1- History
In Ancient Egypt, the city was known as Tamiat, but it became less important in the Hellenic period after the construction of Alexandria.
The Abbasids use Alexandria, Damietta, Aden and Siraf as entry ports to India and China.
Damietta was important in the 12th and 13th centuries during the time of the Crusades. In 1169, a fleet from the Kingdom of Jerusalem, with support from the Byzantine Empire, attacked the port, but it was defeated by Saladin.
During preparations for the Fifth Crusade in 1217, it was decided that Damietta should be the focus of attack. Control of Damietta meant control of the Nile, and from there the crusaders believed they would be able to conquer Egypt. From Egypt they could then attack Palestine and recapture Jerusalem. When the port was besieged and occupied by Frisian crusaders in 1219, Francis of Assisi arrived to peaceably negotiate with the Muslim ruler. In 1221 the Crusaders attempted to march to Cairo, but were destroyed by the combination of nature and Muslim defenses.
Damietta was also the object of the Seventh Crusade, led by Louis IX of France. His fleet arrived there in 1249 and quickly captured the fort, though he refused to hand it over to the nominal king of Jerusalem, to whom it had been promised during the Fifth Crusade. However, Louis too was eventually captured and defeated and was forced to give up the city.
Because of its importance to the Crusaders, the Mamluk Sultan Baibars destroyed the city and rebuilt it with stronger fortifications a few kilometres from the river.
2- Monuments
- Amr Ibn Al-a'as Mosque (Al-Fateh) the 2nd mosque to be built in Egypt and Africa by the arabs after entering Egypt. It has been converted to a church twice during occupation by the crusaders and Louis IX of France son Jean Tristan was Baptised by vice of the Pope in this Mosque.
- Al-Matbuly Mosque dating to Mamluk era.
- Al-Maainy Mosque dating to Al-Naser Mohammed Ibn Qalawon regin.
- Al-Bahr Mosque dating to Ottmon rule era.
- Al--Hadidy Mosque in Faraskour 200 years old.
- Tabiet Ahmed Urabi, ruins of Damietta Fort at Ezbet El-Borg.
- Al-Radwaniya Mosque dating to Mamluk era.
- The Old Bridge " Elkobri Elqadeem" dating to early 1900s.
- Souk Al-Hesba, the old dowm town, dating to Abbasi rule era.
3- Gallery
