quotations from R.H. Charles' translation of John's Chronicle. |
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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 Roman fortress at Babylon, the capture of [[Alexandria]], and the murder of [[Hypatia]]. Though the timeline is occasionally confusing, its narrative details are often vivid
The main English translation of John's Chronicle is that of R.H. Charles (published in 1913). In it, John vividly records the fear that gripped Egypt during the Muslims invasions: "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> He also makes several mentions of the Muslim atrocities committed against the Copts: ″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 word 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> Also: "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> 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 favor of Islam.
Writing from a [[miaphysite]] point of view — at odds with the [[diophysite]] Christology affirmed at the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451 — John describes the Islamic invasion of his homeland as divine punishment for the [[Chalcedonian Christianity|Chalcedonian]] beliefs which held sway in the [[Byzantine Empire]]. At the close of his ''Chronicle,'' John describes the despair felt by the conquered Alexandrians, writing: "None could recount the mourning and lamentation which took place in that city....And they had none to help them, and God destroyed their hopes and delivered the Christians into the hands of their enemies." However, the account ends on a note of hope and faith: "But the strong beneficence of God will put to shame those who grieve us, and He will make His love for man to triumph over our sins, and bring to naught the evil purposes of those who afflict us, who would not that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords should reign over them, (even) Jesus Christ our true God. As for those wicked slaves, He will destroy them in evil fashion: as saith the holy Gospel: 'As for Mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them, bring them unto Me.'"
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