which he had never envisaged nor taken into account, so that he was almost beside himself with joy and elation (1). He ratified everything his son had done, and news of the affair (2) spread swiftly among the kings; at this they humbled and abased themselves. Each of them sent apologies for what had been imputed to him, laying the blame on someone else. He accepted their excuses, concluded with them a firm peace, and ushered the realm into a new era (3)—praise be to Allah. The kingdom of the Georgians remained in al-Awhad’s hands under all the conditions stipulated (4), and al-Ashraf married the king’s daughter (5).

Among the curious reports that Abū Shāma relates (6) about this incident is that the king’s priest, Hazzaʾ (7), who practiced astrology, told the king the day before: “Know that tomorrow you will enter the citadel of Khilāṭ, but dressed in attire other than your own, at the call to the ʿaṣr prayer.” It happened exactly so: he entered it as a captive at the very moment of the ʿaṣr call to prayer (8).

Report (9) of the death of the lord of Mosul, Nūr al-Dīn (10): King Nūr al-Dīn [Arsalan] Shāh ibn ʿIzz al-Dīn (11) Masʿūd ibn Quṭb al-Dīn Mawdūd ibn Zangī, ruler of Mosul, had sent to request the hand of the Sultan (12) al-Malik al-ʿĀdil’s daughter in marriage, dispatching his agent to conclude the contract for thirty thousand dinars. It so happened that both Nūr al-Dīn and his agent died on the journey; nevertheless, the contract was finalized after his death—may Allah have mercy upon him. Ibn al-Athīr (13), in his al-Kāmil, lavished praise upon him, commending his justice, gallantry, and scrupulousness.