Battle of Heliopolis

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Battle of Heliopolis
Part of the Muslim conquest of Egypt (Arab–Byzantine Wars)
Muslim Conquest
Date 6 July 640 CE Location Near Heliopolis (now Ain Shams outside Cairo), Egypt 30°7′45.998″N 31°17′20.000″E / 30.12944389°N 31.28888889°E / 30.12944389; 31.28888889 Result Rashidun victory
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate	Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Amr ibn al-A'as	Theodore Theodosius Anastasius
Strength
Less than 12,000	Possibly 20,000 or higher
Casualties and losses
Few	Heavy
class=notpageimage| Location within Nile Delta Show map of Nile Delta Battle of Heliopolis (Lower Egypt) Show map of Lower Egypt Battle of Heliopolis (Egypt) Show map of Egypt

The Battle of Heliopolis or Ayn Shams was a decisive battle between Arab Muslim armies and Byzantine forces for the control of Egypt. Though there were several major skirmishes after this battle, it effectively decided the fate of the Byzantine rule in Egypt, and opened the door for the Muslim conquest of the Byzantine Exarchate of Africa.