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Armenians in Egypt |
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Armenians in Egypt has a long history. They constitute a minority group having their own language, schools, social institutions, and churches in Egyptian territory. However, a sharp decline in the number of Armenians in Egypt is noticed. This decline is the result of the migration of the Armenians to other countries. Many of the Armenians are also returning beck to their homeland.
In accordance with the history of Egypt, the Armenians started migrating to Egypt in the initial years of the nineteenth century. The historians also speak of the migration of the Armenians to Egypt during the rule of the Third Dynasty. But the migration of the Armenians to Egypt reached its maximum limit during the Byzantine rule in Egypt.
The existence of the Armenians in Egypt is remarkably marked during and after the period of Muslim invasion in Egypt. The Armenian converts to Islamic religion also took part in the Muslim conquest of the Egyptian territory. During the Abbasid period in Egypt, the Armenian called Amir Ali Ibn Yehia wsa well known fro his courage. Ibn Taghribirdi , an Islamic historian of the medieval period praised the aforementioned Armenian personality for his courage.
However, it is during the Fatimid period that the Armenians in Egypt prospered the most. This period enabled the Armenians to experience the commercial, religious, and cultural freedom in Egypt. Thousands of young Armenians were captivated during conquest of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia. This conquest occurred between the period of 1266 and 1375. The Armenians were taken to Egypt as slave-soldiers. In Egypt, these Armenians worked in the agricultural fields. They were also employed in the craft industry. The young Armenians were trained in the army camps under the governance of the Mameluke system.
During the Mohamed Ali period, many Armenians were hired by Mohamed Ali to assist him in the affairs of government. The Mohamed Ali period in Egypt is a witness to the construction of several Armenian churches.
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After the Armenian Genocide in the year `1915, Egypt received a considerable number of Armenians who survived the genocide. As per 1927 census data, 17,188 Armenians resided in Alexandria and Cairo.
Armenians in Egypt has a remarkable contribution in the development of several industries like ship building, carpentry and blacksmithing, shoemaking, textile production with spinning and weaving, tobacco production, jewelry, stone masonry,, and agriculture. Today, most of the Armenians in Egypt are born and brought up in Egypt. They have become the true citizens of Egypt .
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