The Nāṣirī Generations 109.1

109.1

Trustworthy persons have related after this manner: that a body of Maghrabi 'Alawis laid claim to the Khilafat, and brought an army from Maghrab into Misr, and wrested it out of the hands of the governors and nobles of the 'Abbasi Khalifahs. The chief of them was named Al-Muntasir; and some theologians regard them as Karamitahs. The territory of Misr had continued in the possession of his descendants up to the period that an army of Afranj set out towards Misr, and plundered and sacked the country. The 'Alawis of Misr had not the power to resist them, nor to drive out that host of infidels; so they solicited aid from Sultan Nur-ud-Din of Sham. He nominated Malik Asad-ud-Din, son of Shadi, to proceed into Misr, and expel the Afranj infidels from that country. Malik Asad-ud-Din preferred a request to the Sultan that he would appoint Salah-ud-Din, Yusuf, his nephew, to accompany him on the expedition. This was granted; and Malik Asad-ud-Din, along with Salah-ud-Din, set out from Sham towards Misr. When they reached the frontier of that country, the infidel Afranj, having gained information of the arrival of the troops of Sham, reined in the bridle of their audacity, and they halted in that part of the country which they had then reached.