And, in sum, “Whoever helps an oppressor will have him set over him” (1), for Allah takes vengeance on one wrongdoer by means of another, and thereafter He exacts vengeance upon all the wrongdoers. We ask Allah for safety from His retribution, His wrath, His punishment, and the evil of His servants.

Then the year 663 AH began.

In it: The Sultan, al-Malik al-Ẓāhir, outfitted a large and formidable army and sent it toward the Euphrates to expel the Tatars who had encamped at al-Bīra (2). When the Tatar host heard that the Ẓāhirid forces were approaching, they turned tail and fled (3), whereupon that entire region was restored to prosperity and security. Formerly it had been uninhabited on account of rampant disorder and fear, but it was now rebuilt and made safe.

Also in that year: al-Malik al-Ẓāhir marched with his troops toward the coastal lands to fight the Franks (4). He captured Caesarea within three hours on Thursday, the 8th of Jumada I—the very day (5) he arrived before it. He took possession of its citadel the following Thursday, the 15th, demolished it, and moved on. News then reached us that he had taken the city of Arsuf (6) and had slain the Franks inside; the royal couriers confirmed the report. Proclamations of victory were sounded throughout the Muslim lands (7), and the people rejoiced exceedingly.

In the same year: A dispatch (8) arrived from the Maghrib reporting that they had routed the Franks, killing forty-five thousand fighting men (9), capturing ten thousand, and retaking forty-two (10) towns, among them Shirīsh (11), Seville, Córdoba, and Murcia. The victory had taken place on Thursday, the 14th of Ramadan (12) in the year 662.

During Ramadan of this year work was begun on paving Bāb al-Barīd, from the mosque gate to the canal (13) beside the steps.