When war broke out between Ayub and Ismail in the spring of 1244, they persuaded the barons to intervene actively on the latter’s behalf. An-Nasir of Kerak and the young Prince of Homs, al-Mansur Ibrahim, had both joined Ismail; and al-Mansur Ibrahim came in person to Acre to seal the alliance and to offer on the allies’ behalf a share of Egypt to the Franks, when Ayub should be defeated. The Moslem prince was received with great honour. The Templars provided most of the entertainment. But Ayub was not to be so easily defeated. He had found allies that were more effective than the Franks. The Khwarismian Turks, ever since the death of Jelal ad-Din, their king, had been wandering through the Jezireh and northern Syria, raiding and pillaging as they went. A coalition of the Ayubite princes of Syria had attempted to control them in 1241 and had severely beaten them in a battle not far from Edessa. But the Khwarismians then established their headquarters in the countryside between Edessa and Harran, and were still prepared to sell their services.
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