and he never encountered anyone (1) who possessed learning in literature or hadith without seeking their company and mixing with them.

In 271 AH a pitched battle was fought in Palestine between Abū al-ʿAbbās, son of al-Muwaffaq, and the ruler of Egypt, Khumārawayh. Rivers of blood were shed; Khumārawayh was routed and his treasuries were lost. Abū al-ʿAbbās then encamped in his pavilion.

But Saʿd (2) al-Aʿsar had been lying in ambush; he fell upon Abū al-ʿAbbās unexpectedly, put his army to flight, and Abū al-ʿAbbās escaped with only a few men. Saʿd and his followers plundered booty beyond description.

In 272 AH Abū al-ʿAbbās entered Tarsus. His troops drew back and maltreated the townspeople, who therefore banded together and expelled them. Harūn al-Shārī the Kharijite and Ḥamdān ibn Ḥamdūn al-Taghlibī seized Mosul. Al-Muwaffaq arrested “Dhū al-Wizāratayn” Ṣāʿid, confiscated his wealth, and appointed Ismāʿīl ibn Bulbul as his chief secretary. The remnants of the Zanj rebelled in Wāsiṭ, shouting “Ankalāy, O Manṣūr!”—Manṣūr being the villain’s son—who was in the Baghdad prison along with the commanders Ibn Jāmiʿ, al-Muhallabī, and al-Shaʿrānī; they were taken out and crucified.

Al-Muwaffaq marched to Kirmān to fight ʿAmr ibn al-Layth al-Ṣaffār. Yazmān the chamberlain, commander of the frontier districts, likewise set out, penetrated deep into Byzantine territory, killed and captured many, returned victorious, and captured several ships.

In 276 AH reconciliation was reached with al-Ṣaffār; his name was inscribed on the banners and shields.

Several engagements then took place between Muḥammad ibn Abī al-Sāj and Khumārawayh, until Muḥammad was finally defeated. Yazmān reached an understanding with the ruler of Egypt and had the Friday sermon delivered in his name, whereupon Khumārawayh sent him sumptuous robes of honour and a great quantity of gold.

Rāfiʿ ibn Harthama seized Ṭabaristān, and he returned