The Nāṣirī Generations 39.9

39.9

The army reached the city on Saturday, the 19th Sha'ban, 639, and the siege went on until the month of Zi-l ka'da. Many were killed on both sides, and the suburbs of the city were laid waste. The reason of these protracted hostilities was that there was in the king's service a man named Fakhru-d din Mubarak Shah Farkhi, who was chief of the carpet spreaders (mihtar-farrash). This man had gained the favour of the king, and had great ascendancy over him. Whatever he advised the king performed, and the counsels of the farrash were not for peace. On Friday, the 7th Zi-l ka'da, the followers of Khwaja Mahzab distributed three thousand chitals among a lot of foolish men, and excited inimical feelings among some even of this author's kindred (God forgive them !). They made a riot in the Jami' masjid, after prayers, and drew their swords upon him. By God's mercy the author had a knife and a staff, which he seized, and with the help of some armed slaves whom he had with him he made his way through the crowd. The generals and Turks took the fort, and next day, on Saturday, the 8th Zi-l ka'da, 639 H. (May, 1242), they obtained possession of the whole city. The Sultan was made prisoner. Mubarak Shah, farrash, who had embittered the strife, was also taken and was killed. In the night of Tuesday, the 17th of Zi-l ka'da, the Sultan was slain. He had reigned two years one month and a-half.