and they plunged into the heart of the enemy, killing whomever they pleased. The army stood firm, divine help descended, the Romans broke and ran, and the slaughter overtook them. Their tyrant Romanus was captured by a mamluk in the service of Koharāʾīn; the man meant to kill him, but a Frank shouted, “No, no—that is the king!”
I have read in al-Qifṭī’s own handwriting that Alp Arslan excelled in humble supplication and devoted himself sincerely to Allah.
The tyrant was taken in this manner: a mamluk came upon a horse fitted with a jeweled bridle and a gilded saddle, led by a man who carried before him a golden helmet and a gilded coat of mail. The slave decided to seize him and brought him before the sultan, who tapped him on the head with a mace and said, “Woe to you! Did I not send asking you for a truce?”
Romanus replied, “Spare me the reproaches.”
The sultan asked, “What had you resolved to do if you had captured me?”
He answered, “Every vile thing.”
The sultan said, “And what do you now look for and expect from me?”
He said, “Death—or that you parade me through your lands; a third, unlikely course would be pardon and the acceptance of ransom.”
The sultan declared, “I intend nothing else.”
So Romanus ransomed himself for 1,000,000 dinars and another 500,000 dinars, together with the release of every Muslim prisoner in his dominions. The sultan bestowed robes of honor upon him, sent an escort, and provided the expenses to see him home.
As for the Romans, they quickly enthroned another ruler. When Romanus drew near and sensed that his sovereignty was gone, he donned wool, became a monk, gathered what funds he could—about 300,000 dinars—and sent them with an apology. It is also said that he gained control of the Armenian frontier districts.
The great battle took place in the year 463 AH (1).
The sultan invaded Byzantine lands twice, took fortresses, and terrified the kings. He then marched to Isfahan, from there to Kirman—where his brother Hārūth (2) was governor—proceeded to Shiraz, and finally returned to Khurasan, and he was on the verge of conquering Egypt.