791 AH, 05/06
In the meanwhile the populace (al-ʿāmma) and the rabble (al-zuʿr) had been joined by the Turkumān among al-Nāṣirī’s allies, and they went in parties to the homes and storehouses of the amirs; they stole whatever they could find, even destroying houses and carrying off their doors and woodwork, and they likewise attacked the dwelling places of the men (al-nās) outside of Cairo and robbed them. As this continued Cairo became in an uproar, its citizens as sheep without a shepherd, until al-Nāṣirī sent amir Nāṣir al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusām, who he had appointed wālī of Cairo, to the city. Finding Succor Gate locked, the wālī entered on horseback through the Mosque of al-Ḥākim and unlocked both the Succor and the Victory Gates. When the gates had been opened a great number of al-Nāṣirī’s troops rushed into Cairo and plundered a large section of it, though the inhabitants gave them battle and killed four of them. During these days the people suffered dreadful hardships; but when the news reached al-Nāṣirī he sent ʾAbū Bakr ibn Sunqur the chamberlain and Tunkuz Bughā, chief of the guard, to protect Cairo; the two officials entered, peace was proclaimed on behalf of al-Nāṣirī, and pillage was forbidden. Tankiz Bughā stationed himself near the Jamalūn in the center of Cairo while sayyidī ʾAbū Bakr ibn Sunqur stayed near the zuwayla Gate. Quiet was thus restored; the men (al-nās) were relieved of their distress and felt that their property was secure.