they encamped at the city of Sousse. Al-Mansur sallied forth from Mahdiyya and the two armies met; despite their superior numbers, Makhlad’s forces were routed ⦗1⦘ and he himself was captured in 336 AH. Four days later he died from his wounds; they flayed his body, stuffed it with cotton, and crucified it ⦗2⦘.

On the very site of the battle they founded the city of Mansuriyya, where al-Mansur took up residence ⦗3⦘.

He was a valiant, steadfast hero, eloquent and persuasive, able to deliver speeches extemporaneously ⦗4⦘. In general he showed respect for Islam and possessed sound judgment, unlike his father, the heretic.

On one occasion he gathered in his palace ten thousand boys drawn from the children of his soldiers and subjects. He dressed them in sumptuous garments, prepared for them a banquet the like of which had never been heard, and circumcised them all. To each he gave one hundred—or fifty—dinars, according to rank.

Among his commendable deeds was appointing Muḥammad ibn Abī al-Manẓūr ⦗5⦘ al-Anṣārī as qadi of Kairouan. The man was a leading hadith scholar who had met Ismaʿil the Qadi and al-Harith ibn Abi Usama. He accepted the office on the condition that he would take no stipend and would not ride an animal ⦗6⦘. Al-Mansur installed him to win the people’s goodwill. A Jew who had uttered blasphemy was brought before the judge ⦗7⦘, so he had him thrown to the ground and beaten until