VIIIᵉ siècle – IXᵉ siècle
Egypt, especially the Nile Delta
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Coptic revolts in Egypt were a series of Christian uprisings against changing fiscal demands and the replacement of local Christian officials under Islamic rule. The first major revolt began in 725, while later rebellions occurred in the Delta, including a large uprising in the Bucolics in 832. These movements reflected resistance to taxation, administrative displacement, and the changing status of Christian communities.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Fiscal pressure intensified as military conquests slowed and the Egyptian treasury could no longer depend on war booty. Peasants deserted registered villages, disappeared, or entered monasteries to evade the poll tax. When the poll tax was extended to monks under ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Marwān, conversion to Islam became one possible response to the financial burden.
The authorities struggled to reconcile fiscal revenue with the encouragement of conversion. Kurra b. Shank, governor from 709 to 714, refused to abolish the poll tax for converted Copts and pursued fugitives. As traditional forms of evasion were restricted and taxation grew heavier, the first Coptic revolt broke out in 725.
Further resistance developed in the Delta. Between 767 and 772, Delta Christians attempted to expel Muslim officials, and in 832 a Christian rural population in the Bucolics rose in rebellion. The latter uprising was the last in which Christians fought alone against Muslim authority in Egypt; later revolts combined Christian and Muslim participants under predominantly Muslim leadership.
VIIIᵉ siècle – IXᵉ siècle
Egypt, especially the Nile Delta
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Coptic revolts in Egypt were a series of Christian uprisings against changing fiscal demands and the replacement of local Christian officials under Islamic rule. The first major revolt began in 725, while later rebellions occurred in the Delta, including a large uprising in the Bucolics in 832. These movements reflected resistance to taxation, administrative displacement, and the changing status of Christian communities.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Fiscal pressure intensified as military conquests slowed and the Egyptian treasury could no longer depend on war booty. Peasants deserted registered villages, disappeared, or entered monasteries to evade the poll tax. When the poll tax was extended to monks under ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Marwān, conversion to Islam became one possible response to the financial burden.
The authorities struggled to reconcile fiscal revenue with the encouragement of conversion. Kurra b. Shank, governor from 709 to 714, refused to abolish the poll tax for converted Copts and pursued fugitives. As traditional forms of evasion were restricted and taxation grew heavier, the first Coptic revolt broke out in 725.
Further resistance developed in the Delta. Between 767 and 772, Delta Christians attempted to expel Muslim officials, and in 832 a Christian rural population in the Bucolics rose in rebellion. The latter uprising was the last in which Christians fought alone against Muslim authority in Egypt; later revolts combined Christian and Muslim participants under predominantly Muslim leadership.