ABSTRACT
After the death of his father, in spite of the existence of nine brothers older and younger than he, the sultanate was settled upon him, and the kingdom was secured for him by means of the penetrating judgment and competence of Ni~am al-Mulk. Although he was the designated heir of his father, many people wanted the kingdom. And when he came from Khurasan to Iraq, an enemy such as Qawurd, who was his uncle, had turned toward Iraq with a great army and much provision and
equipment. He intended to seize the realm, and he regarded all of the provinces as belonging to him. Near the town of Karaj an encounter took place between the two armies, and for three days and three nights they fought continually and without interruption. The army of Qawurd took their place on Astaran Kiih, and Qawurd finally turned tail. And the reason was this, that a trooper from the cavalry struck a blow at a trooper from the retinue of Qawurd, such that he carried away the top half of him from the waist. The head and shoulders were separated, and the buttocks and thighs remained on the back of the horse. Qawurd, when he saw that blow, chose flight over standing fast, fled and turned tail. He was taken by the retinue of Malik Shah, and such treasure, weapons, plunder, effects and goods fell into the hands of Malik Shah as to be beyond limit and count.49
