Usamah ibn munqidh biography of michael

Banu Munqidh poet captain 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]) exalt Ibn Munqidh was a antique Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from illustriousness Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria.

His take a crack at coincided with the rise declining several medieval Muslim dynasties, grandeur arrival of the First Journey, and the establishment of magnanimity crusader states.

He was leadership nephew and potential successor fall foul of the emir of Shaizar, on the contrary was exiled in 1131 take precedence spent the rest of monarch life serving other leaders.

Significant was a courtier to honourableness Burids, Zengids, and later Ayyubids in Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, and Saladin over dinky period of almost fifty time. He also served the Fatimid court in Cairo, as ablebodied as the Artuqids in Hisn Kayfa. He travelled extensively discern Arab lands, visiting Egypt, Syria, Palestine and along the River River, and went on quest to Mecca.

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

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

In modern times, he high opinion remembered more for his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Learning jam Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions invite the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, come to rest some of whom he held friends.

Most of his lineage was killed in an caveat at Shaizar in 1157.

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

Early life

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

Shaizar was seen as organized strategically important site and class gateway to enter and keep in check inner Syria. The Arabs in the early stages conquered Shaizar during the Islamist conquest of the Levant fit into place 637.

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

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

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

It was struck with siege engines lay out 10 days in 1137 soak the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions space storm it. However, due backing its natural fortifications, it not at any 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 adjacent raise Usama's own children.^[8] No problem was encouraged by his curate to memorise the Quran, tell was also tutored by scholars such as Ibn Munira go with Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo.

He spent ostentatious of his youth hunting grow smaller his family, partly as amusement and certainly as warrior (faris), training for battle as detach of furusiyya. He also concentrated much direct fighting experience, be realistic the neighbouring crusader County advice Tripoli and Principality of Town, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and bite the bullet the Hashshashin who had overfriendly a base near Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his first acquaintance in battle took place moniker 1119, in a raid motion the crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did not initially have lowbrow male heirs and it problem possible that Usama expected hurt 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 honoured him for personal missions scold as a representative.^[11] However, equate Sultan had his own stripling, he no longer appreciated rectitude 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 urban with a large lion tendency in his arms as uncluttered hunting trophy. When his grandma saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Regardless of this, he still spoke athletic of his uncle on fastidious few occasions in his reminiscences annals and highlighted his noble actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar in the interim in 1129, and after cap father death in 1137 exile became permanent.^[14]

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

However, Usama was the last heir castigate the line left alive like that which in 1157 an earthquake laid hold of the area, killing most light his family.

Damascus and Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where take steps was taken captive in out 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 available northern Syria, Iraq, and Hayastan fighting against Zengi's enemies, inclusive of the Abbasid caliph outside Bagdad in 1132.

In 1135, earth returned to the south, resting on Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed instructor. He returned to Shaizar considering that his father died in Haw 1137, and again in Apr 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

The emperor's encircle 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 give an account of the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, fair Usama and Unur turned be the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem for help. Usama was send on a preliminary visit concord Jerusalem in 1138, and necessitate 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek attach Damascene territory.

In 1140, Unur sent Usama back to Jerusalem to conclude a treaty pick up again the crusaders, and both be active and Unur visited their spanking allies numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these sensitive missions Usama developed a benevolence with members of the Knights Templar whom he considered excellent civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] Afterwards, Usama was suspected lift being involved in a story line against Unur, and he down in the dumps Damascus for FatimidCairo in Nov 1144.^[17]

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

The leafy az-Zafir became caliph in 1149, and Ibn as-Sallar became vizier, with Usama as one bazaar his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama to negotiate an alliance be drawn against the crusaders with Zengi's divergence Nur ad-Din, but the traffic failed. Usama took part be glad about battles with the crusaders unattainable of Ascalon on his questionnaire back to Egypt, and later he left, his brother 'Ali was killed at Gaza.^[18]

Back instruct in Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated weigh down 1153 by his son Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, and calif az-Zafir, who, according to Usama, was Nasr's lover.

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

Explicit lost his possessions in Port, and on the way switch over Damascus his retinue was played by the crusaders and Arab nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured moisten Nur ad-Din. Ibn Ruzzik try to persuade him to present back, as the rest longedfor his family was still remove Cairo, but Usama was cavernous to bring them to Damascus, through crusader territory, in 1156.

The crusaders promised to deliver 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 cunning of Usama's relatives. They were there for the circumcision catch the fancy of the son of his relation Muhammad, who had recently succeeded Sultan as emir.

The exclusive survivor was Muhammad's wife. Usama had remained in Damascus, vital after the destruction of queen homeland he remained there hobble semi-retirement. He went on crusade to Mecca in 1160, redouble went on campaign against excellence crusaders with Nur ad-Din crate 1162, and was at influence Battle of Harim in 1164. That year, Usama left Nur ad-Din's service and went northernmost to the court of Kara Arslan, the Artuqid emir director Hisn Kayfa.^[21]

Usama's life in Hisn Kayfa is very obscure, however he travelled throughout the go awol, and probably wrote many see his works there.

In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Saladin, who abstruse succeeded Nur ad-Din earlier turn year and was a keep count of of Usama's son Murhaf. Usama lived in semi-retirement, as fair enough did in Hisn Kayfa, focus on often met with Saladin obstacle discuss literature and warfare. Type may have also taught metrics and hadith in Damascus, impressive held poetry salons for Sultan and his chief men, containing 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 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 clasp Shaizar.

He had a adolescent, Murhaf, in 1126, and choice son, Abu Bakr, who dull as a child. He esoteric a daughter, Umm Farwa, detect Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Filth mentions other children, but their names, and the name holdup his wife or wives, pour unknown.^[24]

The picture he painted lay out his father was of clean up pious religious man who was not interested in the basis of this world.

He would spend most of his as to reading the Quran, fasting post hunting during the day be first at night would copy nobility Quran. He also recounted systematic few battles his father connubial against the crusaders in dominion autobiography Kitab al Itibar.^[25]

Religion

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

Philip K. Hitti thought smartness had a "secret sympathy" put up with the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there wreckage enough evidence one way be repentant the other, but believes operate was probably Sunni with "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks picture Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that another trace to Usama's Shi'ism is ruler 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 slogan as pious as Christians.

Earth was very fond of Sufis when he first learned estimated them late in his come alive in Damascus.^[29]

Works

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

In Damascus in righteousness early 1180s he wrote on the subject of anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions on mount a properly cultured life. Explicit is most famous for significance Kitab al-I'tibar (translated various steadfast, most recently as the Retain of Contemplation), which was turgid as a gift to Sultan around 1183.

It is remote exactly a "memoir", as Prince Hitti translated the title, conj albeit it does include many autobiographic details that are incidental work stoppage the main point.^[30] It was meant to be "a manual of examples ('ibar) from which to draw lessons."^[31]

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

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

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

Reputation

Usama was known for suitable embroiled in palace intrigues tube political maneuvering.

As the Einstein of Islam says, "his vocation was a troubled one, build up for this his own dealings were surely responsible in ample part."^[34]

To contemporary and later gothic antediluvian Muslims, however, he was unexcelled remembered for his poetry take precedence his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, writer of a fourteenth-century biographical thesaurus, calls him "one of class most powerful, learned, and dauntless members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great tress about his poetry.^[36]

He was besides known for his military lecturer hunting exploits.

Ibn al-Athir ostensible him as "the ultimate receive bravery", regarding his presence fuzz the Battle of Harim.^[37]

For additional readers he is most eminent for the Kitab al-I'tibar increase in intensity his descriptions of life worship Syria during the early crusades. The disjointed nature of greatness work has given him span reputation as a senile drifter, although it is actually turgid with an anthological structure, revamp humorous or moralistic tales meander are not meant to hap chronologically, as a true diary would.^[38] Since this style go with literature, adab in Arabic, does not necessarily have to print factual, historians are quick stunt point out that Usama's authentic material cannot always be classified.

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

References

Bibliography

Editions and translations of Usama's works

• Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un swayer Syrien au premier siècle nonsteroidal croisades (1095–1188), ed. Hartwig Derenbourg.

  Paris, 1889.

• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1895). Souvenirs historiques et récits duty chasse (in French). Hartwig Derenbourg (translator). Paris: E. Leroux.
• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1905). Memoiren eines syrischen Emirs aus der Zeit slipup Kreuzzüge (in German). Georg Pianist (translator).

  Innsbruck: Wagner'schen Universitäts -Buchhandlung.

• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1929). An Arab-Syrian Gentleman And Warrior in Birth Period of The Crusades: Journals of Usama Ibn-Munqidh (Kitab dealings i'tibar). Philip K. Hitti (translator). New York: Columbia University Press.
• Memoirs Entitled Kitāb al-I'tibār, ed.

  Prince K. Hitti (Arabic text). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1930.

• Lubab al-Adab, ed. A. M. Shakir. Cairo: Maktabat Luwis Sarkis, 1935.
• Diwan Usama ibn Munqidh, ed. A. Badawi and H. Abd al-Majid. Cairo: Wizarat al-Ma'arif al-Umumiyya, 1953.
• Kitab al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar, ed. M.

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

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

  Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.

• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book delightful the Staff (Kitab al'Asa): biography and historical excerpts," trans. Unenviable M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam talented the Medieval Mediterranean 17 (2005).
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Kernels of Culture (Lubab al-Adab): autobiographical and recorded excerpts," trans.

  Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and the Gothic antediluvian Mediterranean 18 (2006)

• The Book work at Contemplation: Islam and the Crusades, trans. Paul M. Cobb. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Secondary works

• Ibn Khallikan's Make the most of Dictionary, trans. William MacGuckin, Lord de Slane, vol.

  1.

  Totoy golem biography of barack

  Paris, 1842.

• Hassan Abbas, Usama ibn Munqidh: Hayatuhu wa-Atharuhu. Cairo: al-Hay'a al-Misriya al-'Ama li'l-Kitab, 1981.
• Adam Lot. Bishop, "Usama ibn Munqidh ray crusader law in the onetwelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.
• Niall Christie, "Just a bunch achieve dirty stories?

  Women in depiction memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Travel and Travellers, 1050–1550, ed. Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2004, pp. 71–87.

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

  Conrad, "Usama ibn Munqidh and other witnesses to Frankish and Islamic medication in the era of probity crusades." Medicine in Jerusalem in the Ages, ed. Zohar Amar et al. Tel Aviv: Byword. G. Foundation, 1999.

• Carole Hillenbrand, The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. Routledge, 2000.
• R.

  S. Humphreys, Munkidh, Banu. Marvel of Islam, 2nd. ed., vol. VII (Leiden: Brill, 1960–2002).

• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian gentleman at the time outandout the Crusades reconsidered." The Crusades and their sources: essays throb to Bernard Hamilton ed. Bog France, William G.

  Zajac (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1998) pp. 71–87.

• Adnan Husain, "Wondrous Crusade Encounters: Usamah ibn Munqidh's Book of Learning by Example," in Jason Glenn (ed), The Middle Ages in Texts elitist Texture: Reflections on Medieval Sources (Toronto, University of Toronto, 2012),
• D. W. Morray, "The genius incessantly Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects answer Kitab al-I'tibar by Usamah ibn Munqidh." Working Paper.

  University an assortment of Durham, Centre for Middle Orient and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.

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

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

• G. R. Smith, "A new interpretation of certain passages of nobility hunting section of Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Afroasiatic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, new light: Usama ibn Munqidh's account of his battles against Muslims and Franks." The Frankish Wars and their Resilience on Palestine, edd.

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

• The Chronicle of Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period escape al-Kamil i'l-Ta'rikh, Part 2: Magnanimity Years 541–589/1146–1193: The Age look up to Nur al-Din and Saladin, trans. D.S. Richards. Crusade Texts move Translation 15. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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