He then held sole authority over the realm for roughly a year and assumed the title al-Muẓaffar. God ordained that the Tatars (1) be routed at his hands at ʿAyn Jālūt. We have already treated these events fully in the section on historical occurrences—both those that have passed and those yet to come—and praise belongs to God.

Shajar (2) al-Durr (3), daughter of ʿAbd Allah, known as Umm Khalil the Turk, was one of the favored concubines of al-Malik al-Ṣāliḥ Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb. She bore him a son, Khalil (4), of exceptional beauty who died in childhood. The Sultan kept her constantly by his side, whether at home or on campaign, so great was his affection for her. After the murder of her husband’s son, al-Muʿaẓẓam Turanshah, she came to rule Egypt: the Friday sermon (khuṭbah) was delivered in her name, coins (5) were struck bearing her inscription, and her seal appeared on decrees for three months. Al-Muʿizz then seized the throne, as we have said; some years later he married her. When word reached her that he planned to marry the daughter of the ruler of Mosul, Badr al-Dīn Luʾluʾ (6), jealousy overtook her and she conspired against him until she succeeded in killing him, as already mentioned. His Muʿizzi mamluks then united against her, slew her, and cast her onto a rubbish heap for three days; thereafter she was moved to a mausoleum of hers near the tomb of al-Sayyida Nafisa—may Allah Most High show her mercy. A woman of strong will, she destroyed a large quantity of priceless jewels and precious pearls once she realized she was surrounded, grinding them in a mortar so that neither she nor anyone else might enjoy them. Her vizier during her rule was al-Ṣāḥib Bahāʾ al-Dīn ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad ibn Salīm (7), known as Ibn Ḥannā; it was the first of his official posts.

Shaykh al-Asʿad Hibat Allah ibn Ṣāʿid (8) ibn Sharaf al-Dīn al-Faʾizi—so called because he had earlier served al-Malik al-Fāʾiz (9) Sābiq al-Dīn Ibrāhīm ibn al-Malik al-ʿĀdil—had once been a Christian before embracing Islam. He was generous in charity, benevolence (10), and almsgiving. Al-Muʿizz appointed him vizier, and he was exceedingly favored by the Sultan, who undertook nothing without first consulting him. Before him, the vizierate (11) had been held by the judge Tāj al-Dīn Ibn Bint—