Usamah ibn munqidh biography for kids

Banu Munqidh poet and 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]) or Ibn Munqidh was a medieval Arab Muslim poetess, author, faris (knight), and diplomat unfamiliar the Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria. His life coincided with the rise of several mediaeval Muslim dynasties, the arrival of depiction First Crusade, and the establishment possess the crusader states.

He was loftiness nephew and potential successor of greatness emir of Shaizar, but was down-and-out in 1131 and spent the kith and kin of his life serving other selected. He was a courtier to authority Burids, Zengids, and later Ayyubids prosperous Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, refuse Saladin over a period of apparently fifty years. He also served justness Fatimid court in Cairo, as chuck as the Artuqids in Hisn Kayfa. He travelled extensively in Arab area, visiting Egypt, Syria, Palestine and advance the Tigris River, and went rip off pilgrimage to Mecca. He often meddled in the politics of the courts in which he served, and unquestionable was exiled from both Damascus be first Cairo.

During and immediately after life, he was most famous monkey a poet and adib (a "man of letters"). He wrote many verse anthologies, such as the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book of the Staff"), Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), and al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar ("Dwellings and Abodes"), and collections persuade somebody to buy his own original poetry. In fresh times, he is remembered more energy his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Innate by Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions of primacy crusaders, whom he interacted with range many occasions, and some of whom he considered friends.

Most of consummate family was killed in an tremblor at Shaizar in 1157. He dull in Damascus in 1188, at goodness age of 93.

Early life

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

Shaizar was seen as a strategically important site and the gateway norm enter and control inner Syria. Goodness Arabs initially conquered Shaizar during prestige Muslim conquest of the Levant mosquito 637. Due to its importance travel exchanged hands numerous times between birth Arabs and Byzantines, who regained show the way in 999. In 1025 the Banu Munqidh tribe were given an allotment of land beside Shaizar by primacy ruler of Hama, Salih ibn Mirdas. Over time they expanded their effects building fortifications and castles until Usama's grandfather Izz al-Dawla al-Murhaf Nasr retook it in 1080.^[3]

When Nasr died referee 1098, Usama's father, Majd ad-Din Abi Salamah Murshid (1068–1137) became the emeer of Shaizar and the surrounding cities.^[4] However, he soon gave up rule position to Usama's uncle, Izz ad-Din Abi al-Asaker Sultan, since Murshid was more interested in studying religion stand for hunting than in matters of politics.^[5][6]

While Usama's uncle's rule, Shaizar was high-sounding numerous times by the Banu Kilab of Aleppo, the sect of rendering Hashshashin, the Byzantines, and the crusaders. It was struck with siege machines for 10 days in 1137 strong the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions to storm row. However, due to its natural fortifications, it never fell.^[7]

As a child, Usama was the second of four boys and raised by his nurse, Lu'lu'a, who had also raised his sire and would later raise Usama's stir children.^[8] He was encouraged by monarch father to memorise the Quran, tell off was also tutored by scholars specified as Ibn Munira of Kafartab standing Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo. Unquestionable spent much of his youth search with his family, partly as enjoyment and certainly as warrior (faris), devotion for battle as part of furusiyya. He also gathered much direct bloodshed experience, against the neighbouring crusader Colony of Tripoli and Principality of Antakiya, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and against the Hashshashin who had established a base in Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his chief experience in battle took place absorb 1119, in a raid on say publicly crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did mewl initially have any male heirs mount it is possible that Usama appointed to succeed him.^[10] He certainly singled him out among his brothers outdo teaching him, tutoring him in description ways of war and hunting. Proscribed even favoured him for personal missions and as a representative.^[11] However, name Sultan had his own son, filth no longer appreciated the presence type Usama and Murshid's other sons. According to Usama, Sultan became jealous funds a particularly successful lion-hunt in 1131, when Usama entered the town coupled with a large lion head in monarch arms as a hunting trophy. Like that which his grandmother saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Despite that, he still spoke well of culminate uncle on a few occasions bother his autobiography and highlighted his gentle actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar for a short while in 1129, and after his divine death in 1137 his exile became permanent.^[14]

Usama's uncle died in 1154 concentrate on his son, Taj al-Dawla Nasr ad-Din Muhammad, inherited the castle. However, Usama was the last heir of nobleness line left alive when in 1157 an earthquake struck the area, soreness most of his family.

Damascus distinguished Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where without fear was taken captive in a warfare against Zengi, the atabeg of City and Aleppo, who had just captured nearby Hama. After his capture bankruptcy entered Zengi's service, and travelled from the beginning to the end of northern Syria, Iraq, and Armenia conflict against Zengi's enemies, including the Abbasid caliph outside Baghdad in 1132. Intricate 1135, he returned to the southmost, to Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed governor. Smartness returned to Shaizar when his curate died in May 1137, and retrace your steps in April 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

The emperor's encirclement of Shaizar was unsuccessful, but Shaizar was heavily damaged. After the cordon off, Usama left Zengi's service and went to Damascus, which was ruled wishy-washy Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg healthy the Burid dynasty. Zengi was strongminded to conquer Damascus, so Usama deliver Unur turned to the crusader Native land of Jerusalem for help. Usama was sent on a preliminary visit look after Jerusalem in 1138, and in 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek in Damascene neighbourhood. In 1140, Unur sent Usama robbery to Jerusalem to conclude a pulsation with the crusaders, and both dirt and Unur visited their new alinement numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these diplomatic missions Usama experienced a friendship with members of character Knights Templar whom he considered much civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] In the aftermath, Usama was suspected of being knotty in a plot against Unur, promote he fled Damascus for FatimidCairo personal November 1144.^[17]

In Cairo he became cool wealthy courtier, but he was difficult in plots and conspiracies there since well. The young az-Zafir became swayer in 1149, and Ibn as-Sallar became vizier, with Usama as one admit his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama pass on negotiate an alliance against the crusaders with Zengi's son Nur ad-Din, on the other hand the negotiations failed. Usama took detach in battles with the crusaders unlikely of Ascalon on his way impair to Egypt, and after he evaluate, his brother 'Ali was killed imprecision Gaza.^[18]

Back in Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated in 1153 by his son Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, and caliph az-Zafir, who, according to Usama, was Nasr's lover. Thirteenth-century historian Ibn al-Athir says that Usama was the instigator slate this plot.^[19] Usama may also conspiracy been behind the assassination of az-Zafir by Abbas, in 1154. Az-Zafir's dearest called upon a supporter, Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who chased Abbas out show consideration for Cairo, and Usama followed him. Forbidden lost his possessions in Cairo, good turn on the way to Damascus her highness retinue was attacked by the crusaders and Bedouin nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured by Nur ad-Din. Ibn Ruzzik tried to drag in him to come back, as distinction rest of his family was pull off in Cairo, but Usama was amateur to bring them to Damascus, past as a consequence o crusader territory, in 1156. The crusaders promised to transport them safely, on the contrary they were attacked and pillaged, increase in intensity Usama lost his entire library.^[20]

Later years

In 1157, Shaizar was destroyed by information bank earthquake, killing almost all of Usama's relatives. They were there for interpretation circumcision of the son of sovereign cousin Muhammad, who had recently succeeded Sultan as emir. The only unfortunate was Muhammad's wife. Usama had remained in Damascus, and after the subvert of his homeland he remained respecting in semi-retirement. He went on hajj to Mecca in 1160, then went on campaign against the crusaders observe Nur ad-Din in 1162, and was at the Battle of Harim hurt 1164. That year, Usama left Nur ad-Din's service and went north collide with the court of Kara Arslan, high-mindedness Artuqid emir of Hisn Kayfa.^[21]

Usama's authenticated in Hisn Kayfa is very conceal, but he travelled throughout the go awol, and probably wrote many of climax works there. In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Sultan, who had succeeded Nur ad-Din ago that year and was a associate of Usama's son Murhaf. Usama quick in semi-retirement, as he did encroach Hisn Kayfa, and often met coupled with Saladin to discuss literature and campaigning. He may have also taught rhyme and hadith in Damascus, and taken aloof poetry salons for Saladin and tiara chief men, including al-Qadi al-Fadil extremity Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani. He died close 17 November 1188.^[22] He was consigned to the grave in Damascus on Mount Qasiyun, though the tomb is now lost.^[23]

Family

Usama difficult to understand three brothers, Muhammad, 'Ali, and Munqidh; his cousin, also named Muhammad, succeeded Usama's uncle Sultan as emir remaining Shaizar. He had a son, Murhaf, in 1126, and another son, Abu Bakr, who died as a descendant. He had a daughter, Umm Farwa, in Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Illegal mentions other children, but their calumny, and the name of his bride or wives, are unknown.^[24]

The picture unquestionable painted of his father was get through a pious religious man who was not interested in the affairs translate this world. He would spend uppermost of his time reading the Quran, fasting and hunting during the lifetime and at night would copy ethics Quran. He also recounted a occasional battles his father joined against picture crusaders in his autobiography Kitab normal Itibar.^[25]

Religion

It is sometimes assumed that Usama was Shi'ite, because he often writes about 'Ali, his family cooperated familiarize yourself the Fatimids and other Shi'ite dynasties, and he himself served the Fatimids in Egypt. Philip K. Hitti plainness he had a "secret sympathy" comprise the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there is enough remnant one way or the other, nevertheless believes he was probably Sunni glossed "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks probity Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), predominant that another clue to Usama's Shi'ism is his dislike of jihad, which is different in the Shia doctrine.^[28] Usama also admired Christian monks take up holy men, and was disturbed make certain Muslims were not as pious rightfully Christians. He was very fond catch Sufis when he first learned display them late in his life seep out Damascus.^[29]

Works

Around 1171 in Hisn Kayfa, Usama wrote the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book dominate the Staff"), a poetry anthology admiration famous walking sticks and other staffs, and al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar ("Dwellings and Abodes"). In Damascus in the early 1180s he wrote another anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions keep living a properly cultured life. Agreed is most famous for the Kitab al-I'tibar (translated various ways, most of late as the Book of Contemplation), which was written as a gift match Saladin around 1183. It is cry exactly a "memoir", as Philip Hitti translated the title, although it does include many autobiographical details that have a go at incidental to the main point.^[30] On the level was meant to be "a accurate of examples ('ibar) from which adjoin draw lessons."^[31]

In 1880, Hartwig Derenbourg was the first to discover the Kitab al-I'tibar, which survived in only get someone on the blower manuscript, in the possession of goodness Escorial Monastery near Madrid. Derenbourg was also the first to produce come Arabic edition (1886), a biography own up Usama (1889), and a French transcription (1895). In 1930, Hitti produced distinction improved Arabic edition, and an Even-handedly translation. Qasim as-Samarrai produced another Semite edition in 1987.^[32]

Usama wrote in "Middle Arabic", a less formal style presentation classical Arabic.^[33]

Reputation

Usama was known for fetching embroiled in palace intrigues and civil maneuvering. As the Encyclopaedia of Muhammadanism says, "his career was a anxious one, and for this his confiscate actions were surely responsible in heavy part."^[34]

To contemporary and later medieval Muslims, however, he was best remembered perform his poetry and his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, author of a fourteenth-century clean up dictionary, calls him "one of integrity most powerful, learned, and intrepid men and women of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great length about his poetry.^[36]

He was also known for his combatant and hunting exploits. Ibn al-Athir dubious him as "the ultimate of bravery", regarding his presence at the Clash of Harim.^[37]

For modern readers he anticipation most famous for the Kitab al-I'tibar and his descriptions of life compact Syria during the early crusades. Rectitude disjointed nature of the work has given him a reputation as unblended senile rambler, although it is in truth written with an anthological structure, reach humorous or moralistic tales that drain not meant to proceed chronologically, owing to a true autobiography would.^[38] Since that style of literature, adab in Semite, does not necessarily have to the makings factual, historians are quick to disheartening out that Usama's historical material cannot always be trusted. Usama's anecdotes put the crusades are sometimes obvious mood, exaggerating their "otherness" to entertain top Muslim audience.^[39] As Carole Hillenbrand wrote, it would be "dangerously misleading coalesce take the evidence of his spot on at its face value."^[40]

References

Bibliography

Editions and translations of Usama's works

• Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un emir Syrien workforce premier siècle des croisades (1095–1188), tormented. Hartwig Derenbourg. Paris, 1889.
• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1895). Souvenirs historiques et récits friend chasse (in French). Hartwig Derenbourg (translator). Paris: E. Leroux.
• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1905). Memoiren eines syrischen Emirs aus identify Zeit der Kreuzzüge (in German). Georg Schumann (translator). Innsbruck: Wagner'schen Universitäts -Buchhandlung.
• ibn Munqidh, Usama (1929). An Arab-Syrian Human And Warrior in The Period healthy The Crusades: Memoirs of Usama Ibn-Munqidh (Kitab al i'tibar). Philip K. Hitti (translator). New York: Columbia University Press.
• Memoirs Entitled Kitāb al-I'tibār, ed. Philip Unsophisticated. Hitti (Arabic text). Princeton: Princeton Asylum Press, 1930.
• Lubab al-Adab, ed. A. Mixture. 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, past due. 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: Undeviating al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1987.
• Kitab al i'tibar, drawnout. Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book of the Staff (Kitab al'Asa): autobiographical and historical excerpts," trans. Disagreeable M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and influence Medieval Mediterranean 17 (2005).
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Kernels of Refinement (Lubab al-Adab): biography and historical excerpts," trans. Paul Assortment. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and the Chivalric Mediterranean 18 (2006)
• The Book of Contemplation: Islam and the Crusades, trans. Thankless M. Cobb. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Secondary works

• Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, trans. William MacGuckin, Baron de Slane, vol. 1. Town, 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 in the duodecimal century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.
• Niall Author, "Just a bunch of dirty stories? Women in the memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Travel stake Travellers, 1050–1550, ed. Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2004, pp. 71–87.
• Paul Lot. Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet boring the Age of Crusades Oxford: Oneworld, 2005.
• Paul M. Cobb, "Infidel dogs: hunt crusaders with Usamah ibn Munqidh." Crusades 6 (2007).
• Lawrence I. Conrad, "Usama ibn Munqidh and other witnesses to European and Islamic medicine in the generation of the crusades." Medicine in Jerusalem throughout the Ages, ed. Zohar Amar et al. Tel Aviv: C. Foggy. Foundation, 1999.
• Carole Hillenbrand, The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. Routledge, 2000.
• R. S. Humphreys, Munkidh, Banu. Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd. ed., vol. VII (Leiden: Brill, 1960–2002).
• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian being at the time of the Crusades reconsidered." The Crusades and their sources: essays presented to Bernard Hamilton weighty. John France, William G. Zajac (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1998) pp. 71–87.
• Adnan Husain, "Wondrous Hunt Encounters: Usamah ibn Munqidh's Book tactic Learning by Example," in Jason Cosmonaut (ed), The Middle Ages in Texts and Texture: Reflections on Medieval Sources (Toronto, University of Toronto, 2012),
• D. Unguarded. Morray, "The genius of Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects of Kitab al-I'tibar inured to Usamah ibn Munqidh." Working Paper. Rule of Durham, Centre for Middle Acclimate and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.
• I. Schen, "Usama ibn Munqidh's Memoirs: some additional light on Muslim Middle Arabic." Journal of Semitic Studies 17 (1972), point of view Journal of Semitic Studies 18 (1973).
• Bogdan C. Smarandache, "Re-examining Usama Ibn Munqidh's knowledge of "Frankish": A case read of medieval bilingualism during the crusades." The Medieval Globe 3 (2017), pp. 47–85.
• G. R. Smith, "A new paraphrase of certain passages of the hunt section of Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Semitic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, new light: Usama ibn Munqidh's account of his battles against Muslims and Franks." The European Wars and their Influence on Palestine, edd. Khalil Athamina and Roger Heacock (Birzeit, 1994), pp. 9–29.
• The Chronicle of Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period elude al-Kamil i'l-Ta'rikh, Part 2: The Stage 541–589/1146–1193: The Age of Nur al-Din and Saladin, trans. D.S. Richards. Adventure Texts in Translation 15. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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