A.D. 912. Abu-’l-Cassim pours three armies into Egypt, intending to add that rich province to his other domains. The Chalîf Mûktadir, then reigning at Bagdad, had foreseen this design, which was frustrated by the defeat of the armies of Mahadi, though he took Alexandria. He built a city called Mehedié, now Mahdié, on the African shore, which he destined for the seat of his empire. He died in the sixty-third year of his age and twenty-sixth of his reign.
A.D. 933. His son Achmed was less fortunate. He died while his capital Mehedié was besieged by insurgents.
A.D. 945. Ismaîl his son defeated the rebels, and built Mansûriéh in Africa.
952. Abu-Tammim succeeded Ismaîl his father. In 968, he sent Jeuhar, a Greek, at the head of a strong army to seize Egypt, and succeeded. The capital, then styled Misr, or Fostat, opened its gates. Jeuhar built a new capital, which he named Kahira, or the Victorious. Abu-Tammim, surnamed Moaz, in the twentieth year of his reign embarked for Sardinia, then subject to Africa, till Jeuhar should complete the new metropolis.
972. Abu-Tammim lands at Alexandria, where he is met by Jeuhar: advancing to Kahira he was welcomed by the acclamations of his new subjects. To this city he removed all his treasures, and even the bodies of his ancestors.
Jeuhar, the founder, had desired the building to be begun under the horoscope or ascendant of the planet Mars, called Kahir, or conqueror, by the Arabs; and hence it was styled Kahira.
The dynasty of the Fatimites, now transplanted to Egypt, ruled there till the year 1171, (Hejira 566,) when it was supplanted by Salah-el-dîn, the famous Saladin of the Christian authors.
SECT. III.
Dynasty of the Zeirites.
To return to Africa. Abu-Tammim, before he proceeded to Egypt, had resigned the sovereignty of Africa, on condition of homage, to Yussuf-ben-Zeiri, of a family sprung from Arabia Felix.