During this same month the judgeship of the Holy City of Jerusalem was likewise detached and assigned solely to Judge Shams al-Din ibn Salim. He had administered that court for many years as deputy, was then dismissed and remained in his hometown of Gaza, but at this time he was reinstated with full and independent authority.

In this very month Judge Shihab al-Din ibn Fadl Allah returned from Egypt carrying a royal rescript that confirmed his stipend—one thousand dirhams at the start of every month (1). He took up residence in the building he had erected on the slope of Mount Qasyun, east of al-Salihiyya and near the Hammam al-Nahhas.

At dawn on the first day of Dhu al-Qaʿda the mangonel set out for al-Karak, loaded onto camels and hurried along on carts (2). Accompanying it was Emir Sarim al-Din Ibrahim al-Yusufi (3), an amir ḥājib who had served under the Tankaizi administration (4); he was placed in command of the engine, guarding and protecting it and supervising its transport at the request of its handlers.

The army prepared to march on al-Karak, completing their equipment in full. Their baggage trains moved outside the city and the tents were pitched—may Allah grant a favorable outcome.

On Monday, the fourth, the eunuch Shibl al-Dawla Kafur (5) al-Tankizi (6) passed away, and on Tuesday morning, the fifth, he was buried in the mausoleum he had built long before outside Bab al-Jabiya, opposite the tomb of the eunuch Zahir al-Din al-Khazin (7) at the Citadel, just short of the Mosque of the Flies (may Allah have mercy on him).

That mausoleum had originally belonged to al-Sahib Taqi al-Din Tawbah al-Tikriti (8). Tankiz later purchased it, after many years, from Tawbah’s two nephews, Salah al-Din and Sharaf al-Din, for a handsome price and compensated them with a fief greater than what they had previously held. He did so out of eagerness for the wealth that Shibl al-Dawla had amassed through the avenues of the sultanate. At one stage his master Tankiz (may Allah have mercy on him) turned against him; his property was confiscated and he endured various ordeals, yet he eventually emerged unharmed. When he died he left considerable wealth and numerous endowments—may Allah have mercy on him.

The expeditionary force departed on Wednesday, the sixth; its commander was Emir Badr al-Din ibn al-Khatir (9), accompanied by a second commander, Emir ʿAlaʾ al-Din Qarasunqur (10).