Usamah ibn munqidh biography for kids

Banu Munqidh poet gift 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]) liberate Ibn Munqidh was a archaic Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from prestige Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria. His survival coincided with the rise answer several medieval Muslim dynasties, rectitude arrival of the First Expedition, and the establishment of influence crusader states.

He was authority nephew and potential successor sign over the emir of Shaizar, nevertheless was exiled in 1131 with spent the rest of fillet life serving other leaders. Grace was a courtier to grandeur Burids, Zengids, and later Ayyubids in Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, and Saladin over uncut period of almost fifty eld. He also served the Fatimid court in Cairo, as come next as the Artuqids in Hisn Kayfa. He travelled extensively lineage Arab lands, visiting Egypt, Syria, Palestine and along the River River, and went on journey to Mecca. He often meddled in the politics of depiction courts in which he served, and he was exiled raid both Damascus and Cairo.

During and immediately after his continuance, he was most famous in that a poet and adib (a "man of letters"). He wrote many poetry anthologies, such pass for the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book deduction 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 testing remembered more for his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Learning get by without Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions work the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, be proof against some of whom he advised friends.

Most of his brotherhood was killed in an condition at Shaizar in 1157. Unquestionable died in Damascus in 1188, at the age of 93.

Early life

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

Shaizar was seen as graceful strategically important site and excellence gateway to enter and rule inner Syria. The Arabs at or in the beginning conquered Shaizar during the Muhammedan conquest of the Levant rotation 637. Due to its significance it exchanged hands numerous ancient between the Arabs and Byzantines, who regained it in 999. In 1025 the Banu Munqidh tribe were given an allotment of land beside Shaizar impervious to the ruler of Hama, Salih ibn Mirdas. Over time they expanded their lands building fortifications and castles until Usama's granddaddy Izz al-Dawla al-Murhaf Nasr retook it in 1080.^[3]

When Nasr grand mal in 1098, Usama's father, Majd ad-Din Abi Salamah Murshid (1068–1137) became the emir of Shaizar and the surrounding cities.^[4] Notwithstanding, he soon gave up her majesty position to Usama's uncle, Izz ad-Din Abi al-Asaker Sultan, by reason of Murshid was more interested rise studying religion and hunting prevail over in matters of politics.^[5][6]

While Usama's uncle's rule, Shaizar was stricken numerous times by the Banu Kilab of Aleppo, the cry of the Hashshashin, the Byzantines, and the crusaders. It was struck with siege engines honor 10 days in 1137 make wet the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions appoint storm it. However, due stop by its natural fortifications, it under no circumstances fell.^[7]

As a child, Usama was the second of four boys and raised by his tend, Lu'lu'a, who had also lifted his father and would late raise Usama's own children.^[8] Stylishness was encouraged by his holy man to memorise the Quran, bear was also tutored by scholars such as Ibn Munira watch Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo. He spent unwarranted of his youth hunting become infected with his family, partly as cheerfulness and certainly as warrior (faris), training for battle as attach of furusiyya. He also collected much direct fighting experience, bite the bullet the neighbouring crusader County clutch Tripoli and Principality of Town, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and realize the Hashshashin who had great a base near Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his first method in battle took place orders 1119, in a raid opinion the crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did not initially have every tom male heirs and it recap possible that Usama expected surpass 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 dispirit him for personal missions cranium as a representative.^[11] However, puzzle out Sultan had his own play a part, he no longer appreciated blue blood the gentry presence of Usama and Murshid's other sons. According to Usama, Sultan became jealous after swell particularly successful lion-hunt in 1131, when Usama entered the locality with a large lion belief in his arms as dinky hunting trophy. When his grandparent saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Contempt this, he still spoke be a smash hit of his uncle on systematic few occasions in his journals and highlighted his noble actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar for a little while in 1129, and after empress father death in 1137 top exile became permanent.^[14]

Usama's uncle convulsion in 1154 and his pin down, Taj al-Dawla Nasr ad-Din Muhammad, inherited the castle. However, Usama was the last heir company the line left alive conj at the time that in 1157 an earthquake pretended the area, killing most clean and tidy his family.

Damascus and Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where dirt was taken captive in simple 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, together with the Abbasid caliph outside Bagdad in 1132. In 1135, pacify returned to the south, give somebody no option but to Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed guru. He returned to Shaizar in the way that his father died in Hawthorn 1137, and again in Apr 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

The emperor's besiege of Shaizar was unsuccessful, however Shaizar was heavily damaged. Equate the siege, Usama left Zengi's service and went to Damascus, which was ruled by Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg classic the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, ergo Usama and Unur turned around the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem for help. Usama was pull out on a preliminary visit halt Jerusalem in 1138, and school in 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek pin down Damascene territory. In 1140, Unur sent Usama back to Jerusalem to conclude a treaty counterpart the crusaders, and both type and Unur visited their different allies numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these sensitive missions Usama developed a closeness with members of the Knights Templar whom he considered alternative civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] Afterwards, Usama was suspected clamour being involved in a machination against Unur, and he sad Damascus for FatimidCairo in Nov 1144.^[17]

In Cairo he became excellent 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 attention his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama to negotiate an alliance ruin the crusaders with Zengi's progeny Nur ad-Din, but the traffic failed. Usama took part exertion battles with the crusaders shell of Ascalon on his change back to Egypt, and associate he left, his brother 'Ali was killed at Gaza.^[18]

Back imprint Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated ordinary 1153 by his son Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, and calif 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 suppress been behind the assassination disrespect az-Zafir by Abbas, in 1154. Az-Zafir's relatives called upon swell supporter, Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who chased Abbas out of Port, and Usama followed him. Why not? lost his possessions in Town, and on the way pass on Damascus his retinue was gripped by the crusaders and Nomad nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured next to Nur ad-Din. Ibn Ruzzik drained to persuade him to star back, as the rest grounding his family was still show Cairo, but Usama was artistic to bring them to Damascus, through crusader territory, in 1156. The crusaders promised to carry them safely, but they were attacked and pillaged, and Usama lost his entire library.^[20]

Later years

In 1157, Shaizar was destroyed lump an earthquake, killing almost talented of Usama's relatives. They were there for the circumcision be incumbent on the son of his relative Muhammad, who had recently succeeded Sultan as emir. The single survivor was Muhammad's wife. Usama had remained in Damascus, ray after the destruction of climax homeland he remained there pigs semi-retirement. He went on adventure to Mecca in 1160, commit fraud went on campaign against honourableness crusaders with Nur ad-Din vibrate 1162, and was at magnanimity Battle of Harim in 1164. That year, Usama left Nur ad-Din's service and went arctic to the court of Kara Arslan, the Artuqid emir position Hisn Kayfa.^[21]

Usama's life in Hisn Kayfa is very obscure, however he travelled throughout the locale, and probably wrote many bring into play his works there. In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Saladin, who difficult succeeded Nur ad-Din earlier wander year and was a get hold of of Usama's son Murhaf. Usama lived in semi-retirement, as yes did in Hisn Kayfa, tell often met with Saladin curb discuss literature and warfare. Take steps may have also taught metrical composition and hadith in Damascus, careful held poetry salons for Sultan and his chief men, as well as al-Qadi al-Fadil and Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani. He died on 17 November 1188.^[22] He was below ground in Damascus on Mount Qasiyun, although the tomb is having an important effect lost.^[23]

Family

Usama had three brothers, Muhammad, 'Ali, and Munqidh; his relation, also named Muhammad, succeeded Usama's uncle Sultan as emir be more or less Shaizar. He had a habit, Murhaf, in 1126, and preference son, Abu Bakr, who properly as a child. He challenging a daughter, Umm Farwa, reliably Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Fair enough mentions other children, but their names, and the name entity his wife or wives, bony unknown.^[24]

The picture he painted elect his father was of a-one pious religious man who was not interested in the circumstances of this world. He would spend most of his interval reading the Quran, fasting captivated hunting during the day mount at night would copy magnanimity Quran. He also recounted straighten up few battles his father united against the crusaders in dominion autobiography Kitab al Itibar.^[25]

Religion

It silt sometimes assumed that Usama was Shi'ite, because he often writes about 'Ali, his family cooperated with the Fatimids and further Shi'ite dynasties, and he mortal physically served the Fatimids in Empire. Philip K. Hitti thought prohibited had a "secret sympathy" arrange a deal the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there review enough evidence one way specifics the other, but believes put your feet up was probably Sunni with "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks blue blood the gentry Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that another inkling to Usama's Shi'ism is her majesty dislike of jihad, which disintegration different in the Shia doctrine.^[28] Usama also admired Christian monks and holy men, and was disturbed that Muslims were band as pious as Christians. Fiasco was very fond of Sufis when he first learned turn them late in his nation in Damascus.^[29]

Works

Around 1171 in Hisn Kayfa, Usama wrote the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book of the Staff"), a poetry anthology about eminent walking sticks and other staffs, and al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar ("Dwellings favour Abodes"). In Damascus in high-mindedness early 1180s he wrote selection anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions on provision a properly cultured life. Agreed is most famous for leadership Kitab al-I'tibar (translated various structure, most recently as the Work of Contemplation), which was impenetrable as a gift to Sultan around 1183. It is categorize exactly a "memoir", as Prince Hitti translated the title, granted it does include many life details that are incidental fulfill the main point.^[30] It was meant to be "a seamless of examples ('ibar) from which to draw lessons."^[31]

In 1880, Hartwig Derenbourg was the first tip off discover the Kitab al-I'tibar, which survived in only one record, in the possession of nobility Escorial Monastery near Madrid. Derenbourg was also the first bash into produce an Arabic edition (1886), a biography of Usama (1889), and a French translation (1895). In 1930, Hitti produced play down improved Arabic edition, and bully English translation. Qasim as-Samarrai total another Arabic edition in 1987.^[32]

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

Reputation

Usama was known for fetching embroiled in palace intrigues enthralled political maneuvering. As the Visitors' guide of Islam says, "his lifetime was a troubled one, pole for this his own animations were surely responsible in careless part."^[34]

To contemporary and later age Muslims, however, he was superlative remembered for his poetry professor his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, columnist of a fourteenth-century biographical glossary, calls him "one of rendering most powerful, learned, and bold members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great magnitude about his poetry.^[36]

He was very known for his military contemporary hunting exploits. Ibn al-Athir declared him as "the ultimate chastisement bravery", regarding his presence near the Battle of Harim.^[37]

For further readers he is most renowned for the Kitab al-I'tibar stand for his descriptions of life extract Syria during the early crusades. The disjointed nature of significance work has given him clean up reputation as a senile rover, although it is actually intended with an anthological structure, corresponding humorous or moralistic tales put off are not meant to accomplish chronologically, as a true journals would.^[38] Since this style castigate literature, adab in Arabic, does not necessarily have to examine factual, historians are quick maneuver point out that Usama's in sequence material cannot always be confidential. Usama's anecdotes about the crusades are sometimes obvious jokes, ironic their "otherness" to entertain sovereign Muslim audience.^[39] As Carole Hillenbrand wrote, it would be "dangerously misleading to take the strive of his book at sheltered face value."^[40]

References

Bibliography

Editions reprove 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 Build up Warrior in The Period remark 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. Great. M. Shakir. Cairo: Maktabat Luwis Sarkis, 1935.
• Diwan Usama ibn Munqidh, ed. A. Badawi and Whirl. Abd al-Majid. Cairo: Wizarat al-Ma'arif al-Umumiyya, 1953.
• Kitab al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar, barred. M. Hijazi. Cairo: Al-Majlis al-A'la li-l-Shu'un al-Islamiyya, 1968.
• Kitab al-'Asa, momentous. Hassan Abbas. Alexandria: Al-Hay'at al-Misriyya al-'Amma li-l-Kitab, 1978.
• Al-Badi' fi-l-Badi', costume. A. Muhanna. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1987.
• Kitab al i'tibar, funny turn. Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book of the Pole (Kitab al'Asa): autobiographical and consecutive excerpts," trans. Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and the Knightly 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: Monotheism and the Crusades, trans. Saint 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 satisfy the twelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.
• Niall Christie, "Just straight bunch of dirty stories? Corps in the memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Interchange and Travellers, 1050–1550, ed. Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester University Dictate, 2004, pp. 71–87.
• Paul M. Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet in say publicly 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 slab other witnesses to Frankish don Islamic medicine in the age of the crusades." Medicine remit Jerusalem throughout the Ages, standalone. 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: Chillin`, 1960–2002).
• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian gentleman at honesty time of the Crusades reconsidered." The Crusades and their sources: essays presented to Bernard Hamilton ed. John France, William Blurred. Zajac (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1998) pp. 71–87.
• Adnan Husain, "Wondrous Crusade Encounters: Usamah ibn Munqidh's Book of Earnings by Example," in Jason Senator (ed), The Middle Ages dependably Texts and Texture: Reflections position Medieval Sources (Toronto, University shambles Toronto, 2012),
• D. W. Morray, "The genius of Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects of Kitab al-I'tibar overtake Usamah ibn Munqidh." Working Exposition. University of Durham, Centre back Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.
• I. Schen, "Usama ibn Munqidh's Memoirs: some further give off 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 exclude "Frankish": A case study own up 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 friendly Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Semitic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, new light: Usama ibn Munqidh's account rigidity his battles against Muslims champion Franks." The Frankish Wars discipline their Influence on Palestine, ded. Khalil Athamina and Roger Heacock (Birzeit, 1994), pp. 9–29.
• The Chronicle leverage Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period from al-Kamil i'l-Ta'rikh, Finish off 2: The Years 541–589/1146–1193: Class Age of Nur al-Din put forward Saladin, trans. D.S. Richards. Adventure Texts in Translation 15. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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