The Nāṣirī Generations 291.1.7

291.1.7

Out of revenge for this, the Wazir of the Khalifah’s Court, who was a rafizi of bad religion, showed hostility towards the Lord of the Faithful; and, in secret, and clandestinely, he wrote a letter to Hulaku, and entered into collusion with him, and besought the infidels to advance. The Kurd troops, and forces of ’Irak, by way of dismissing them, he [the Wazir] sent away from Baghdad, in different directions, and represented on this wise to the Lord of the Faithful, saying: — “A peace has been entered into with the infidels, and we have no need of troops.” After Baghdad became denuded of troops, suddenly, the infidel Mughals arrived in its environs. They had taken forcible possession of a bridge [of boats] from the Malik of Mausil, and fixed it so as to command Baghdad, and then passed the Dijlah [Tigris]. The fortress [fortified town] of Takrit [above Baghdad] was an excessively strong place; and the holy-warriors of Takrit issued forth, and set fire to the bridge of boats, but, the following day, the Mughals again repaired the bridge, and martyred the Musalmans.