The Successors of Genghis Khan - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian ...

BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF OGETEI QA AN
Malik Ashraf, and because he had defeated the Georgians and taken
Akhlat, the fame of his greatness and splendor was spread abroad.
The maliks of Egypt and Syria, following the example of the caliphs
of the City of Peace,157 dispatched gifts and presents to his court; and
his cause was again in the ascendant.
From thence he proceeded in the direction of Khartabirt,158 being
affected with some infirmity. It was at this time that the Sultan of
Erzerum was distinguished with all manner of favors and kindnesses
for having assisted the Sultan's army with provisions and fodder at the
siege of Akhlat. He reported that 'Ala al-DIn of Rum159 had made
peace with the maliks of Aleppo and Damascus; that they were allied
together to attack the Sultan and were busy collecting their forces;
and that they were constantly threatening him and saying that if the
Sultan had not been helped by him with provisions at the gates of
Akhlat he could not have maintained himself. Hearing these words
the Sultan, despite his infirmity, at once mounted horse. When he
came to the plain of Mush,16o six thousand men, who were going to the
aid of that host, crossed the Sultan's path. In a single charge [the
Sultan and his army] destroyed them all.
Some days after, the armies drew close to each other, and the Sultan
of Rum, Malik Ashraf, and the other maliks came together from the
various provinces with such gear and equipment as will not enter
into computation. They drew up their forces on a hilltop, the naphthathrowers
and crossbowmen standing with cowhide shields in front,
and the horsemen and footmen behind. The Sultan decided to get out
of his litter and mount his horse, but because of the strength of his
illness he was unable to hold the reins, and the horse turned back.
His attendants said that he should rest for awhile, and his personal
standard was accordingly carried back. The right and left wings
thought he was fleeing and themselves turned in flight. But the enemy
imagined that the Sultan had had recourse to a trick in order to draw
them down on to the plain, and a herald in the midst of their forces
cried out that no one was to stir from his position. Such fear had overcome
Sultan 'Ala al-Din that he had not even the faculty to remain
»' That is, Baghdad. "8 Now Harput.
's'TheSeljuqruierofRum, or Asia Minor, 'Ala al-Din Kai-Qubad I (1219-1236).
160 The present-day town and district of Mus, to the west of Lake Van.
45