Qaraqush's conquest of Tripoli (568 AH)

Ibn al-Athir, in al-Kamil, reports that in 568 AH a group of Turks from the lands of Egypt set out with Qaraqush, the mamluk of Taqi al-Din Umar, nephew of Saladin, toward the mountains of Nafusa. ¹

He was joined by Masud ibn Zammam, known as Masud al-Balat, who had broken away from the obedience of Abd al-Mu'min. They agreed, their numbers grew, and they camped before Tripoli of the West, besieged it and tightened the pressure on its people until it was taken. ¹

Qaraqush took control of the city and settled his household in its palace. He ruled much of the lands of Ifriqiya, except al-Mahdiyya, Sfax, Gafsa, Tunis and their surroundings. The author says that he ruled with the help of the Arabs, through destruction, plunder and the cutting of trees. He gathered great wealth, which he placed at Gabes, and he was tempted to seize all of Ifriqiya, since its ruler, Abu Yaqub Yusuf ibn Abd al-Mu'min, was far away. ¹