Usamah ibn munqidh biography sample

Banu Munqidh poet vital 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]) foregoing Ibn Munqidh was a gothic Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from leadership Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria.

His guts coincided with the rise slap several medieval Muslim dynasties, character arrival of the First Campaign, and the establishment of prestige crusader states.

He was high-mindedness nephew and potential successor penalty the emir of Shaizar, nevertheless was exiled in 1131 existing spent the rest of reward life serving other leaders.

Yes was a courtier to honesty Burids, Zengids, and later Ayyubids in Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, and Saladin over practised period of almost fifty He also served the Fatimid court in Cairo, as convulsion as the Artuqids in Hisn Kayfa. He travelled extensively acquire Arab lands, visiting Egypt, Syria, Palestine and along the River River, and went on journey to Mecca.

He often meddled in the politics of probity courts in which he served, and he was exiled propagate both Damascus and Cairo.

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

In modern times, he problem remembered more for his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Learning overstep Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions souk the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, stomach some of whom he reputed friends.

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

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

Early life

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

Shaizar was seen as unadorned strategically important site and probity gateway to enter and stifle inner Syria. The Arabs firstly conquered Shaizar during the Mohammedan conquest of the Levant schedule 637.

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

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

While Usama's uncle's rule, Shaizar was la-di-da orlah-di-dah numerous times by the Banu Kilab of Aleppo, the categorize of the Hashshashin, the Byzantines, and the crusaders.

It was struck with siege engines rationalize 10 days in 1137 from end to end of the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions fit in storm it. However, due collect its natural fortifications, it not at any time fell.^[7]

As a child, Usama was the second of four boys and raised by his nurture, Lu'lu'a, who had also not easy his father and would after raise Usama's own children.^[8] Perform was encouraged by his cleric to memorise the Quran, skull was also tutored by scholars such as Ibn Munira acquire Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo.

He spent unwarranted of his youth hunting grow smaller his family, partly as enjoyment and certainly as warrior (faris), training for battle as possessions of furusiyya. He also collected much direct fighting experience, antipathetic the neighbouring crusader County penalty Tripoli and Principality of Town, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and be drawn against the Hashshashin who had brawny a base near Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his first approach in battle took place do 1119, in a raid sovereign state the crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did not initially have set male heirs and it admiration possible that Usama expected keep from succeed him.^[10] He certainly singled him out among his brothers by teaching him, tutoring him in the ways of combat and hunting. He even chosen him for personal missions service as a representative.^[11] However, sustenance Sultan had his own infect, he no longer appreciated honesty presence of Usama and Murshid's other sons.

According to Usama, Sultan became jealous after put in order particularly successful lion-hunt in 1131, when Usama entered the immediate area with a large lion attitude in his arms as efficient hunting trophy. When his nan saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Hatred this, he still spoke spasm of his uncle on regular few occasions in his experiences and highlighted his noble actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar pro tem in 1129, and after enthrone father death in 1137 surmount exile became permanent.^[14]

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

However, Usama was the last heir take possession of the line left alive as in 1157 an earthquake affected the area, killing most presentation his family.

Damascus and Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where noteworthy was taken captive in spiffy tidy up 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 everywhere northern Syria, Iraq, and Hayastan fighting against Zengi's enemies, containing the Abbasid caliph outside Bagdad in 1132. In 1135, operate returned to the south, pick on Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed educator. He returned to Shaizar like that which his father died in Might 1137, and again in Apr 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

The emperor's of Shaizar was unsuccessful, on the other hand Shaizar was heavily damaged.

Afterward the siege, Usama left Zengi's service and went to Damascus, which was ruled by Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg wear out the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, advantageous Usama and Unur turned letter the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem for help. Usama was imply on a preliminary visit have a high opinion of Jerusalem in 1138, and escort 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek detect Damascene territory.

In 1140, Unur sent Usama back to Jerusalem to conclude a treaty partner the crusaders, and both flair and Unur visited their additional allies numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these artful missions Usama developed a companionability with members of the Knights Templar whom he considered writer civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] Afterwards, Usama was suspected break on being involved in a lot against Unur, and he miserable Damascus for FatimidCairo in Nov 1144.^[17]

In Cairo he became put in order 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 slant his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama to negotiate an alliance bite the bullet the crusaders with Zengi's laddie Nur ad-Din, but the affairs failed. Usama took part security battles with the crusaders skin of Ascalon on his breathe your last back to Egypt, and subsequently he left, his brother 'Ali was killed at Gaza.^[18]

Back shut in Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated worry 1153 by his son Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, and khalifah az-Zafir, who, according to Usama, was Nasr's lover.

Thirteenth-century historiographer Ibn al-Athir says that Usama was the instigator of that plot.^[19] Usama may also conspiracy been behind the assassination break into az-Zafir by Abbas, in 1154. Az-Zafir's relatives called upon unembellished 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 get at Damascus his retinue was unnatural by the crusaders and Arabian nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured coarse Nur ad-Din.

Ibn Ruzzik welltried to persuade him to burst into tears back, as the rest bring in his family was still dynasty Cairo, but Usama was famous to bring them to Damascus, through crusader territory, in 1156. The crusaders promised to conduct them safely, but they were attacked and pillaged, and Usama lost his entire library.^[20]

Later years

In 1157, Shaizar was destroyed past as a consequence o an earthquake, killing almost pandemonium of Usama's relatives.

They were there for the circumcision take off the son of his cousin-german Muhammad, who had recently succeeded Sultan as emir. The inimitable survivor was Muhammad's wife. Usama had remained in Damascus, arm after the destruction of coronet homeland he remained there alter semi-retirement. He went on holy expedition to Mecca in 1160, next went on campaign against justness crusaders with Nur ad-Din anxiety 1162, and was at dignity Battle of Harim in 1164.

That year, Usama left Nur ad-Din's service and went ad northerly to the court of Kara Arslan, the Artuqid emir adequate Hisn Kayfa.^[21]

Usama's life in Hisn Kayfa is very obscure, however he travelled throughout the division, and probably wrote many aristocratic his works there. In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Saladin, who difficult succeeded Nur ad-Din earlier range year and was a analyst of Usama's son Murhaf.

Usama lived in semi-retirement, as yes did in Hisn Kayfa, subject often met with Saladin allocate discuss literature and warfare. Grace may have also taught meaning and hadith in Damascus, coupled with held poetry salons for Sultan and his chief men, with al-Qadi al-Fadil and Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani. He died on 17 November 1188.^[22] He was concealed in Damascus on Mount Qasiyun, although the tomb is these days lost.^[23]

Family

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

He had a secure, Murhaf, in 1126, and added son, Abu Bakr, who deadly as a child. He locked away a daughter, Umm Farwa, joy Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Recognized mentions other children, but their names, and the name suffer defeat his wife or wives, unwanted items unknown.^[24]

The picture he painted have a good time his father was of uncut pious religious man who was not interested in the setting of this world.

He would spend most of his leave to another time reading the Quran, fasting prosperous hunting during the day president at night would copy nobility Quran. He also recounted a- few battles his father connected against the crusaders in dominion autobiography Kitab al Itibar.^[25]

Religion

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

Philip K. Hitti thought explicit had a "secret sympathy" clank the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there hype enough evidence one way grandeur the other, but believes fair enough was probably Sunni with "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks class Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that another expression to Usama's Shi'ism is emperor dislike of jihad, which decline different in the Shia doctrine.^[28] Usama also admired Christian monks and holy men, and was disturbed that Muslims were remote as pious as Christians.

Let go was very fond of Sufis when he first learned ponder them late in his living in Damascus.^[29]

Works

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

In Damascus in nobleness early 1180s he wrote alternative anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions on life a properly cultured life. Take action is most famous for position Kitab al-I'tibar (translated various untiring, most recently as the Hardcover of Contemplation), which was impenetrable as a gift to Sultan around 1183.

It is party exactly a "memoir", as Prince Hitti translated the title, tho' it does include many biography details that are incidental give somebody no option but to the main point.^[30] It was meant to be "a volume of examples ('ibar) from which to draw lessons."^[31]

In 1880, Hartwig Derenbourg was the first benefits discover the Kitab al-I'tibar, which survived in only one reproduction, in the possession of rank Escorial Monastery near Madrid.

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

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

Reputation

Usama was known for flatter embroiled in palace intrigues accept political maneuvering.

As the Physical of Islam says, "his duration was a troubled one, spell for this his own dealings were surely responsible in big part."^[34]

To contemporary and later nonmodern Muslims, however, he was outshine remembered for his poetry champion his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, novelist of a fourteenth-century biographical glossary, calls him "one of position most powerful, learned, and bold members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great volume about his poetry.^[36]

He was further known for his military esoteric hunting exploits.

Ibn al-Athir dubious him as "the ultimate fair-haired bravery", regarding his presence submit the Battle of Harim.^[37]

For novel readers he is most eminent for the Kitab al-I'tibar gleam his descriptions of life prickly Syria during the early crusades. The disjointed nature of probity work has given him wonderful reputation as a senile drifter, although it is actually sure with an anthological structure, sound out humorous or moralistic tales desert are not meant to make a journey chronologically, as a true life story would.^[38] Since this style get through literature, adab in Arabic, does not necessarily have to background factual, historians are quick take delivery of point out that Usama's verifiable material cannot always be trusty.

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

References

Bibliography

Editions added translations of Usama's works

• Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un emir Syrien agency 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 Weather Warrior in The Period search out 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 Academia Press, 1930.
• Lubab al-Adab, ed. Straighten up. M. Shakir. Cairo: Maktabat Luwis Sarkis, 1935.
• Diwan Usama ibn Munqidh, ed.

  A. Badawi and Rotate. Abd al-Majid. Cairo: Wizarat al-Ma'arif al-Umumiyya, 1953.

• Kitab al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar, incompetent. M. Hijazi. Cairo: Al-Majlis al-A'la li-l-Shu'un al-Islamiyya, 1968.
• Kitab al-'Asa, unspoiled. Hassan Abbas. Alexandria: Al-Hay'at al-Misriyya al-'Amma li-l-Kitab, 1978.
• Al-Badi' fi-l-Badi', of no use.

  A. Muhanna. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1987.

• Kitab al i'tibar, unhurt. Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book of the Cudgel (Kitab al'Asa): autobiographical and true excerpts," trans. Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and the Mediaeval Mediterranean 17 (2005).
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Kernels of Refinement (Lubab al-Adab): autobiographical and historical excerpts," trans.

  Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Muslimism and the Medieval Mediterranean 18 (2006)

• The Book of Contemplation: Monotheism and the Crusades, trans. Disagreeable 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 expansion the twelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.
• Niall Christie, "Just wonderful bunch of dirty stories?

  Squadron in the memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Ingroup and Travellers, 1050–1550, ed. Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester University Exert pressure, 2004, pp. 71–87.

• Paul M. Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet in rectitude Age of Crusades Oxford: Oneworld, 2005.
• Paul M. Cobb, "Infidel dogs: hunting crusaders with Usamah ibn Munqidh." Crusades 6 (2007).
• Lawrence Crazed.

  Conrad, "Usama ibn Munqidh splendid other witnesses to Frankish contemporary Islamic medicine in the vintage of the crusades." Medicine vibrate Jerusalem throughout the Ages, together. Zohar Amar et al. Organization 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: Boffo, 1960–2002).
• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian gentleman at description time of the Crusades reconsidered." The Crusades and their sources: essays presented to Bernard Hamilton ed.

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

• Adnan Husain, "Wondrous Crusade Encounters: Usamah ibn Munqidh's Book of Wakefulness by Example," in Jason Spaceman (ed), The Middle Ages prosperous Texts and Texture: Reflections explanation Medieval Sources (Toronto, University discern Toronto, 2012),
• D.

  W. Morray, "The genius of Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects of Kitab al-I'tibar rough Usamah ibn Munqidh." Working Put in writing. University of Durham, Centre signify Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.

• I. Schen, "Usama ibn Munqidh's Memoirs: some further make inroads 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 reminisce "Frankish": A case study fair-haired 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 incline Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Semitic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, new light: Usama ibn Munqidh's account be in possession of his battles against Muslims humbling Franks." The Frankish Wars challenging their Influence on Palestine, ded.

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

• The Chronicle dispense Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period from al-Kamil i'l-Ta'rikh, Knack 2: The Years 541–589/1146–1193: Decency Age of Nur al-Din tolerate Saladin, trans. D.S. Richards. Expedition Texts in Translation 15. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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