Both sides spent the night facing each other. There was only a distance of two or three miles between the two armies. It had rained during the night. When morning came, most of Tanboğa's soldiers defected to Kutluboğa al-Fahrī's side. The sworn soldiers, commanders, and members of the notable class also crossed over to the opposing side. The sun had risen and climbed a little when Tanboğa sent his judges and some commanders to Kutluboğa al-Fahrī, threatening and frightening him, and informing him that he was strong against him. Soon after, the soldiers stationed at the center and on the right and left wings began to move and submit to Kutluboğa's command. They were in distress. Their food supplies and fodder for mounts had diminished. Seeing that this situation would prolong, they were saddened by their condition, and both they and the city's inhabitants felt some relief due to their defection to Kutluboğa's side.
They also disliked Tanboğa. He had embarked on a venture that would not benefit them personally. Consequently, the commanders agreed among themselves to rebel against Tanboğa. Only those close to Tanboğa continued their obedience. All these events took place in less than an hour. Seeing the situation had come to this, Tanboğa returned to where he had come from. With him were the deputy of Tripoli, Emir Seyfeddin Raktuba, and two other commanders. The soldiers and commanders faced each other. Before noon, this news was announced to Damascus. People rejoiced greatly; drums of joy and good tidings were played at the fortress of al-Mansure. They began searching for those who had fled. Kutluboğa al-Fahrī remained there for the rest of the day. He made the commanders swear allegiance to him. They swore. On Thursday evening, he entered Damascus with great pomp and respect.
He settled in Kasr al-Ablak. Emir Tuğurdemir also came to the Great Square. Ammarī was hosted at Dār al-Saʿāda. They released the Jew imprisoned in the fortress from the dungeon. He was tasked with overseeing Tanboğa's property and possessions. Kutluboğa al-Fahrī was very angry with a group of commanders, among whom was Emir Hacip, because Emir Hacip was Alaeddin Tanboğa's retainer. Seeing what had happened, he had fled with the deserters but had not gone to Fahrī's side. On the contrary, he had entered the city and sided with neither one nor the other—that is, he neither went with Alaeddin Tanboğa nor came with Kutluboğa al-Fahrī. Later, he sought to make amends. The next day, he returned to Kutluboğa al-Fahrī. According to another report, he was very sorrowful upon arrival. Then Kutluboğa gave him a safe-conduct pass—that is, he spared his life. With them was also the secret scribe, Judge Shihābuddīn b. Fadllah. Later, Kutluboğa al-Fahrī released those commanders he had been angry with. Among them was Seyfeddin Haftiye. Kutluboğa was very angry with him but released him the same day and reinstated him to the post of chamberlain. He showed great generosity, thus proving he was a great leader.
In this event, the Hanbalīs' great and commendable efforts by the judge of judges, Alaeddin b. Mencā, were notable. He had met with Alaeddin Tanboğa and frightened him. He risked himself alongside him. But Allah Almighty granted him success and saved him from harm. He subdued his enemy. Praise and thanks be to Allah.
On Saturday, the 26th of Rajab, Sheikh Fahreddīn b. Saʿīgh was appointed as the judge of the Mansure troops. Previously, a Hanafi judge held this position. Since the Hanafi judge had issued a fatwā stating that Alaeddin Tanboğa must fight Kutluboğa al-Fahrī, Kutluboğa and his supporters took revenge on him. When Fahreddīn b. Saʿīgh was appointed to this post, the followers of the late Takiyyuddīn b. Taymiyya rejoiced greatly because Sheikh Fahreddīn b. Saʿīgh was a longtime friend of Ibn Taymiyya and had acquired much beneficial knowledge and sciences from him.
At the end of Rajab, on Wednesday evening, Emir Kumarī arrived in Damascus from Kerek, where Malik Nasir b. Nasir was located. He had informed Malik Nasir b. Nasir about the events between Kutluboğa al-Fahrī and Alaeddin Tanboğa. Malik Nasir b. Nasir was very pleased with this situation. When Kumarī arrived in Damascus and announced that the sultan was coming, people rejoiced greatly. They prepared the instruments used in state ceremonies to welcome him. Kumarī demanded heavy taxes from wealthy individuals and increased the jizyah of the dhimmīs.
At the beginning of Shaʿbān that year, Kutluboğa al-Fahrī organized a sultanate ceremony and a salute procession by decision of the deputy council. He was the first person in this procession. Standing beside him was Kumarī, wearing a magnificent robe. That day, people prayed much for Kutluboğa al-Fahrī. It was a magnificent day worthy of being seen.
On the same day, some people went to inform the son of Iultamn about the events. Among those who went were Tuğurdemir, Akboğa ʿAbdülvahid as-Sāqī, Mengliboğa, and others.
On the third of Shaʿbān, Saturday, Kutluboğa al-Fahrī summoned the Shāfiʿī judge. He requested the books from the judgment basket taken from Sheikh Takiyyuddīn b. Taymiyya, who had been imprisoned in Manaurt fortress during Jalāluddīn al-Kāghīrī's time. Despite much resistance and reluctance, the judge finally brought these books to Kutluboğa al-Fahrī because he feared the coming printing presses. Kutluboğa al-Fahrī told him he could leave after delivering the books at the palace but was very angry with him. At one point, he even intended to dismiss him because he was unwilling to hand over the books. Most likely, Kutluboğa requested these books to learn Ibn Taymiyya's opinion on the issue of visiting graves. At one point, he said, "Sheikh Ibn Taymiyya knows the judgment of Allah and His Messenger better than you." He also summoned Sheikh Zaynuddīn ʿAbdurraḥmān and Sheikh Shamsuddīn ʿAbdurraḥmān b. Qayyim al-Jawziyya. Sheikh Shamsuddīn ʿAbdurraḥmān made commendable efforts in this matter. He congratulated these two sheikhs for bringing the books. Then he requested that these books remain in the palace library that night. Sheikh Zaynuddīn led the evening prayer at the palace, and Kutluboğa followed him. That day, because Kutluboğa al-Fahrī loved Sheikh Takiyyuddīn Ibn Taymiyya very much, he showed excessive respect and hospitality to his brother Sheikh Zaynuddīn.
On Sunday, the fourth of Shaʿbān, news of the arrest of Koson in the land of Egypt reached Damascus. Joy drums were played at the fortress and the city gate. People gathered joyfully on this occasion. A group of commanders also went to Kerek to pledge their allegiance to Nasir b. Nasir and met with the Damascene emirs there. They requested him to come to them, but he refused. He suspected all this was a trap to arrest him and hand him over to Koson. He asked them for time to consider and sent them back to Damascus.
During those days, Kutluboğa al-Fahrī collected about 107,000 dinars of annual zakāt from a group of merchants in the markets and other places. The jizyah of the dhimmīs was also collected in advance for three years, approximately the same amount. Then, on Monday, the 21st of Shaʿbān, Kutluboğa al-Fahrī made an announcement in the city informing the public that injustices and confiscations had been lifted and that the remaining zakāt and confiscation payments had been forgiven. Only a group of wealthy people who had set out on foot to buy private properties were taken into custody. Burhān b. Bashshārī al-Hanafī was also held under confiscation and torture; he was urged to hand over a treasure he had found to the authorities. Only Allah knows the truth.
On Friday, the 24th of Shaʿbān, after prayer, six commanders came. They wanted to meet the sultan and request his arrival in Damascus, but the sultan had appointed another time for this matter. Kutluboğa al-Fahrī went out of the city to welcome them and waited at the Qibla side of the Kubaybat al-Kasr Mosque. This group, all Turks, entered Damascus but were embarrassed because the sultan did not come. On Sunday, following Kumarī, the postal envoy arrived in Damascus and invited these commanders to Kerek. News spread that the sultan had seen the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) in a dream, who ordered him to descend from Kerek and ascend the throne of the country. People rejoiced and felt relieved.
On Wednesday, the 29th of Shaʿbān, Sheikh ʿUmar b. Abu...
Bekir b. Yusmī al-Bashtī passed away. He was a pious man who recited the Qur'an often, attended dhikr and hadith gatherings, and gave abundant charity. He had heard hadith from Sheikh Fahreddīn b. Bukhārī and others. I also read the work Muḥtaṣar al-Mashīḥa, which he had received via transmission from Bukhārī's son, in his presence. He had attended the assemblies of Sheikh Takiyyuddīn Ibn Taymiyya and benefited from him. He was buried in the Bab al-Ṣaghīr cemetery.
On Friday, the first day of the blessed Ramadan, an announcement was made in the army: "The sultan will be welcomed on the seventh of Ramadan." Later, this reception was postponed to after the tenth of Ramadan. The sultan informed in a letter that he would come to Damascus after the festival. On the tenth of Ramadan, Alaeddin b. Takiyyuddīn al-Hanafī arrived in Damascus. He brought with him a decree from Sultan Nasir appointing him as the superintendent of the Nuri Hospital, the sheikh of the Rabwah Madrasa, and to sultanic offices. Previously, Judge Shihābuddīn b. Barizī had also come to Damascus with a decree from the sultan appointing him as judge of Homs. May Allah grant strength to the sultan. People rejoiced greatly. The sultan had begun to discuss state affairs, take control of administration, issue commands, make appointments, and sign decrees. Praise be to Allah.
On Wednesday, the 13th of Ramadan, Emir Seyfeddīn Taşdemir al-Ḥumūsī al-Aḥdar came from Aleppo to Damascus. He was welcomed by Kutluboğa al-Fahrī, commanders, and soldiers. He entered the city with great pomp, and people prayed for him. Having fled from Tanboğa to various places, order had been disrupted. The people were very happy with his arrival.
On Thursday, the 14th of Ramadan, soldiers went from Damascus to Gaza to welcome the sultan coming from Kerek al-Saʿīd. That day, Tuğurdemir and Akboğa ʿAbdülhamid were commanders of these soldiers. They went to Qaswa. On Saturday, Kutluboğa al-Fahrī set out accompanied by Taşdemir and most of the commanders. Only the administrators who were obliged to stay in Damascus to manage the country remained. The others had gone with Kutluboğa to welcome the sultan. Along with Kutluboğa were judges of the four madhhabs, the chief judge, members of the tevki council, the accountant, the army secretary, and many others.
On Sunday night, the 24th of Ramadan, Sheikh, pious, worshipper, and nāṣik Ahmed al-Qāṣidah passed away. His funeral prayer was performed at the Shukr Mosque. He was buried near the grave of Sheikh Jamāluddīn al-Mizzī in the Sufi cemetery. May Allah have mercy on both of them. Sheikh Ahmed al-Qāṣidah was a very pious person. He continued to perform prayers in congregation with care, enjoined good, and forbade evil. He was a virtuous person remembered with gratitude by people. He served patients in the hospital abundantly and did not withhold his service from patients elsewhere. He preferred the interests of others over his own and was content. He was very ascetic and had famous spiritual states. May Allah have mercy on him and on us.
At the end of Ramadan, news spread that Sultan Malik Nasir Shihābuddīn Ahmed had left Kerek with a group of Arabs and Turks and headed to Egypt. The exact date of departure from Kerek was reported as Monday, the 18th of Ramadan, and a few days later he entered the land of Egypt. All the soldiers united on his side and encouraged him to proceed to the capital of Egypt. Emir Seyfeddīn Kutluboğa al-Fahrī and the Damascene and Sham commanders in his entourage did not allow the sultan to ascend the throne of the country before their arrival. Therefore, joy and good tidings drums had not yet been played in Damascus and other places at that time. On Monday, the 10th of Shawwāl, letters and news arrived in Damascus announcing the accession of Sultan Malik Nasir Shihābuddīn Ahmed to the throne.
The sultan himself and the caliph Ḥākim Biʾamrillāh Abū al-ʿAbbās Ahmed b. Mustakfī, dressed in black robes, ascended the pulpit. The judges of the four madhhabs stood on the steps of the pulpit according to their ranks. The caliph delivered the sermon, clothed Ashraf al-Kūchak with the robe, and handed over the administration to Nasir. It was truly a magnificent day worthy of being seen. Taşdemir was appointed as the deputy of Egypt, Kutluboğa al-Fahrī as the deputy of Damascus, and Aydoghmush as the deputy of Aleppo. Allah knows best. On Friday night, the 21st of Shawwāl, joy drums were played in Damascus on this occasion and continued until Monday, the beginning of Dhu al-Qaʿdah. The city was decorated on Sunday, the 23rd of Shawwāl. People showed great interest in the decorations and enjoyed themselves.
On Thursday, a famous leader from Egypt, Emir Seyfeddīn al-Malik, came to Damascus requesting the governorship of Hama. After Friday prayer, news arrived from Egypt that Taşdemir al-Ḥumūsī al-Aḥdar had been arrested. People were very surprised by this event. Leading commanders in Damascus, including the Hajj commander and others, went out of the city and camped at Waṭāy Berze. Meanwhile, the Hajj caravan set out under the command of another emir. This situation was explained to this emir, and he was asked to serve as deputy in Damascus until someone was appointed as the Hajj commander by the sultan's decree. He agreed to this and stayed with the caravan until Saturday, the 6th of Dhu al-Qaʿdah.
Kutluboğa al-Fahrī investigated this news and confirmed the situation as described. He mobilized about sixty of his slaves, burning and destroying the surroundings. Then about 1,000 cavalry under the command of Tanboğa al-Mardānī and Yelboğa al-Tahnawī came from Egypt and began to pursue him. He set out before them. The Gaza deputy soldiers blocked his path but could not capture him. The tribes tried to attack him and plunder his property but could not overpower him. They only seized some of his possessions and killed some of his men. It is said that he hoped for the help of his master Emir Seyfeddīn Aydoghmush and set out toward Aleppo, where he was deputy. Upon arrival, Aydoghmush hosted and entertained him, and he spent the night with him. In the morning, Kutluboğa was captured, chained, and sent to Egypt by post, accompanied by commanders.
At the end of Dhu al-Qaʿdah, on Monday, Sultan Malik al-Nasir Shihābuddīn Ahmed b. Nasir Muhammad b. Mansur left Egypt with a group of soldiers to go to Kerek. He had a large amount of goods and belongings with him. On the first Tuesday of Dhu al-Ḥijjah, he entered Kerek, accompanied by Emir Taşdemir, who was ill and confined to a chamber. Kutluboğa al-Fahrī was chained. Both were imprisoned in Kerek. The sultan brought timber to repair some important places in Kerek. He gathered blacksmiths and artisans and requested many things from Damascus. The requested items were brought. On Sunday, the 25th of Dhu al-Ḥijjah, news arrived that Emir Ruknuddīn Baybars al-Aḥmadī had set out from the city of Suğd, where he was deputy, with his slaves, servants, and obedient men.
He had fled for fear of capture. It is said that the Gaza deputy had pursued him to arrest him by the sultan's order, and Ahmadī fled for this reason. When this news reached Damascus, which had no deputy, the commanders became uneasy and gathered at Dār al-Saʿāda. They formed a consultation council on this matter. Then, to deter Ahmadī from going to the desert, they sent a mounted unit under a commander toward Baalbek. They received news that Ahmadī was in the Keswa area and that there was no obstacle to his escape. The herald announced, "Anyone who does not join the army's campaign will be executed." They all swore to join and headed toward Keswa. They also sent envoys to Ahmadī, who expressed that he had rebelled and fled and wanted to escape from them. That day passed thus.
They began to retreat. They encountered a very hot day. They had only enough provisions for ten days. On Tuesday night, the commanders began to pursue him under Seniyyat al-Uqāb. The next day, they caught him and returned with him. They settled him in the mansion built by the late Tengiz. This mansion was on the road to Dārīya. Ahmadī resided there. He was given barley and sheep sufficient for his and his companions' needs. He also had slaves and servants with him. On the sixth of Muharram, a letter from the sultan arrived in Damascus. It was read to the commanders at Dār al-Saʿāda. The letter ordered that he be honored, respected, and pardoned because he had previously served Sultan Malik al-Nasir and his son Malik al-Mansur.
On Wednesday, the seventh of Muharram, a letter arrived for the deputy of Damascus, Ibn Ḥāʾib. The letter ordered the arrest of Ataeddīn. On Thursday, the soldiers set out and formed a campaign formation at Bukūl al-Ḥayl. They also sent him a message. He set out with his roots, weapons, and equipment. He strongly resisted this order and said, "I obey and listen to the sultan who rules Egypt, but I will never obey or listen to the one in Kerek and what he has done." The commanders were surprised by this response. They did not know what to do with him. They remained stuck in place and then returned to their stations. Ahmadī also went to his residence.