CALIPHS OF BAGDAD. 43 



smiled at this affectation of imperturbable majesty, 

 and being joined by all his detachments, immedi- 

 ately laid siege to the metropolis. 



On each side of the city mounds and trenches were 

 drawn, with high towers, in which the assailants plant- 

 ed their stone-engines, fire-engines, and other war- 

 like machines. For the space of nearly two months 

 the inhabitants, though exposed to every species of 

 violence and injury, defended themselves with con- 

 siderable obstinacy. But the enemy having made 

 themselves masters of the walls, and every thing 

 being ready for storming the place, Mostasem re- 

 solved to commit his person to the hazard of an 

 interview with the Tartar chief. Accompanied by 

 his two sons, together with a numerous group of 

 relatives and the most distinguished members of 

 his court, he quitted Bagdad by the Gate of Peace, 

 and approached the pavilion of Hoolaku. The ca- 

 liph and a few of his attendants were admitted with- 

 out difficulty, but the remainder were excluded; 

 and many of them were doomed, the very same day, 

 to the fatal distinction of becoming the first victims 

 of the conqueror's unsparing ferocity. In this me- 

 lancholy retinue were about 700 women belonging 

 to the caliph and his sons, with 300 eunuchs. The 

 traitorous vizier was set at liberty ; but his master 

 was detained in captivity. The two sons were con- 

 demned to death ; but the eldest had already found 

 a more honourable grave in defending one of the 

 gates of his father's capital. 



On Friday, the ninth of Saphar (Feb. 14, A. D. 

 1258), Hoolaku made his entry into Bagdad, where 

 he treated his generals and principal officers to a 

 sumptuous entertainment. To this display of bar- 



