Death of al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah and accession of al-Aziz

al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah died in Egypt on the seventeenth of Rabi' al-Akhir 365 AH, at about forty-five years and six months of age, according to Ibn al-Athir. His son al-Aziz bi-Llah succeeded him. ¹

Ibn al-Athir relates that a messenger of the king of the Byzantines came to him, and al-Mu'izz reminded him of a conversation that had taken place between them some years before. The messenger said that he had then seen such greatness in him that it had nearly killed him, and that now he saw nothing of that. al-Mu'izz was distressed, and fever seized him, and his illness continued until he died. ¹

Ibn al-Athir relates that al-Aziz concealed the news of his death until the Feast of Victory, when he led the people in prayer, preached, prayed for himself and received condolences for his father. ¹

Ibn al-Athir describes al-Mu'izz as virtuous, generous and brave, following the course of his father in good conduct and fairness to his subjects. He relates that he acted on the sayings of the astrologers, and that he prepared a vault in which he descended for a year so as to pass the time of death. ¹

The Gregorian date is derived from the Hijri date.