even in Europe,—­for he was thought to be advancing against the Turks,—­it was easy for him to take the Egyptians by surprise, and all the more so because the Governor of Alexandria happened to be absent at the time.  The militia tried in vain to prevent their landing, and the small garrison held out for but a short time, so that the prosperous and wealthy town was completely sacked and many prisoners were taken before the troops arrived from Cairo.

[Illustration:  059.jpg inside the mosque of Hassan]

The Christians living in Egypt suffered from this attack of the King of Cyprus.  They had to find ransom money for the Moslem prisoners and to provide means for fitting out a new fleet.  All negotiations with Cyprus, Genoa, and Venice were immediately broken off.  This event, however, had the effect of reconciling the Italian traders again with Egypt, and an embassy came both from Genoa and Venice, expressing regret at what had happened, with the assurance that the government had had no hint of the intentions of the King of Cyprus.  Genoa also sent back sixty prisoners who had fallen to them as their share of the Alexandrian booty.  As Egypt’s trade would also be at a standstill if they had no further negotiations with the Franks, who imported wood, metal, arms, oil, coral, wool, manufacturing and crystal wares in exchange for spices, cotton, and sugar, the former trade relations were re-established.  The war with Cyprus continued, however; Alexandria was again threatened and Tripoli was surprised by the Cyprian fleet, whereupon a number of European merchants in Egypt were arrested.  In the year 1370, after the death of Peter of Lusignan, peace and an exchange of prisoners were finally brought about.  After this peace the Egyptians were able to concentrate their whole force against Leo vi., Prince of Smaller Armenia, who was brought as a prisoner to Cairo; and with him the supremacy of the Christians in this land was at an end:  henceforth Egypt was ruled by Egyptian governors.

Faraj, Berkuk’s son and successor, had to suffer for his father’s political mistakes.  He had scarcely ascended the throne when the Ottomans seized Derenda, Albustan, and Malatia.  Preparations for war were made, but given up again when it was seen that Bayazid could not advance any farther south.  Faraj was only thirteen years old, and all the old intrigues amongst the emirs broke out again.  In Cairo they fought in the streets for the post of regent; anarchy and confusion reigned in the Egyptian provinces, and the Syrians wished to revolt against the sultan.  When at last peace was re-established in Egypt, and Syria was reduced, the latter country was again attacked by the hordes of Tamerlane.