1098, Syria

The years following the seizure of Syria had been a tense time for Sultan al Mustali. Shahinshah, now Amir of Syria, had been correct – al Mustali had gone to war with Turkey without realising that he had no numerical superiority over his enemy. Fortunately, the Turks had been stunned by the unprovoked attack and did not respond aggressively. Nonetheless, it took almost a decade of steadily training more soldiers before Sultan al Mustali felt confident enough to renew his attack. In that time, al Mustali tried in vain to court first the Almohads and then the Byzantines into an alliance. But Egypt remained alone. Undaunted, al Mustali led an army into Edessa in 1097. The Turks did not oppose the invasion, but instead sent an emissary offering terms.



“Opinions, gentlemen?” Sultan al Mustali asked his counselor's.

“We should accept, your majesty” opined the greasy figure of Mutawakkil, Amir of Egypt and Qadi-al-Quda. “We have much building work to be done at home and have made important gains at little cost.”

Amir Shahinshah broke in: “The Qadi-al-Quda is right. We should accept … if we wish to be a people that scavenges in the desert for gains that come at little cost.”

With relief, Sultan al Mustali turned from the unctuous figure of Mutawakkil to Shahinshah: “And what kind of people do you wish us to be?”

“The kind that is prepared to sacrifice for the greater good. The kind that is not swayed by petty titles and minor gains. The kind that is focused on the prize and relentless in its pursuit.”

“The prize?”

“To escape the desert … to defy the crusaders … to spread Islam throughout the known world. In a word, the prize is Europe.”

Mutawakkil scoffed: “The desert sun has gone to your head, general. Or perhaps it is one too many of those strange draughts drunk in this occupied province of yours.”

“That is enough, gentlemen. I value and respect your advice. But this offer of a ceasefire confirms that at last we have the Turks on the run. Qadi-al-Quda, compose a suitably ambiguous reply to the Turkish Sultan. General, ready an army for me to lead into Armenia.”


1099, Armenia

Sultan al Mustali looked around him at the force Shahinshah had mustered for him to command. With nearly 1400 men, it was four times the size of the army he had led into Syria eleven years ago and even now dwarfed the Turkish army that Sultan Kaikosru had gathered to oppose him.



Sultan al Mustali brings his rival to battle

The Turkish army was composed mainly of horse archers, while the Egyptian army was largely on foot although with a sizable number of camel-mounted Bedouins as well. Al Mustali struggled to control his large force as it advanced over a wooded hill that stood between him and the enemy. The desert archers became strung out and were left without protective screens of Nubian spearmen; the spearmen themselves became mired in the woods while the Bedouins lagged behind in the rear. By contrast, the Turks employed their skirmishing tactics brilliantly, raining arrows down on the spearmen and over-running unsupported Egyptian foot archers. Egyptian casualties mounted, but their army was too large, and their opponents too lightly armed, to be stopped. As the Egyptians moved down off the wooded hill and into a valley, the Turks in desperation launched a charge with all their Ghulam cavalry.



The Turkish ghulams charge the advancing Egyptians, as the horse archers rain death from afar.

As the Egyptian spearmen struggled to join the fray, only Mustali’s personal escort and some accompanying Bedouin could be found to meet the charge of the Turkish ghulams. Mustali fought with valour born of desperation as, one after another, his bodyguard were slain. Soon only one of his companions was left. In the chaos and confusion of battle, Mustali found himself trading blows with his rival, the Turkish Sultan Kaikosru. A great warrior, the enemy Sultan pulled back when he recognised Mustali’s crown and paused to laugh at the spectacle of Mustali, frantically parrying blows from the Turkish ghulams.

“Isn’t this what you wanted, great Sultan? Blood and death? What else do you fight for, if not the pleasure of it? I, I fight for my land and my people who you have attacked. But you, do you even know what you are fighting for?”

By that point, the Turkish ghulams around Mustali had also halted, to allow their Sultan to speak. Mustali found himself embarrassed and without words. The silver-tongued Shahinshah would have had a fine retort, Mustali thought. But the general’s words about sacrifice, destiny and conquering Europe seemed rather hollow when away from the man’s considerable charm. The awkward silence was interrupted by the approach of the lagging Egyptian spearmen. Kaikosru turned his horse, shouting to Mustali:

“This is not over yet” and then pulled down his visor, before heading his horse away from the battlefield.

Mustali spurred his own mount in pursuit, but was unable to catch his adversary.



Sultan al Mustali pursues his Turkish counterpart from the field of battle in Armenia.