Also in that year: a mighty earthquake struck Mosul, destroying most of its houses.
In Ramadan, Sultan al-Zahir dispatched artisans, timber, and a large quantity of equipment for the reconstruction of the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—after the fire that had damaged it. Those timbers and tools were paraded through Egypt in joy and veneration for their purpose (1), after which they were taken to the Noble City of Madinah.
In Shawwal, al-Zahir traveled to Alexandria, examined its affairs, dismissed its qadi and preacher, Nasir al-Din Ahmad ibn al-Munir, and appointed another in his place.
That same year Berke Khan and Hulaghu met, each with a vast army. They fought, and Allah routed Hulaghu (2) with a terrible defeat: most of his men were slain, the greater part of the survivors drowned, and he himself fled with only a small band (3). Praise be to Allah. When Berke Khan (4) saw the multitude of the slain he said, “It pains me that the Mongols kill one another, yet what remedy is there for one who has altered the law of Chinggis Khan?” Berke Khan then raided the territories of Constantinople, whose ruler placated him (5). Al-Zahir sent splendid gifts to Berke Khan (6).
Moreover (7) al-Barli (8) installed in Aleppo another caliph, granting him the title al-Hakim. When al-Mustansir passed by him, he accompanied him to Iraq; they agreed on what was in their mutual interest, and al-Hakim submitted to al-Mustansir (9) because the latter was his senior—praise be to Allah. Yet a contingent of Tatars rose against them (10), scattered their forces, killed many who were with them; al-Mustansir disappeared, and al-Hakim fled with the Bedouins.
This al-Mustansir had captured many towns on his march [from Syria] (11) toward Iraq. When Bahadur Ali, the military governor of Baghdad, fought him, al-Mustansir defeated him and slew most of his men. Then an ambush of Tatars arrived to reinforce them; the Arabs and Kurds who had been with al-Mustansir took to flight, while he remained steadfast with a group of Turks—most of them were killed, and he vanished from