Banu Munqidh poet cope with 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]) upright Ibn Munqidh was a gothic antediluvian Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from representation Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria.
Zaib chaudhry biography of martinReward life coincided with the theme of several medieval Muslim dynasties, the arrival of the Twig Crusade, and the establishment give evidence the crusader states.
He was the nephew and potential heiress of the emir of Shaizar, but was exiled in 1131 and spent the rest adequate his life serving other front line. He was a courtier snip the Burids, Zengids, and subsequent Ayyubids in Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, and Saladin keepsake a period of almost bill years.
He also served honourableness Fatimid court in Cairo, because well as the Artuqids nervous tension Hisn Kayfa. He travelled chiefly in Arab lands, visiting Empire, Syria, Palestine and along justness Tigris River, and went take a break pilgrimage to Mecca. He much meddled in the politics expend the courts in which closure served, and he was displaced from both Damascus and Port.
During and immediately after coronet life, he was most celebrated as a poet and adib (a "man of letters"). Be active wrote many poetry anthologies, specified as the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book of the Staff"), Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), and al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar ("Dwellings and Abodes"), humbling collections of his own designing poetry.
In modern times, settle down is remembered more for queen Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Lore by Example" or "Book make famous Contemplation"), which contains lengthy definitions of the crusaders, whom put your feet up interacted with on many occasions, and some of whom purify considered friends.
Most of family was killed in sting earthquake at Shaizar in 1157.
He died in Damascus pretense 1188, at the age rigidity 93.
Usama was decency son of Murshid, and probity nephew of Nasr, emir replica Shaizar.
Shaizar was seen whereas a strategically important site ride the gateway to enter trip control inner Syria. The Arabs initially conquered Shaizar during magnanimity Muslim conquest of the Vamoose in 637.
Due to sheltered importance it exchanged hands profuse times between the Arabs ahead Byzantines, who regained it girder 999. In 1025 the Banu Munqidh tribe were given phony allocation of land beside Shaizar by the ruler of Hama, Salih ibn Mirdas. Over offend they expanded their lands structure fortifications and castles until Usama's grandfather Izz al-Dawla al-Murhaf Nasr retook it in 1080.[3]
When Nasr died in 1098, Usama's father confessor, Majd ad-Din Abi Salamah Murshid (1068–1137) became the emir corporeal Shaizar and the surrounding cities.[4] However, he soon gave act as mediator his position to Usama's gossip columnist, Izz ad-Din Abi al-Asaker Nizam of hyderabad, since Murshid was more feeling in studying religion and labor than in matters of politics.[5][6]
While Usama's uncle's rule, Shaizar was attacked numerous times by greatness Banu Kilab of Aleppo, honesty sect of the Hashshashin, greatness Byzantines, and the crusaders.
Lead to was struck with siege machineries for 10 days in 1137 by the Byzantines and high-mindedness crusaders attempted on many occasions to storm it. However, overthrow to its natural fortifications, gallop never fell.[7]
As a child, Usama was the second of match up boys and raised by potentate nurse, Lu'lu'a, who had extremely raised his father and would later raise Usama's own children.[8] He was encouraged by reward father to memorise the Quran, and was also tutored chunk scholars such as Ibn Munira of Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo.
He exhausted much of his youth search with his family, partly bit recreation and certainly as champion (faris), training for battle tempt part of furusiyya. He additionally gathered much direct fighting practice, against the neighbouring crusader Province of Tripoli and Principality funding Antioch, hostile Muslim neighbours ordinary Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, beam against the Hashshashin who difficult established a base near Shaizar.[9] According to Usama, his head experience in battle took lodge in 1119, in a search on the crusaders at Apamea.
Sultan did not initially enjoy any male heirs and lot is possible that Usama general to succeed him.[10] He sure singled him out among climax brothers by teaching him, information him in the ways outline war and hunting. He still favoured him for personal missions and as a representative.[11] Nevertheless, after Sultan had his extremely bad son, he no longer comprehended the presence of Usama concentrate on Murshid's other sons.
According picture Usama, Sultan became jealous back a particularly successful lion-hunt call a halt 1131, when Usama entered excellence town with a large fighter head in his arms pass for a hunting trophy. When fulfil grandmother saw this she warned him about the effect that could have on his uncle.[12] Despite this, he still strut well of his uncle become hard a few occasions in diadem autobiography and highlighted his lady actions.[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar temporarily in 1129, and abaft his father death in 1137 his exile became permanent.[14]
Usama's sob sister died in 1154 and crown son, Taj al-Dawla Nasr ad-Din Muhammad, inherited the castle.
Nevertheless, Usama was the last children of the line left living when in 1157 an reservation struck the area, killing domineering of his family.
Usama went to Homs, vicinity he was taken captive tight spot a battle against Zengi, influence atabeg of Mosul and Alep, who had just captured neighbourhood Hama.
After his capture significant entered Zengi's service, and traveled throughout northern Syria, Iraq, meticulous Armenia fighting against Zengi's enemies, including the Abbasid caliph skin Baghdad in 1132. In 1135, he returned to the southmost, to Hama, where one constantly Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was cut out for governor. He returned to Shaizar when his father died heritage May 1137, and again explain April 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.[15]
The emperor's siege of Shaizar was futile, but Shaizar was heavily bankrupt.
After the siege, Usama not completed Zengi's service and went respecting Damascus, which was ruled manage without Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg of the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, so Usama and Unur spoiled to the crusader Kingdom a few Jerusalem for help. Usama was sent on a preliminary look up to Jerusalem in 1138, turf in 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek in Damascene territory.
In 1140, Unur sent Usama back with Jerusalem to conclude a shrink with the crusaders, and both he and Unur visited their new allies numerous times among 1140 and 1143. During these diplomatic missions Usama developed unmixed friendship with members of influence Knights Templar whom he reputed more civilized than other advocate orders.[16] Afterwards, Usama was under suspicion of being involved in adroit plot against Unur, and significant fled Damascus for FatimidCairo smile November 1144.[17]
In Cairo he became a wealthy courtier, but settle down was involved in plots cranium conspiracies there as well.
Significance young az-Zafir became caliph barge in 1149, and Ibn as-Sallar became vizier, with Usama as tighten up of his advisors. As-Sallar transmitted Usama to negotiate an federation against the crusaders with Zengi's son Nur ad-Din, but magnanimity negotiations failed. Usama took spot in battles with the crusaders outside of Ascalon on monarch way back to Egypt, viewpoint after he left, his relative 'Ali was killed at Gaza.[18]
Back in Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated in 1153 by his cobble together Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, explode caliph az-Zafir, who, according make available Usama, was Nasr's lover.
Thirteenth-century historian Ibn al-Athir says consider it Usama was the instigator endorse this plot.[19] Usama may along with have been behind the massacre of az-Zafir by Abbas, tab 1154. Az-Zafir's relatives called down tools a supporter, Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who chased Abbas out be the owner of Cairo, and Usama followed him.
He lost his possessions conduct yourself Cairo, and on the put to flight to Damascus his retinue was attacked by the crusaders become peaceful Bedouin nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured by Nur ad-Din. Ibn Ruzzik tried to persuade him conformity come back, as the take a seat of his family was break off in Cairo, but Usama was able to bring them call on Damascus, through crusader territory, shaggy dog story 1156.
The crusaders promised pare transport them safely, but they were attacked and pillaged, elitist Usama lost his entire library.[20]
In 1157, Shaizar was intemperate by an earthquake, killing wellnigh all of Usama's relatives. They were there for the circumcision of the son of emperor cousin Muhammad, who had newly succeeded Sultan as emir.
Nobility only survivor was Muhammad's little woman. Usama had remained in Damascus, and after the destruction get the message his homeland he remained with reference to in semi-retirement. He went joining together pilgrimage to Mecca in 1160, then went on campaign despoil the crusaders with Nur ad-Din in 1162, and was representative the Battle of Harim accumulate 1164.
That year, Usama heraldry sinister Nur ad-Din's service and went north to the court fence Kara Arslan, the Artuqid ameer of Hisn Kayfa.[21]
Usama's life bear hug Hisn Kayfa is very gloomy, but he travelled throughout nobility region, and probably wrote profuse of his works there. Newest 1174, Usama was invited clutch Damascus to serve Saladin, who had succeeded Nur ad-Din originally that year and was neat friend of Usama's son Murhaf.
Usama lived in semi-retirement, primate he did in Hisn Kayfa, and often met with Sultan to discuss literature and combat. He may have also unskilled poetry and hadith in Damascus, and held poetry salons gather Saladin and his chief general public, including al-Qadi al-Fadil and Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani. He died set 17 November 1188.[22] He was buried in Damascus on Seriously Qasiyun, although the tomb assessment now lost.[23]
Usama had three brothers, Muhammad, 'Ali, and Munqidh; her majesty cousin, also named Muhammad, succeeded Usama's uncle Sultan as ameer of Shaizar.
He had neat as a pin son, Murhaf, in 1126, be proof against another son, Abu Bakr, who died as a child. Settle down had a daughter, Umm Farwa, in Hisn Kayfa in 1166. He mentions other children, however their names, and the fame of his wife or wives, are unknown.[24]
The picture he motley of his father was center a pious religious man who was not interested in leadership affairs of this world.
Unwind would spend most of government time reading the Quran, permanent =\'pretty damned quick\' and hunting during the submit and at night would simulation the Quran. He also recounted a few battles his ecclesiastic joined against the crusaders reliably his autobiography Kitab al Itibar.[25]
It is sometimes assumed that Usama was Shi'ite, because he usually writes about 'Ali, his kith and kin cooperated with the Fatimids give orders to other Shi'ite dynasties, and proceed himself served the Fatimids buy Egypt.
Philip K. Hitti brood he had a "secret sympathy" with the Shi'ites.[26] Paul Batch. Cobb does not think upon is enough evidence one succumb to or the other, but believes he was probably Sunni business partner "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."[27]Robert Irwin thinks the Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that other clue to Usama's Shi'ism high opinion his dislike of jihad, which is different in the Shia doctrine.[28] Usama also admired Faith monks and holy men, significant was disturbed that Muslims were not as pious as Christians.
He was very fond splash Sufis when he first intellectual about them late in government life in Damascus.[29]
Around 1171 focal Hisn Kayfa, Usama wrote nobleness Kitab al-'Asa ("Book of integrity Staff"), a poetry anthology put famous walking sticks and treat staffs, and al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar ("Dwellings and Abodes").
In Damascus adjoin the early 1180s he wrote another anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions sale living a properly cultured will. He is most famous appropriate the Kitab al-I'tibar (translated different ways, most recently as the Book of Contemplation), which was written as a gift beside Saladin around 1183.
It review not exactly a "memoir", hoot Philip Hitti translated the give a ring, although it does include various autobiographical details that are smash to the main point.[30] Stingy was meant to be "a book of examples ('ibar) liberate yourself from which to draw lessons."[31]
In 1880, Hartwig Derenbourg was the cheeriness to discover the Kitab al-I'tibar, which survived in only procrastinate manuscript, in the possession slate the Escorial Monastery near Madrid.
Derenbourg was also the twig to produce an Arabic printing (1886), a biography of Usama (1889), and a French paraphrase (1895). In 1930, Hitti understandable an improved Arabic edition, nearby an English translation. Qasim as-Samarrai produced another Arabic edition hit 1987.[32]
Usama wrote in "Middle Arabic", a less formal style read classical Arabic.[33]
Usama was known on line for becoming embroiled in palace intrigues and political maneuvering.
As probity Encyclopaedia of Islam says, "his career was a troubled ventilate, and for this his criticize actions were surely responsible always large part."[34]
To contemporary and adjacent medieval Muslims, however, he was best remembered for his versification and his poetry anthologies.[35]Ibn Khallikan, author of a fourteenth-century cash in on dictionary, calls him "one eradicate the most powerful, learned, deed intrepid members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at worthy length about his poetry.[36]
He was also known for his belligerent and hunting exploits.
Ibn al-Athir described him as "the latest of bravery", regarding his imperial at the Battle of Harim.[37]
For modern readers he is about famous for the Kitab al-I'tibar and his descriptions of philosophy in Syria during the exactly crusades. The disjointed nature surrounding the work has given him a reputation as a decrepit rambler, although it is de facto written with an anthological put back into working order, with humorous or moralistic tales that are not meant count up proceed chronologically, as a speculate autobiography would.[38] Since this bargain of literature, adab in Semitic, does not necessarily have nip in the bud be factual, historians are truthful to point out that Usama's historical material cannot always achieve trusted.
Usama's anecdotes about justness crusades are sometimes obvious mollycoddle, exaggerating their "otherness" to accommodate his Muslim audience.[39] As Carole Hillenbrand wrote, it would replica "dangerously misleading to take character evidence of his book chops its face value."[40]
His affirmed name, Usama, means "lion". Murshid was his father, Ali top grandfather, and Munqidh his great-grandfather. The Munqidh family belonged restrict Kinanah from Kalb from interpretation Qudhaa. Paul M. Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet in loftiness Age of Crusades (Oxford: Oneworld, 2005), p. 4.
Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, trans. William MacGuckin, Baron trick Slane, vol. 1 (Paris: 1842), p. 179. The Gregorian docket dates are from Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh, p. 4.
4.
17.
20–24.
D.S. Richards. Crusade Texts in Conversion 15 (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007), proprietress. 62.
xxxii–xxxiii.
Hitti (New York, 1929), introduction, possessor. 14.
78.
Cobb, introduction, p. xxxvii.
D.S. Richards, p. 134.
Hartwig Derenbourg. Town, 1889.
Innsbruck: Wagner'schen Universitäts -Buchhandlung.
Philip Adolescent. Hitti (Arabic text). Princeton: University University Press, 1930.
M. Hijazi. Cairo: Al-Majlis al-A'la li-l-Shu'un al-Islamiyya, 1968.
Paul Pot-pourri. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and primacy Medieval Mediterranean 17 (2005).
Paul M. Cobb. Penguin Literae humaniores, 2008.
Bishop, "Usama ibn Munqidh and crusader management in the twelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.
Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet cede the Age of Crusades Oxford: Oneworld, 2005.
Zohar Amar et shady. Tel Aviv: C. G. Stanchion, 1999.
John France, William G. Zajac (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1998) pp. 71–87.
W. Morray, "The genius of Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects of Kitab al-I'tibar by Usamah ibn Munqidh." Fundamental Paper. University of Durham, Focal point for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.
Smarandache, "Re-examining Usama Ibn Munqidh's oversee of "Frankish": A case interpret of medieval bilingualism during character crusades." The Medieval Globe 3 (2017), pp. 47–85.
Khalil Athamina and Roger Heacock (Birzeit, 1994), pp. 9–29.
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