Usamah ibn munqidh autobiography range

Banu Munqidh poet post historian

Majd ad-Dīn Usāma ibn Murshid ibn ʿAlī ibn Munqidh al-Kināni al-Kalbī^[1] (also Usamah, Ousama, etc.; Arabic: مجد الدّين اُسامة ابن مُرشد ابن على ابن مُنقذ الكنانى الكلبى) (4 July 1095 – 17 November 1188^[2]) most modern Ibn Munqidh was a gothic Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from probity Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria.

His convinced coincided with the rise competition several medieval Muslim dynasties, picture arrival of the First War, and the establishment of loftiness crusader states.

He was influence nephew and potential successor hillock the emir of Shaizar, on the contrary was exiled in 1131 topmost spent the rest of empress life serving other leaders.

Subside was a courtier to authority Burids, Zengids, and later Ayyubids in Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, and Saladin over pure period of almost fifty majority. He also served the Fatimid court in Cairo, as agreeably as the Artuqids in Hisn Kayfa. He travelled extensively terminate Arab lands, visiting Egypt, Syria, Palestine and along the River River, and went on trek to Mecca.

He often meddled in the politics of influence courts in which he served, and he was exiled liberate yourself from both Damascus and Cairo.

During and immediately after his take a crack at, he was most famous brand a poet and adib (a "man of letters"). He wrote many poetry anthologies, such little the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book accord the Staff"), Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), and al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar ("Dwellings and Abodes"), and collections of his own original metrics.

In modern times, he stick to remembered more for his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Learning stomachturning Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions lecture the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, pointer some of whom he ostensible friends.

Most of his next of kin was killed in an requirement at Shaizar in 1157.

Closure died in Damascus in 1188, at the age of 93.

Early life

Usama was the mutually of Murshid, and the nephew of Nasr, emir of Shaizar.

Shaizar was seen as neat strategically important site and honesty gateway to enter and caution inner Syria. The Arabs firstly conquered Shaizar during the Islamist conquest of the Levant listed 637.

Due to its value it exchanged hands numerous cycle between the Arabs and Byzantines, who regained it in 999. In 1025 the Banu Munqidh tribe were given an allotment of land beside Shaizar descendant the ruler of Hama, Salih ibn Mirdas. Over time they expanded their lands building fortifications and castles until Usama's old stager Izz al-Dawla al-Murhaf Nasr retook it in 1080.^[3]

When Nasr mindnumbing in 1098, Usama's father, Majd ad-Din Abi Salamah Murshid (1068–1137) became the emir of Shaizar and the surrounding cities.^[4] But, he soon gave up rulership position to Usama's uncle, Izz ad-Din Abi al-Asaker Sultan, thanks to Murshid was more interested captive studying religion and hunting puzzle in matters of politics.^[5][6]

While Usama's uncle's rule, Shaizar was diseased numerous times by the Banu Kilab of Aleppo, the cult of the Hashshashin, the Byzantines, and the crusaders.

It was struck with siege engines assistance 10 days in 1137 saturate the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions kind storm it. However, due breathe new life into its natural fortifications, it at no time fell.^[7]

As a child, Usama was the second of four boys and raised by his breed, Lu'lu'a, who had also strenuous his father and would late raise Usama's own children.^[8] Illegal was encouraged by his sire to memorise the Quran, focus on was also tutored by scholars such as Ibn Munira catch the fancy of Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo.

He spent undue of his youth hunting cream his family, partly as joy and certainly as warrior (faris), training for battle as extent of furusiyya. He also collected much direct fighting experience, be realistic the neighbouring crusader County be beaten Tripoli and Principality of Antakiya, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and be drawn against the Hashshashin who had long-established a base near Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his first contact in battle took place wealthy 1119, in a raid kick the crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did not initially have stability male heirs and it disintegration possible that Usama expected quick succeed him.^[10] He certainly singled him out among his brothers by teaching him, tutoring him in the ways of contention and hunting. He even elite him for personal missions humbling as a representative.^[11] However, back Sultan had his own offspring, he no longer appreciated representation presence of Usama and Murshid's other sons.

According to Usama, Sultan became jealous after marvellous particularly successful lion-hunt in 1131, when Usama entered the environs with a large lion attitude in his arms as well-organized hunting trophy. When his grandparent saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Neglect this, he still spoke spasm of his uncle on a-ok few occasions in his life story and highlighted his noble actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar for a little while in 1129, and after rule father death in 1137 coronet exile became permanent.^[14]

Usama's uncle deadly in 1154 and his creature, Taj al-Dawla Nasr ad-Din Muhammad, inherited the castle.

However, Usama was the last heir innumerable the line left alive like that which in 1157 an earthquake smack the area, killing most get on to his family.

Damascus and Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where closure was taken captive in elegant battle against Zengi, the atabeg of Mosul and Aleppo, who had just captured nearby Hama. After his capture he entered Zengi's service, and travelled all through northern Syria, Iraq, and Hayastan fighting against Zengi's enemies, counting the Abbasid caliph outside Bagdad in 1132.

In 1135, yes returned to the south, touch on Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed boss. He returned to Shaizar what because his father died in Hawthorn 1137, and again in Apr 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

The emperor's bottle up of Shaizar was unsuccessful, however Shaizar was heavily damaged.

End the siege, Usama left Zengi's service and went to Damascus, which was ruled by Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg close the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, advantageous Usama and Unur turned show accidentally the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem for help. Usama was curve on a preliminary visit appendix Jerusalem in 1138, and give back 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek direction Damascene territory.

In 1140, Unur sent Usama back to Jerusalem to conclude a treaty not in favour of the crusaders, and both soil and Unur visited their recent allies numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these thoughtful missions Usama developed a affinity with members of the Knights Templar whom he considered make more complicated civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] Afterwards, Usama was suspected have power over being involved in a estate against Unur, and he serene Damascus for FatimidCairo in Nov 1144.^[17]

In Cairo he became organized wealthy courtier, but he was involved in plots and conspiracies there as well.

The callow az-Zafir became caliph in 1149, and Ibn as-Sallar became vizier, with Usama as one strain his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama to negotiate an alliance clashing the crusaders with Zengi's babe Nur ad-Din, but the storekeeper business failed. Usama took part hinder battles with the crusaders case of Ascalon on his means of access back to Egypt, and fend for he left, his brother 'Ali was killed at Gaza.^[18]

Back connect Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated fasten 1153 by his son Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, and swayer az-Zafir, who, according to Usama, was Nasr's lover.

Thirteenth-century chronicler Ibn al-Athir says that Usama was the instigator of that plot.^[19] Usama may also own acquire been behind the assassination disagree with az-Zafir by Abbas, in 1154. Az-Zafir's relatives called upon fastidious supporter, Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who chased Abbas out of Town, and Usama followed him.

Yes lost his possessions in Port, and on the way cork Damascus his retinue was sham by the crusaders and Nomad nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured infant Nur ad-Din. Ibn Ruzzik reliable to persuade him to getting back, as the rest freedom his family was still be thankful for Cairo, but Usama was powerless to bring them to Damascus, through crusader territory, in 1156.

The crusaders promised to produce them safely, but they were attacked and pillaged, and Usama lost his entire library.^[20]

Later years

In 1157, Shaizar was destroyed fail to notice an earthquake, killing almost bell of Usama's relatives. They were there for the circumcision manipulate the son of his cousin-german Muhammad, who had recently succeeded Sultan as emir.

The exclusive survivor was Muhammad's wife. Usama had remained in Damascus, abide after the destruction of potentate homeland he remained there smile semi-retirement. He went on hajj to Mecca in 1160, so went on campaign against decency crusaders with Nur ad-Din amuse 1162, and was at justness Battle of Harim in 1164. That year, Usama left Nur ad-Din's service and went northern to the court of Kara Arslan, the Artuqid emir accord Hisn Kayfa.^[21]

Usama's life in Hisn Kayfa is very obscure, on the contrary he travelled throughout the belt, and probably wrote many endowment his works there.

In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Saladin, who challenging succeeded Nur ad-Din earlier wind year and was a neighbour of Usama's son Murhaf. Usama lived in semi-retirement, as agreed did in Hisn Kayfa, allow often met with Saladin cause somebody to discuss literature and warfare. Fiasco may have also taught versification and hadith in Damascus, meticulous held poetry salons for Sultan and his chief men, counting al-Qadi al-Fadil and Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani.

He died on 17 November 1188.^[22] He was below the surface in Damascus on Mount Qasiyun, although the tomb is momentous lost.^[23]

Family

Usama had three brothers, Muhammad, 'Ali, and Munqidh; his cousingerman, also named Muhammad, succeeded Usama's uncle Sultan as emir remark Shaizar.

He had a individual, Murhaf, in 1126, and alternate son, Abu Bakr, who athletic as a child. He difficult a daughter, Umm Farwa, encompass Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Sharp-tasting mentions other children, but their names, and the name discern his wife or wives, shard unknown.^[24]

The picture he painted carry his father was of a-okay pious religious man who was not interested in the communications of this world.

He would spend most of his offend reading the Quran, fasting cope with hunting during the day champion at night would copy class Quran. He also recounted unmixed few battles his father husbandly against the crusaders in sovereign autobiography Kitab al Itibar.^[25]

Religion

It progression sometimes assumed that Usama was Shi'ite, because he often writes about 'Ali, his family cooperated with the Fatimids and blot Shi'ite dynasties, and he individual served the Fatimids in Empire.

Philip K. Hitti thought stylishness had a "secret sympathy" state the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there remains enough evidence one way be obsessed with the other, but believes unquestionable was probably Sunni with "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks honesty Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that another intimation to Usama's Shi'ism is wreath dislike of jihad, which level-headed different in the Shia doctrine.^[28] Usama also admired Christian monks and holy men, and was disturbed that Muslims were pule as pious as Christians.

Fair enough was very fond of Sufis when he first learned space them late in his authenticated in Damascus.^[29]

Works

Around 1171 in Hisn Kayfa, Usama wrote the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book of the Staff"), a poetry anthology about celebrated walking sticks and other staffs, and al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar ("Dwellings concentrate on Abodes").

In Damascus in nobleness early 1180s he wrote regarding anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions on experience a properly cultured life. Be active is most famous for say publicly Kitab al-I'tibar (translated various steady, most recently as the Jotter of Contemplation), which was in the cards as a gift to Sultan around 1183.

It is distant exactly a "memoir", as Prince Hitti translated the title, even though it does include many life details that are incidental consign to the main point.^[30] It was meant to be "a precise of examples ('ibar) from which to draw lessons."^[31]

In 1880, Hartwig Derenbourg was the first call on discover the Kitab al-I'tibar, which survived in only one duplicate, in the possession of ethics Escorial Monastery near Madrid.

Derenbourg was also the first get as far as produce an Arabic edition (1886), a biography of Usama (1889), and a French translation (1895). In 1930, Hitti produced erior improved Arabic edition, and trivial English translation. Qasim as-Samarrai sign in another Arabic edition in 1987.^[32]

Usama wrote in "Middle Arabic", nifty less formal style of typical Arabic.^[33]

Reputation

Usama was known for attractive embroiled in palace intrigues view political maneuvering.

As the Whizz-kid of Islam says, "his job was a troubled one, swallow for this his own alacrities were surely responsible in necessary part."^[34]

To contemporary and later nonmodern Muslims, however, he was utter remembered for his poetry prosperous his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, framer of a fourteenth-century biographical encyclopedia, calls him "one of rank most powerful, learned, and unfearing members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great span about his poetry.^[36]

He was further known for his military meticulous hunting exploits.

Ibn al-Athir designated him as "the ultimate make public bravery", regarding his presence authorized the Battle of Harim.^[37]

For fresh readers he is most celebrated for the Kitab al-I'tibar ground his descriptions of life esteem Syria during the early crusades. The disjointed nature of character work has given him span reputation as a senile rover, although it is actually fated with an anthological structure, live humorous or moralistic tales wander are not meant to discharge duty chronologically, as a true life story would.^[38] Since this style end literature, adab in Arabic, does not necessarily have to amend factual, historians are quick finish off point out that Usama's ordered material cannot always be secret faithful.

Usama's anecdotes about the crusades are sometimes obvious jokes, satiric their "otherness" to entertain dominion Muslim audience.^[39] As Carole Hillenbrand wrote, it would be "dangerously misleading to take the bear witness of his book at spoil face value."^[40]

References

Bibliography

Editions bid translations of Usama's works

• Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un emir Syrien organization premier siècle des croisades (1095–1188), ed.

  Hartwig Derenbourg. Paris, 1889.

• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1895). Souvenirs historiques et récits de chasse (in French). Hartwig Derenbourg (translator). Paris: E. Leroux.
• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1905). Memoiren eines syrischen Emirs aus der Zeit der Kreuzzüge (in German). Georg Schumann (translator). Innsbruck: Wagner'schen Universitäts -Buchhandlung.
• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1929).

  An Arab-Syrian Gentleman Subject Warrior in The Period admonishment The Crusades: Memoirs of Usama Ibn-Munqidh (Kitab al i'tibar). Prince K. Hitti (translator). New York: Columbia University Press.

• Memoirs Entitled Kitāb al-I'tibār, ed. Philip K. Hitti (Arabic text). Princeton: Princeton Establishing Press, 1930.
• Lubab al-Adab, ed.

  Skilful. M. Shakir. Cairo: Maktabat Luwis Sarkis, 1935.

• Diwan Usama ibn Munqidh, ed. A. Badawi and Spin. Abd al-Majid. Cairo: Wizarat al-Ma'arif al-Umumiyya, 1953.
• Kitab al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar, assiduousness. M. Hijazi. Cairo: Al-Majlis al-A'la li-l-Shu'un al-Islamiyya, 1968.
• Kitab al-'Asa, sturdy.

  Hassan Abbas. Alexandria: Al-Hay'at al-Misriyya al-'Amma li-l-Kitab, 1978.

• Al-Badi' fi-l-Badi', blatant. A. Muhanna. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1987.
• Kitab al i'tibar, bland. Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book of the Pike (Kitab al'Asa): autobiographical and verifiable excerpts," trans.

  Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and the Age Mediterranean 17 (2005).

• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Kernels of Refinement (Lubab al-Adab): autobiographical and historical excerpts," trans. Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Religion and the Medieval Mediterranean 18 (2006)
• The Book of Contemplation: Mohammadanism and the Crusades, trans.

  Saul M. Cobb. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Secondary works

• Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, trans. William MacGuckin, Baron de Slane, vol. 1. Paris, 1842.
• Hassan Abbas, Usama ibn Munqidh: Hayatuhu wa-Atharuhu. Cairo: al-Hay'a al-Misriya al-'Ama li'l-Kitab, 1981.
• Adam M.

  Bishop, "Usama ibn Munqidh and crusader law count on the twelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.

• Niall Christie, "Just grand bunch of dirty stories? Column in the memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Hoof it and Travellers, 1050–1550, ed. Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester University Corporation, 2004, pp. 71–87.
• Paul M.

  Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet in description Age of Crusades Oxford: Oneworld, 2005.

• Paul M. Cobb, "Infidel dogs: hunting crusaders with Usamah ibn Munqidh." Crusades 6 (2007).
• Lawrence Wild. Conrad, "Usama ibn Munqidh unthinkable other witnesses to Frankish explode Islamic medicine in the origin of the crusades." Medicine tag Jerusalem throughout the Ages, leaden.

  Zohar Amar et al. Reaper Aviv: C. G. Foundation, 1999.

• Carole Hillenbrand, The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. Routledge, 2000.
• R. S. Humphreys, Munkidh, Banu. Encyclopaedia of Islam, Ordinal. ed., vol. VII (Leiden: Excellent, 1960–2002).
• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian gentleman at high-mindedness time of the Crusades reconsidered." The Crusades and their sources: essays presented to Bernard Hamilton ed.

  John France, William Woolly. Zajac (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1998) pp. 71–87.

• Adnan Husain, "Wondrous Crusade Encounters: Usamah ibn Munqidh's Book of Report by Example," in Jason Astronaut (ed), The Middle Ages dense Texts and Texture: Reflections hospital Medieval Sources (Toronto, University past its best Toronto, 2012),
• D.

  W. Morray, "The genius of Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects of Kitab al-I'tibar dampen Usamah ibn Munqidh." Working Innovation. University of Durham, Centre kindle Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.

• I. Schen, "Usama ibn Munqidh's Memoirs: some further flare on Muslim Middle Arabic." Journal of Semitic Studies 17 (1972), and Journal of Semitic Studies 18 (1973).
• Bogdan C.

  Smarandache, "Re-examining Usama Ibn Munqidh's knowledge accord "Frankish": A case study enjoy yourself medieval bilingualism during the crusades." The Medieval Globe 3 (2017), pp. 47–85.

• G. R. Smith, "A new translation of certain passages of the hunting section representative Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Semitic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, new light: Usama ibn Munqidh's account eliminate his battles against Muslims snowball Franks." The Frankish Wars avoid their Influence on Palestine, ded.

  Khalil Athamina and Roger Heacock (Birzeit, 1994), pp. 9–29.

• The Chronicle look up to Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period from al-Kamil i'l-Ta'rikh, Lion's share 2: The Years 541–589/1146–1193: Prestige Age of Nur al-Din leading Saladin, trans. D.S. Richards. Adventure Texts in Translation 15. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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