The Muqawqis

Al-Muqawqis, the ruler of Egypt at the Islamic conquest. Al-Baladhuri mentions him in the account of the peace with Amr ibn al-As and the attempt of the Byzantines to recover Alexandria. He took part in the conquest of Alexandria. ¹

Al-Muqawqis made peace with Amr ibn al-As on terms that whoever of the Byzantines wished could leave, and whoever wished to stay could remain on a matter he named, and that two dinars be imposed on the Copts. This reached the king of the Byzantines, who was angered and sent armies, and they shut the gate of Alexandria. ¹

Al-Muqawqis went out to Amr and asked three things. The first was that he should not give the Byzantines what he had given him, because they had deceived him. The second was that he should not break the covenant of the Copts, because the breach had not come from their side. The third was that, if he died, he should be buried in a church in Alexandria that he named. Amr granted his request. ¹