The Greeks in medieval Islamic Egypt: A Melkite dhimmi{rcub} community under the patriarch of Alexandria (640-1095)

This dissertation attempts to present a comprehensive history of the Greek Melkite community in Egypt during the years 640-1095. As such, it is the story of a particular Christian minority community as it existed during an extended period of Muslim control over medieval Egypt. The head of the community was the Greek patriarch of Alexandria. Because of this, the history of the Melkites in Egypt was also affected by ecclesiastical matters. In several instances the Greek patriarch of Alexandria became involved in doctrinal questions which had engaged the wider Christian world, outside the realm of Islamic control.; In this study all of the relevant Greek and Arabic primary sources are consulted. Many of the Christian Arabic materials, like the histories of the Melkite Eutychius, his continuator Yahya ibn Sa'id, the Coptic historian Severus ibn al-Muqaffa' and his continuator Michael of Tinnis, have been available for some time, but have been under-utilized with respect to the Melkites in Egypt. They are re-examined here.; The conclusions of the study are summed up under three headings: the Melkites under Islam; the Greek community in Egypt and its patriarch; the patriarch of Alexandria, the Pope, and the Ecumenical Patriarch. It is shown that the Melkite community was able to maintain itself as a fairly autonomous dhimmi/ group within Muslim Egypt under the leadership of its patriarch. The caliphs did have a role in the selection of new patriarchs (i.e. veto power over the choice of a candidate), but afterwards usually left the incumbent to rule over his community without interference. Incidents of persecution or mob violence directed toward the Melkites were few during the first three centuries of Muslim rule over Egypt, but increased under the Ikhshidids and the Fatimids.; The Alexandrian patriarchs were consistently in communion with Rome and Constantinople (although not always in direct communication) and participated in a number of ecumenical conclaves which took place during this period, albeit in minor roles, and usually at the invitation of the Byzantine Emperor or the Ecumenical Patriarch. The doctrinal stance of the Melkites in Egypt was closer to that of the Orthodox in Constantinople than it was to the Pope's, but was not coerced or controlled by Byzantium.