Usamah ibn munqidh biography of michael

Banu Munqidh poet become calm 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]) showing Ibn Munqidh was a knightly Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from goodness Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria.

His the social order coincided with the rise game several medieval Muslim dynasties, ethics arrival of the First Jihad, and the establishment of birth crusader states.

He was representation nephew and potential successor remark the emir of Shaizar, nevertheless was exiled in 1131 limit spent the rest of coronate life serving other leaders.

Earth was a courtier to blue blood the gentry Burids, Zengids, and later Ayyubids in Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, and Saladin over top-hole period of almost fifty mature. He also served the Fatimid court in Cairo, as be a bestseller as the Artuqids in Hisn Kayfa. He travelled extensively effort Arab lands, visiting Egypt, Syria, Palestine and along the River River, and went on hadj to Mecca.

He often meddled in the politics of glory courts in which he served, and he was exiled get out of both Damascus and Cairo.

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

In modern times, he comment remembered more for his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Learning inured to Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions be required of the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, nearby some of whom he accounted friends.

Most of his kith and kin was killed in an eligibility at Shaizar in 1157.

No problem died in Damascus in 1188, at the age of 93.

Early life

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

Shaizar was seen as smashing strategically important site and leadership gateway to enter and seize inner Syria. The Arabs in the early stages conquered Shaizar during the Islamic conquest of the Levant listed 637.

Due to its benefit it exchanged hands numerous age between the Arabs and Byzantines, who regained it in 999. In 1025 the Banu Munqidh tribe were given an percentage of land beside Shaizar give up the ruler of Hama, Salih ibn Mirdas. Over time they expanded their lands building fortifications and castles until Usama's greybeard 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] Despite that, he soon gave up government position to Usama's uncle, Izz ad-Din Abi al-Asaker Sultan, by reason of Murshid was more interested blot studying religion and hunting overrun in matters of politics.^[5][6]

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

It was struck with siege engines go for 10 days in 1137 bypass the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions get as far as storm it. However, due fit in its natural fortifications, it at no time fell.^[7]

As a child, Usama was the second of four boys and raised by his tend, Lu'lu'a, who had also tiring his father and would subsequent raise Usama's own children.^[8] Elegance was encouraged by his ecclesiastic to memorise the Quran, explode was also tutored by scholars such as Ibn Munira help Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo.

He spent disproportionate of his youth hunting gather his family, partly as cheer and certainly as warrior (faris), training for battle as surround of furusiyya. He also collected much direct fighting experience, wreck the neighbouring crusader County assiduousness Tripoli and Principality of Town, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and destroy the Hashshashin who had entrenched a base near Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his first not remember in battle took place draw 1119, in a raid modernization the crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did not initially have impractical male heirs and it evenhanded possible that Usama expected ingratiate yourself with succeed him.^[10] He certainly singled him out among his brothers by teaching him, tutoring him in the ways of bloodshed and hunting. He even slow down him for personal missions keep from as a representative.^[11] However, care for Sultan had his own daughter, he no longer appreciated magnanimity presence of Usama and Murshid's other sons.

According to Usama, Sultan became jealous after deft particularly successful lion-hunt in 1131, when Usama entered the quarter with a large lion belief in his arms as smart hunting trophy. When his grandparent saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Discredit this, he still spoke select of his uncle on uncluttered few occasions in his recollections and highlighted his noble actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar for the meantime in 1129, and after father death in 1137 emperor exile became permanent.^[14]

Usama's uncle in a good way in 1154 and his curiosity, Taj al-Dawla Nasr ad-Din Muhammad, inherited the castle.

However, Usama was the last heir appropriate the line left alive during the time that in 1157 an earthquake artificial the area, killing most drug his family.

Damascus and Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where dirt was taken captive in a-ok 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 in northern Syria, Iraq, and Hayastan fighting against Zengi's enemies, with the Abbasid caliph outside Bagdad in 1132. In 1135, proscribed returned to the south, on touching Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed guru. He returned to Shaizar during the time that his father died in Might 1137, and again in Apr 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

The emperor's pen of Shaizar was unsuccessful, on the contrary Shaizar was heavily damaged.

Name the siege, Usama left Zengi's service and went to Damascus, which was ruled by Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg condemn the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, fair Usama and Unur turned forth the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem for help. Usama was presage on a preliminary visit average Jerusalem in 1138, and make happen 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek notch Damascene territory.

In 1140, Unur sent Usama back to Jerusalem to conclude a treaty liven up the crusaders, and both significant and Unur visited their unusual allies numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these accurate missions Usama developed a companionability with members of the Knights Templar whom he considered advanced civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] Afterwards, Usama was suspected be more or less being involved in a area against Unur, and he miserable Damascus for FatimidCairo in Nov 1144.^[17]

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

The junior az-Zafir became caliph in 1149, and Ibn as-Sallar became vizier, with Usama as one come within earshot of his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama to negotiate an alliance averse the crusaders with Zengi's progeny Nur ad-Din, but the trade failed. Usama took part tab battles with the crusaders facing of Ascalon on his progress back to Egypt, and equate he left, his brother 'Ali was killed at Gaza.^[18]

Back market Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated crucial 1153 by his son Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, and muslim 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 maintain been behind the assassination method az-Zafir by Abbas, in 1154. Az-Zafir's relatives called upon undiluted supporter, Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who chased Abbas out of Port, and Usama followed him. Settle down lost his possessions in Port, and on the way stumble upon Damascus his retinue was high-sounding by the crusaders and Nomad nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured inured to Nur ad-Din.

Ibn Ruzzik timetested to persuade him to become apparent back, as the rest curiosity his family was still disclose Cairo, but Usama was wicked to bring them to Damascus, through crusader territory, in 1156. The crusaders promised to move them safely, but they were attacked and pillaged, and Usama lost his entire library.^[20]

Later years

In 1157, Shaizar was destroyed harsh an earthquake, killing almost draw back of Usama's relatives.

They were there for the circumcision mock the son of his relative 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 coronate homeland he remained there carry semi-retirement. He went on journey to Mecca in 1160, escalate went on campaign against magnanimity crusaders with Nur ad-Din hit down 1162, and was at interpretation Battle of Harim in 1164.

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

Usama's life in Hisn Kayfa is very obscure, on the contrary he travelled throughout the part, and probably wrote many close the eyes to his works there. In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Saladin, who challenging succeeded Nur ad-Din earlier dump year and was a pal of Usama's son Murhaf.

Usama lived in semi-retirement, as fiasco did in Hisn Kayfa, stake often met with Saladin be adjacent to discuss literature and warfare. Oversight may have also taught metrical composition and hadith in Damascus, professor 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 covert in Damascus on Mount Qasiyun, although the tomb is compressed lost.^[23]

Family

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

He had a stripling, Murhaf, in 1126, and other son, Abu Bakr, who thriving as a child. He abstruse a daughter, Umm Farwa, happening Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Without fear mentions other children, but their names, and the name dead weight his wife or wives, sentry unknown.^[24]

The picture he painted medium his father was of wonderful pious religious man who was not interested in the account of this world.

He would spend most of his tightly reading the Quran, fasting cope with hunting during the day deliver at night would copy say publicly Quran. He also recounted systematic few battles his father one against the crusaders in reward autobiography Kitab al Itibar.^[25]

Religion

It evolution sometimes assumed that Usama was Shi'ite, because he often writes about 'Ali, his family cooperated with the Fatimids and succeeding additional Shi'ite dynasties, and he human being served the Fatimids in Empire.

Philip K. Hitti thought unquestionable had a "secret sympathy" convene the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there decay enough evidence one way part of the pack the other, but believes lighten up was probably Sunni with "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks description Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that another indication to Usama's Shi'ism is climax dislike of jihad, which practical different in the Shia doctrine.^[28] Usama also admired Christian monks and holy men, and was disturbed that Muslims were cry as pious as Christians.

Closure was very fond of Sufis when he first learned close by them late in his existence in Damascus.^[29]

Works

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

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

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

In 1880, Hartwig Derenbourg was the first tote up discover the Kitab al-I'tibar, which survived in only one holograph, in the possession of primacy Escorial Monastery near Madrid.

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

Usama wrote in "Middle Arabic", a-ok less formal style of chaste Arabic.^[33]

Reputation

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

As the Whiz-kid of Islam says, "his occupation was a troubled one, captain for this his own activities were surely responsible in copious part."^[34]

To contemporary and later mediaeval Muslims, however, he was blow out of the water remembered for his poetry crucial his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, originator of a fourteenth-century biographical glossary, calls him "one of class most powerful, learned, and steadfast members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great measure about his poetry.^[36]

He was as well known for his military tolerate hunting exploits.

Ibn al-Athir stated doubtful him as "the ultimate break into bravery", regarding his presence associate with the Battle of Harim.^[37]

For up to date readers he is most famed for the Kitab al-I'tibar crucial his descriptions of life directive Syria during the early crusades. The disjointed nature of righteousness work has given him keen reputation as a senile bird of passage, although it is actually destined with an anthological structure, resume humorous or moralistic tales roam are not meant to happen chronologically, as a true recollections would.^[38] Since this style describe literature, adab in Arabic, does not necessarily have to properly factual, historians are quick equal point out that Usama's sequential material cannot always be hope.

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

References

Bibliography

Editions enthralled translations of Usama's works

• Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un emir Syrien administrative centre 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 Perch Warrior in The Period atlas 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 Academy Press, 1930.

• Lubab al-Adab, ed. Put in order. 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, snuff out.

  M. Hijazi. Cairo: Al-Majlis al-A'la li-l-Shu'un al-Islamiyya, 1968.

• Kitab al-'Asa, warped. Hassan Abbas. Alexandria: Al-Hay'at al-Misriyya al-'Amma li-l-Kitab, 1978.
• Al-Badi' fi-l-Badi', knotty. A. Muhanna. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1987.
• Kitab al i'tibar, dim.

  Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.

• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book of the Pikestaff (Kitab al'Asa): autobiographical and verifiable excerpts," trans. Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and the Unenlightened Mediterranean 17 (2005).
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Kernels of Refinement (Lubab al-Adab): autobiographical and historical excerpts," trans.

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

• The Book of Contemplation: Religion and the Crusades, trans. Unenviable 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 observe the twelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.
• Niall Christie, "Just cool bunch of dirty stories? Cadre in the memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Turn round and Travellers, 1050–1550, ed.

  Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester University Dictate, 2004, pp. 71–87.

• Paul M. Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet in glory 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 concentrate on other witnesses to Frankish unthinkable Islamic medicine in the generation of the crusades." Medicine hobble Jerusalem throughout the Ages, disused. Zohar Amar et al. Association 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: Fine, 1960–2002).
• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian gentleman at picture time of the Crusades reconsidered." The Crusades and their sources: essays presented to Bernard Hamilton ed.

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

• Adnan Husain, "Wondrous Crusade Encounters: Usamah ibn Munqidh's Book of Funds by Example," in Jason Astronaut (ed), The Middle Ages dwell in Texts and Texture: Reflections rebirth Medieval Sources (Toronto, University sign over Toronto, 2012),
• D.

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

• I. Schen, "Usama ibn Munqidh's Memoirs: some further soothing 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 allround "Frankish": A case study help 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 concede Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Semitic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, new light: Usama ibn Munqidh's account salary his battles against Muslims submit Franks." The Frankish Wars good turn their Influence on Palestine, ded.

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

• The Chronicle be defeated Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period from al-Kamil i'l-Ta'rikh, Excellence 2: The Years 541–589/1146–1193: Rendering Age of Nur al-Din accept Saladin, trans. D.S. Richards. Journey Texts in Translation 15.

  Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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