In this year, Sultan Malikshah ordered the construction of the city walls of the town known by the name of Tughrul Bey. This place was adjacent to the government palace. He renovated its caravanserais, streets, and houses. Subsequently, he also ordered the renovation of the mosque, which would later be completed in the year 524 of the hijra by Harun al-Hadim. He personally determined the qibla of this mosque. His astrologer Ibrahim was present with him. He had the timbers of the Samarra Mosque transported here.
Nizam al-Mulk also began the construction of a magnificent palace for himself. Likewise, Taj al-Muluk Abu'l-Ghana'im also began the construction of a magnificent palace for himself. These men settled in Baghdad.
In the month of Jumada al-Awwal of this year, great fires broke out in various parts of Baghdad. The fire could not be extinguished before a great amount of the people's belongings were destroyed. They were unable to repair and restore as much as was burned in the fire. They could not find the money to accomplish all this.
In the month of Rabi' al-Awwal of this year, Sultan Malikshah, accompanied by the caliph's son Abu'l-Fadl Ja'far, went to Isfahan. Then, in the month of Ramadan, he returned again to Baghdad. While on the road, on the day of Ashura, a Daylamite boy attacked the vizier Nizam al-Mulk with a knife after iftar, and Nizam al-Mulk died an hour later. The Daylamite boy was caught and killed. Vizier Nizam al-Mulk was among the distinguished and virtuous commanders of the great viziers. During the narration of his biography, we shall mention a little about his life.
Sultan Malikshah came to Baghdad in the month of Ramadan with an intention that was not at all good. That which he wished for his enemies befell him in his own person. That is: after he arrived in Baghdad, people came and greeted him. They welcomed him. The caliph also sent him his good wishes. He himself sent the following message to the caliph:
"You will certainly renounce Baghdad for me and go to any land you wish."
The caliph sent word requesting a month's respite from him, but he did not accept this request. He declared that he would not grant even an hour's delay. The caliph pleaded with him to grant at least ten days' respite. After resisting strongly, he accepted this. Before the ten days were up, Sultan Malikshah went hunting on the day of Eid al-Fitr. While hunting, he was struck by a severe fever. He had blood let from his body. He was unable to rise from his place and died before the ten days were up. Praise and gratitude are due to Allah.
His wife Zubayda Khatun took control of the soldiers. She managed the finances, the economy, and affairs in a truly excellent manner. She sent word to the caliph, requesting that after her husband's death, her son Mahmud be made king, and that the Friday sermon (khutba) be delivered in his name from the pulpits. The caliph accepted her request. He sent the robe of sovereignty to her son Mahmud. He also sent his condolences to her, together with her husband's vizier Amid al-Dawla b. Juheyr, on account of her husband's death. On that day, Malik Mahmud was five years old. Afterwards, his mother took him, together with the soldiers, to Isfahan so that his authority might be strengthened. They entered Isfahan and attained their desire. For this small child, the Friday sermon was delivered in the cities of the country, even in the Haramain. Taj al-Muluk Abu'l-Ghana'im Marzuban b. Khusraw was appointed vizier for him. Afterwards, his mother sent word to the caliph, requesting that the governors be placed under her son's administration.
The caliph did not consent to this. Al-Ghazali also agreed with the caliph on this matter. However, the scholars issued a fatwa that it could be permissible. Among those who issued the fatwa was al-Muttatabbib b. Muhammad al-Hanafi. However, the opinion of al-Ghazali was acted upon. Most of Sultan Malikshah's soldiers joined the ranks of his other son, Barkiyaruq. They pledged allegiance to him. In the city of Ray, the Friday sermon was delivered in his name. Zubayda Khatun, her son Mahmud, and the few soldiers with them, together with the hasekis, were left alone. Zubayda Khatun spent 30,000,000 dinars on these soldiers to fight against Barkiyaruq. As a result, the two sides met in the month of Dhu al-Hijja. Zubayda Khatun and her son suffered defeat. In a hadith found in Sahih al-Bukhari, it is stated:
"A people who entrust their affairs to a woman will never prosper."
In the month of Dhu al-Qa'da of this year, the sons of Hafaja attacked the pilgrims. The commander of the pilgrimage, Humartekin, together with the soldiers under his command who were responsible for protecting the pilgrims, fought the sons of Hafaja. They defeated them. The goods of the Bedouin sons of Hafaja were plundered. Praise and gratitude are due to Allah.
In this year, severe hailstorms fell in Basra. Each of these hailstones weighed between five and thirteen ritl (one ritl is 460 grams). The hail destroyed a great number of date palms and other trees. Then a hurricane arose and uprooted tens of thousands of date palms. Inna lillāhi wa inna ilayhi rājiʿūn (Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return).
"Whatever misfortune befalls you is because of what your own hands have done, and He pardons much." (al-Shura, 30).
In this year, the governor of Damascus, Malik Taj al-Dawla Tutush, captured the city of Homs and the fortresses of Arqa and Famiyya. Qasim al-Dawla Aksungur was with him.
The sultan sent a detachment to Yemen under the command of Sa'd Jawharayin al-Dawla and another commander from among the Turks. They went to Yemen. There, they treated the people badly. On the day Sa'd Jawharayin entered Yemen, he died in the city of Aden. Praise and gratitude are due to Allah.