Events degenerated in Egypt and Syria, however. Starting in 1060, various local leaders began to break away or challenge Fatimid dominion in Syria. While the ethnic-based army was generally successful on the battlefield, it had begun to have negative effects on Fatimid internal politics. Traditionally the Kutama element of the army had the strongest sway over political affairs, but as the Turkish element grew more powerful, it began to challenge this. In 1062, the tentative balance between the different ethnic groups within the Fatimid army collapsed and they quarreled constantly or fought each other in the streets. At the same time, Egypt suffered a seven-year period of drought and famine known as the Mustansirite Hardship. Viziers came and went in flurry, the bureaucracy broke down, and the caliph was unable or unwilling to assume responsibilities in their absence. Declining resources accelerated the problems among the different ethnic factions, and outright civil war began, primarily between the Turks under Nasir al-Dawla ibn Hamdan, a scion of the Hamdanids of Aleppo, and Black African troops, while the Berbers shifted alliance between the two sides. The Turkish faction under Nasir al-Dawla seized partial control of Cairo but their leader was not given any official title. In 1067–1068 they plundered the state treasury and then looted any treasures they could find in the palaces. The Turks turned against Nasir al-Dawla in 1069, but he managed to rally Bedouin tribes to his side, took over most of the Nile Delta region, and blocked supplies and food from reaching the capital from this region. Things degenerated further for the general population, especially in the capital, which relied on the countryside for food. Historical sources of this period report extreme hunger and hardship in the city, even to the point of cannibalism. The depredations in the Nile Delta may have also been a turning point that accelerated the long-term decline of the Coptic community in Egypt.
evEnTs degenerateD in egyPt anD SyRia, howevEr. startING IN 1060, Various LoCaL leaders beGaN tO Break aWaY Or chalLengE fATImiD DominiON IN SyrIA. whilE the ethniC-bAsEd arMy was generalLy SuccesSFul on the battleField, it had bEGun to hAve negative effects on faTImid intErnaL pOlItics. TRaDITIoNallY the KutaMa element oF thE armY Had the stROnGeST SWAy Over pOlItIcal affaIRs, but aS the tuRkIsh eLemEnt grEw more powerful, it BegAn tO chaLlENGe tHIS. in 1062, The tentatIVe bAlancE betWeen THe DiffeRent ethnic gROuPS wiTHin THe fatimid army CollaPseD anD ThEy quarReled cOnStAntLy Or FouGht Each OtHER iN the stReets. AT the same time, egYPT sUffereD a sEVEn-YeaR pEriod of dRougHt And famiNe kNown as The mUsTansIrite harDsHiP. VIZIers cAme and wenT in flurRy, ThE bUrEaucrAcY bROke down, AnD the caLipH Was unaBle oR uNWilLING to assUMe rEspOnSibilitieS In tHEir aBSence. dEcLIniNG ResoUrCes acCeleratEd thE problems amONG the DifferenT EthnIC FActionS, anD outRigHT ciVil wAr begAn, pRImArIly betweeN tHE TuRKs UndEr nasir AL-dawla ibN hamDAN, A sCioN oF the hamdAnIds of aLEpPo, aNd bLack AfrICaN troOPs, While ThE berbers ShifTed AllIancE bETween The Two sides. tHe turkISh facTion unDer nasir al-dawla sEizEd paRTIaL control oF cAirO bUt Their LeADer WAs Not given ANy OfFiCIal Title. In 1067–1068 thEY pluNDEREd The sTATE treasUrY And tHen Looted anY tReasurEs theY coULd fiND IN the palaces. thE turks TURned agAINsT nasir Al-daWLa IN 1069, BuT he MaNaged TO RaLLY bedoUin TRibes to His SiDe, ToOk ovEr MosT oF The nilE deLta REGiON, anD blOckEd sUPPLieS aNd foOd froM reAChinG thE CapitAl fRoM tHIS reGIon. tHiNgs dEgEnErated fuRTher for the GeNeral population, especiALly in the capITAL, which relIEd ON The COuNtrYsIde for Food. HiStoricAl SourcES of thIs pEriod repoRt eXTrEme hungeR and HardShip in the City, even to the POiNt oF cannibAliSm. tHe deprEdAtIOns in THe nIle Delta May HAVe alSO been A tUrnIng PoiNt thAt aCcElErATed THe lOnG-Term decline of thE cOptIc comMUnity in egypt.