Kilawun conspired against his master, and was soon able to ascend the throne under the title of El-Malik el-Mansur.  His fame as a warrior was already established, and he added to his successes during his ten years’ reign.  His first task was to quell disturbances in Syria, and he despatched an army thither and captured Damascus.  In the year 680 of the Hegira he took the field in person against a large force of Tatars, defeated them, and raised the siege of Rahabah.  Eight years later he laid siege to Tripoli, then rich and flourishing after two centuries of Christian occupation, and the town was taken and its inhabitants killed.  Other expeditions were undertaken against Nubia, but the Nubians, after they had been twice defeated, appear to have re-established themselves.

[Illustration:  038.jpg court in the MORISTAN of the Kilawun]

The fortress of Acre was at this time the only important stronghold still retained by the Christians, and for its conquest Kilawun was making preparations when he died, on the 10th of November, 1290.  Kilawun, says the modern historian Weil, has been unduly praised by historians, most of whom lived in the reign of his son.  He was certainly not so bloodthirsty as Beybars, and he also oppressed his subjects less.  He, too, cared more for the increase and establishment of his kingdom than for justice and good faith.  He held no agreement sacred, if he could get any advantage by breaking it, as was shown by his behaviour towards the Crusaders and the descendants of Beybars.  The most beautiful monument which he left behind him was a huge building outside Cairo, which included a hospital, a school, and his own tomb.  The hospital was so large that every disease had a special room allotted to it; there were also apartments for women, and large storerooms for provisions and medical requirements, and a large auditorium in which the head doctor delivered his lectures on medicine.  The expenses were so great—­for even people of wealth were taken without compensation—­that special administrators were appointed to oversee and keep an account of the necessary outlay.  Besides these officers, several stewards and overseers were appointed to control the revenues devoted to the hospital by different institutions.  Under the dome of the tomb the Koran and traditional charters were taught, and both teachers and scholars received their payment from the state.  A large adjacent hall contained a library of many works on the Koran, tradition, language, medicine, practical theology, jurisprudence, and literature, and was kept in good condition by a special librarian and six officials.  The school building contained four audience-halls for the teachers of the Islamite schools, and in addition to these a school for children, into which sixty poor orphans were received without any charge and provided with board, lodging, and clothes.

Khalil, the son of Kilawun, who succeeded him, with the title of El-Malik el-Ashraf, was able to begin operations in the spring of 1291 against Acre, and on the 18th of May, after an obstinate resistance, the town was taken by storm.  Those who could not escape by water were either cut down or taken prisoner; the town was plundered, then burnt, and the fortifications razed to the ground.