Theodore

Theodore (, ; fl. 7th century) was a Byzantine military commander who led the Byzantine army in the defence of Egypt during the Arab conquest, and served as the last Roman governor of Egypt from 14 September 641 to 17 September 642.

Biography

John of Nikiû mentions that Theodore had family members living in Saûnâ, which Hermann Zotenberg identifies with Sais. He was a Chalcedonian, but not prejudiced against non-Chalcedonians, as shown by his willingness to place them in important positions.

Siege of Babylon Fortress

When the Arab armies of the Rashidun caliphate, commanded by Amr ibn al-As, began their invasion of Egypt in December 639, Theodore was the magister militum of the Byzantine army in the province, while Cyrus of Alexandria was both its de facto governor and the government-appointed Patriarch of Alexandria, and Heraclius was the Roman emperor. Theodore was late to react to the Arabs, only doing so after the two-month long siege of Pelusium was over in February 640. After this, however, Theodore and Cyrus rushed to the Babylon Fortress, sent scouts to Bilbeis to hinder the Arabs' advance, and had the Babylon Fortress fortified. Outside the city, a ditch had been dug, and a large force was positioned in the area between the ditch and the city walls. The Muslims besieged the fort, a massive structure high with walls more than thick and studded with numerous towers and bastions and a force of some 4,000 men. Early Muslim sources place the strength of the Byzantine force in Babylon at about six times the strength of the Muslim force. For the next two months, fighting remained inconclusive, with the Byzantines repulsing every Muslim assault.

Realising that Babylon was too strong to take, 'Amr sent a detachment to raid the city of Faiyum. The Byzantines had anticipated that and so had strongly guarded the roads that led to the city and had fortified their garrison in the nearby town of Lahun. At this time, the governor of Faiyum was Domentianus (who was also married to Cyrus' sister), while Theodosius was the prefect of its province, Arcadia Aegypti, and Anastasius was the prefect of Alexandria. The defence of Arcadia Aegypti was entrusted to a certain John, whom Hermann Zotenberg identifies with the John, Duke of Barca or Barcaina mentioned by Nicephorus. He had brought the Ecthesis and a portion of the True Cross from Patriarch Sergius to Cyrus, and was likely on a direct commission from Emperor Heraclius. Theodore hurried his troops up the Nile while Anastasius and Theodosius rushed from Nikiû to Babylon to strengthen it, while a further force was sent from Babylon to Abûît to strengthen it under Leontius, who was "obese in person, quite without energy and unacquainted with warlike affairs". Theodore moved his forces to Heliopolis, about 15 km (10 mi) from Babylon, with Anastasius and Theodosius in charge of the cavalry. 'Amr gave the following order: "Be on the watch, so that when the Roman troops come out to attack us, you may rise up in their rear, whilst we shall be on their front, and so having got them between us, we shall put them to the sword." The Byzantines, unaware of this plan, were surrounded and massacred. The Roman garrison at Tendunias (located at Azbakeya according to Butler), was seized when Zubayr and some of his handpicked soldiers scaled the Heliopolis city wall at an unguarded point and, after overpowering the guards, opened the gates for the army to enter the city. However, the captain of the ship claimed the wind was contrary to him, and Theodore was stuck with Cyrus. They returned to Alexandria on September 14, 641, the Feast of the Cross. was carried with Cyrus and Theodore. The procession passed between Cleopatra's Needles and entered the Caesareum Church, where a liturgy was prayed. The Psalm reading of the day was , but the deacon said another psalm hoping to praise Cyrus and congratulate him on his return. This was said to be a bad omen. Cyrus then gave a sermon about the discovery of the True Cross, perhaps encouraging them to resist the siege in the name of the Cross, despite having already decided in himself to forsake the Cross and surrender to the Muslims. On September 17, 642, Theodore left Egypt and set sail for Cyprus with the last Roman troops. Then on September 29, the 11 months of armistice ended, and 'Amr marched at the head of his Arab army into Alexandria, thus marking the end of Roman Egypt after 671 years.

Theodore's fate after leaving for Cyprus is unknown. He did not take part in the Byzantine Empire's attempt to recover Egypt three years later.