over (1) many towns and a great number of districts in the Jazīrah and Diyar Bakr. A lengthy chain of events followed, fully detailed by Ibn al-Athīr in al-Kāmil (2) and by the author of al-Rawdatayn (3).

He then concluded a peace with the Mosulis whereby they would join his army whenever he summoned them to fight the Franks, the Friday sermon would be delivered in his name, and coin would be struck bearing his inscription (4). This was implemented throughout those territories, the khutbah in the names of the Seljuqs and the Artuqids (5) ceased altogether, harmony was achieved, and every difficulty was removed.

It also happened (6) that afterwards the Sultan was stricken with a severe illness. He bore it with fortitude (7), showing no sign of pain (8) until the malady overwhelmed him and his condition worsened. Upon reaching Harran he pitched camp there because of the intensity of his suffering. News of this spread through the land; the people feared for his life, [and they themselves fell ill out of anxiety for him] (9). The unbelievers and heretics spread rumors of his death (10), while the townsfolk and the believers were alarmed. His brother Abū Bakr al-ʿĀdil (11) came from Aleppo bringing physicians and medicines, found him extremely weak, and advised him to make a will and appoint a successor.

The Sultan replied, “I have no cause for worry, for I am leaving behind Abu Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī.” By this he meant his brother al-ʿĀdil, lord of Harran; Taqī al-Dīn ʿUmar, lord of Hama—who at that time was his viceroy in Egypt and resident there—and his two sons al-ʿAzīz ʿUthmān (12) and al-Afḍal (13) ʿAlī. He then vowed to Allah Most High that, should He heal him of this illness, he would devote his entire energy to fighting the unbelievers (14), would never again wage war against a Muslim, and would henceforward make the conquest of Jerusalem his foremost concern (15).