118 – al-Muʿizz Aybak the Turcoman, al-Ṣāliḥī, the Jāshankīr*

The sultan, al-Malik al-Muʿizz, ʿIzz al-Dunyā wa-l-Dīn Aybak the Turcoman, al-Ṣāliḥī, the cup-bearer, lord of Egypt.

After they had put al-Muʿaẓẓam to death and the Friday sermon had been delivered in the name of Umm Khalil for several days—during which she stamped the decrees with her seal, issued commands and prohibitions, and was publicly acknowledged as sovereign—al-Muʿizz, the senior figure among the Ṣāliḥiyya, a devout, intelligent, composed, and generous man who kept away from wine, was placed upon the throne in the latter part of Rabīʿ al-Ākhir of the year 648 AH. He then married Umm Khalil.

A number of emirs were affronted by his accession, so five days later they installed, in name only, al-Malik al-Ashraf Mūsā ibn al-Nāṣir Yūsuf ibn al-Masʿūd Aṭsiz, grandson of Sultan al-Malik al-Kāmil, who was only ten years old. Royal rescripts thereafter appeared in the following style: “Issued by the exalted sultanic, Ashrafī and Muʿizzī authority.”

This arrangement continued while actual power remained with al-Muʿizz. Several people corresponded with al-Mughīth in al-Karak and even began having the sermon pronounced for him. Al-Muʿizz declared, “Proclaim that the Egyptian dominions belong to our master al-Mustāʿṣim bi-Llāh, and that al-Malik al-Muʿizz is his deputy.”

The oaths were renewed. Then the lord of Syria, al-Malik al-Nāṣir of Aleppo, launched a surprise attack; the two sides met in battle and al-Nāṣir all but seized the realm. The Ṣāliḥiyya rallied, charged, routed him, and slaughtered his deputy Luʾluʾ along with a number of his men.

Al-Muʿizz was deliberate and diplomatic. He built a large madrasa, and afterwards asked for the hand of the daughter of …

*Jāshankīr: the court official responsible for tasting the ruler’s food and drink.