The Muslims retaliate by readying a large…

The Muslims retaliate by readying a large force of fifteen thousand, who promptly set out to retake Alexandria under command of the veteran Amr ibn Al-As.

The imperial troops, following their standard tactical doctrine, advance out of the city and seek an open battle away from the shelter of their fortifications near the fortified town of Nikiou.

Accounts of the battle portray the Muslim forces as relying heavily on their archers before eventually assaulting the imperial positions, driving many back and routing the rest in the process.

After this, the imperial forces are utterly defeated and withdraw from the region.

The defeat of Manuel's forces marks the last attempt by the Empire to recapture Egypt for some five hundred years, with only Emperor Manuel I Komnenos sending an expedition here in the twelfth century.

Amr ibn al-'As builds fortifications in Alexandria and quarters in the vicinity a strong garrison, which twice a year is to be relieved from Upper Egypt.