a banner (1) and cried out, “Nūr al-Dīn—victory!”

The fighting then subsided. A wood-cutter rushed forward with his axe, smashed the lock of an eastern gate, and Nūr al-Dīn entered. The populace greeted him joyfully, while King Mujīr al-Dīn barricaded himself in the Citadel seeking safe-conduct. He soon came down, and Nūr al-Dīn reassured him. Mujīr al-Dīn withdrew with his wealth to the Atabeg residence, then proceeded to Ḥimṣ, where an official writ was issued for him.

Not long afterwards the Ghuzz Turkmen swept in, plundered Nīshāpūr, tortured and killed thousands, and made a show of serving Sultan Sanjar—only to carry him off with them. After his former glory and sovereignty he now lived in abject misery, riding a broken-down beast and sometimes going hungry.

In that same year, on Friday the second of Shawwāl, a tremendous lightning bolt struck the Crown that stood in the Caliphal Palace. It set the crown, the dome, and the surrounding quarters ablaze, and the fire raged for nine days before it was extinguished, leaving the structure charred like cinders. It was an awe-inspiring portent and a bewildering event. The Crown, one of the world’s marvels, had been erected by al-Muktafī in his reign: soaring, exquisitely built, later repaired and refurbished—until this calamity reduced it to ashes.

In 550 AH the caliph al-Muqtafī marched to Kūfa and passed through its marketplace. The year before, al-Ẓāfir had been killed in Egypt. Ṭalāʾiʿ ibn Zureyk arrived from Upper Egypt to avenge al-Ẓāfir on his murderer ‘Abbās, who fled toward Syria with his wealth. The Franks of Ascalon captured and killed him, selling his son Naṣr to the Egyptians. Egypt plunged into disorder, and the Franks resolved to seize it. Ships from Sicily anchored off Tinnīs, stormed the city, killed many of its inhabitants, and carried off captives.

Meanwhile Nūr al-Dīn took several Frankish fortresses and some Byzantine territory on terms of amān, and his dominion broadened. Al-Muqtafī sent him an investiture diploma, bestowed on him the title al-Malik al-ʿĀdil (“the Just King”), and ordered him to turn his attention to Egypt.