ruler of Egypt. He then advanced with four hundred horsemen, though his forces were weary and depleted, and with him rode Quraysh, Emir of the Arabs, at the head of two hundred cavalry. The two of them had already besieged Mosul, taken it, and demolished its citadel.

Tughril Beg was meanwhile preoccupied with war against his brother; the populace therefore leaned toward al-Basāsīrī because of the outrages the Ghuzz had inflicted upon them, and the Rāfiḍa (Shiʿites) exulted in his success. Al-Hamadānī presented himself to the Chief of Chiefs, the vizier, sought permission to fight, and pledged to kill al-Basāsīrī. The vizier consented.

ʿAmīd al-ʿIrāq, however, advised delay in the hope that Tughril Beg would come to their aid. Ignoring that counsel, al-Hamadānī led the Hāshimīs, the palace servants, and the common folk out to the parade-ground. Al-Basāsīrī at first withdrew, lured them on, then wheeled round and attacked. They broke and fled; many were slain, Bāb al-Azj was plundered, and the vizier shut the city gates behind them. ʿAmīd was so distraught at the vizier’s usurpation of command—despite his total ignorance of warfare—that he slapped his own face.

The Caliph summoned ʿAmīd and ordered him to defend the rampart of the sanctuary. Suddenly cries arose and the sanctuary was being looted; the attackers had entered through Bāb al-Nūbā. The Caliph mounted, the Prophet’s mantle upon his shoulder, a sword in his hand, surrounded by a handful of men. When he turned toward ʿAmīd he found that the latter had already sought protection with Quraysh.

The Caliph climbed the watch-tower, and the Chief of Chiefs called out to Quraysh: “O ʿAlam al-Dīn, the Commander of the Faithful summons you!” Quraysh approached, whereupon the Chief said, “God has raised you to a rank granted to no other. The Commander of the Faithful places himself and his companions under your protection, invoking the covenant of God, His Messenger, and the Arabs.”

Quraysh replied, “Yes.” He removed his cap and handed it to the Caliph, and gave his staff to the vizier. The Caliph and the vizier then descended to him and went off in his company.

Al-Basāsīrī sent word to Quraysh: “Are you breaking the agreement between us?”

Quraysh answered, “No.” The two therefore agreed to hand over the vizier. When the vizier was brought before al-Basāsīrī, the latter said, “Welcome, destroyer of dynasties!”

The vizier retorted, “Clemency befits one who is able.”

Al-Basāsīrī replied, “You were able, yet you did not forgive; you committed vile deeds against my children. How can I pardon when I wield the sword?”

Quraysh escorted the Caliph to his own camp and entrusted the Caliph’s wife to Ibn Jarda. The palaces of the caliphate were sacked. Quraysh then delivered the Caliph to his cousin Mahārish ibn Mujallī, who conveyed him in a howdah to al-Hadītha. The Caliph’s household retinue, outraged, made their way to Tughril Beg.

Along the road the Caliph complained of the cold, so the governor of Anbar sent him a cloak and a blanket. And no