792 AH, 14/01
Minṭāsh himself was stationed on the right of the egyptian forces, opposite to al-Ẓāhir’s left. The two armies met in attack on Sunday, muḥarram 14, 792, and fought in a battle the like of which had never been witnessed in past ages. Minṭāsh charged from the right against al-Ẓāhir’s left, while al-Ẓāhir’s allies on his right charged against al-malik al-Manṣūr’s left. Each side exerted effort to hold its ground, and a series of terrific battles was fought in which al-Ẓāhir’s right and left both were finally forced to retreat, pursued by Minṭāsh and his forces. But al-Ẓāhir himself though he lost all communication wth his allies and felt certain that he was lost, remained firm in the center. Suddenly, however, while he was in this position, the dust of battle cleared away, and there was revealed to him the vanguard of al-malik al-Manṣūr’s army; al-Ẓāhir, leading his remaining forces in a charge against al-Manṣūr, captured both him and the caliph al-Mutawakkil ʿalā Allāh and the Judges, together with the Egyptian treasure chests. The detachment which had stood firm with him then made for the baggage of the Egyptians, which was extensive beyond description, and captured it in its entirety.