What did Shajarat Ad-Durr do after the death of Sultan As-Saalih Ayyoob?
She concealed his death, and claimed that the physicians had prevented anyone from visiting him, and quickly sent to his son Toran Shah, who was ruling a city known as Kiva Fort (presently in Turkey), reporting to him about the death of his father, which required him to come to take over Egypt and Shaam.
She agreed with the vizier of As-Saalih, Fakhr Ad-Deen Yoosuf, to administer the affairs of the state until Toran Shah would come. She further required both Aqtaay and Beebars to go on their preparations for the decisive battle in Mansoura. Thus, things became better after the death of King As-Saalih, and the expected trouble because of his sudden death did not take place.
But under such difficult circumstances, and in spite of all the precautions taken by Shajarat Ad-Durr, the death of As-Saalih Ayyoob leaked to the people, and even to the Crusaders, which, in turn, enthused them even more, and lowered the spirits of the Egyptian army, which, anyway, remained firm in Mansoura.
Both Aqtaay and Beebars put an excellent plan to meet the French army in Mansoura, and showed it to Shajarat Ad-Durr, who was acting as the ruler until the arrival of Toran Shah. She sanctioned the plan, and the Egyptian army took its sites, and prepared for the meeting.
