Then the year 742 AH dawned, its first day falling on a Sunday. At that time the sovereign of Islam in Egypt, Syria, and the lands adjoining them was Sultan al-Malik al-Manṣūr Sayf al-Dīn Abū Bakr, son of Sultan al-Malik al-Nāṣir Nāṣir al-Dīn Muḥammad, son of Sultan al-Malik al-Manṣūr Sayf al-Dīn Qalāwūn al-Ṣāliḥī. The viceroy over Syria was Emir ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn Alṭanbughā ⦗1⦘, while the judges of Syria and Egypt—and likewise the civil officials, apart from the provincial governors—remained the same as previously noted.
On that very day allegiance to the Caliphate was pledged to the Commander of the Faithful, Abū al-Qāsim Aḥmad ibn al-Mustakfī Billah Abū al-Rabīʿ Sulaymān al-ʿAbbāsī. He donned black, sat with al-Malik al-Manṣūr upon the throne of kingship, and the sultan likewise placed a black robe of honor upon him; thus they both sat arrayed in black. The Caliph then delivered an eloquent, articulate sermon that included admonition, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. Robes of honor were bestowed that day upon a number of emirs and notables, and the occasion was one long to be remembered. Abū al-Qāsim’s father had already designated him for the Caliphate, but al-Nāṣir had not permitted it; instead he installed Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm, nephew of Abū al-Rabīʿ, granting him the title al-Wāthiq Billah, and the Friday sermon was pronounced for him in Cairo only once. Al-Manṣūr deposed him, confirmed Abū al-Qāsim, ratified that investiture, and conferred upon him the title al-Mustanṣir Billah, as we have mentioned ⦗2⦘.
On Sunday, the 8th of Muḥarram, Emir Sayf al-Dīn Bashtak al-Nāṣirī was arrested late in the day ⦗3⦘. His commission as viceroy of Syria had already been drafted, a robe of honor bestowed, and his baggage train had set out. He then entered to bid farewell to al-Malik al-Manṣūr; the sultan welcomed him, seated him, produced food, and they ate together. The sultan lamented his departure, saying, “You will go and leave me alone.” He rose to see him off, and Bashtak had taken about eight steps when three men approached ⦗4⦘: one cut the belt of his sword with a knife, another clapped a hand over his mouth, and the third bound his arms. They shackled him—this all in the very presence of the sultan—then spirited him away, and no one knew where he had been taken.
They said to his mamluks, “Go and bring the emir’s mount tomorrow; he will be spending the night with the sultan.” The next morning the sultan took his seat upon the throne and ordered the arrest of a number of emirs and nine leading dignitaries ⦗5⦘. His effects, money, and estates were placed under sequestration. It is said that among his possessions were found one million gold dinars and seven hundred thousand dinars besides.