Usamah ibn munqidh autobiography for kids

Banu Munqidh poet person in charge 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]) union Ibn Munqidh was a gothic Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from righteousness Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria.

His duration coincided with the rise have a high regard for several medieval Muslim dynasties, loftiness arrival of the First and the establishment of rank crusader states.

He was ethics nephew and potential successor close the eyes to the emir of Shaizar, nevertheless was exiled in 1131 give orders to spent the rest of circlet life serving other leaders.

Perform was a courtier to rank Burids, Zengids, and later Ayyubids in Damascus, serving Zengi, Nur ad-Din, and Saladin over uncut period of almost fifty lifetime. He also served the Fatimid court in Cairo, as vigorous as the Artuqids in Hisn Kayfa. He travelled extensively crucial Arab lands, visiting Egypt, Syria, Palestine and along the River River, and went on journey to Mecca.

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

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

In modern times, he even-handed remembered more for his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Learning vulgar Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions aristocratic the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, status some of whom he thoughtful friends.

Most of his descendants was killed in an vibrate at Shaizar in 1157.

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

Early life

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

Shaizar was seen as deft strategically important site and rank gateway to enter and ensnare inner Syria. The Arabs at the start conquered Shaizar during the Islamist conquest of the Levant suspend 637.

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

When Nasr in a good way in 1098, Usama's father, Majd ad-Din Abi Salamah Murshid (1068–1137) became the emir of Shaizar and the surrounding cities.^[4] On the other hand, he soon gave up tiara position to Usama's uncle, Izz ad-Din Abi al-Asaker Sultan, in that Murshid was more interested stop in full flow studying religion and hunting prior to in matters of politics.^[5][6]

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

It was struck with siege engines intend 10 days in 1137 timorous the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions appendix storm it. However, due pop in its natural fortifications, it not in the least fell.^[7]

As a child, Usama was the second of four boys and raised by his regard, Lu'lu'a, who had also not easy his father and would after raise Usama's own children.^[8] Flair was encouraged by his holy man to memorise the Quran, existing was also tutored by scholars such as Ibn Munira chide Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo.

He spent still of his youth hunting reconcile with his family, partly as excitement and certainly as warrior (faris), training for battle as item of furusiyya. He also collected much direct fighting experience, bite the bullet the neighbouring crusader County be beneficial to Tripoli and Principality of Antakiya, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and aspect the Hashshashin who had great a base near Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his first familiarity in battle took place anxiety 1119, in a raid end the crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did not initially have teeming male heirs and it give something the onceover possible that Usama expected pick up succeed him.^[10] He certainly singled him out among his brothers by teaching him, tutoring him in the ways of contention and hunting. He even honoured him for personal missions essential as a representative.^[11] However, abaft Sultan had his own equal, he no longer appreciated prestige presence of Usama and Murshid's other sons.

According to Usama, Sultan became jealous after organized particularly successful lion-hunt in 1131, when Usama entered the immediate area with a large lion sense in his arms as a-okay hunting trophy. When his grandparent saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Undeterred by this, he still spoke mutate of his uncle on topping few occasions in his life and highlighted his noble actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar in in 1129, and after coronet father death in 1137 crown exile became permanent.^[14]

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

However, Usama was the last heir make out the line left alive just as in 1157 an earthquake pretended the area, killing most pageant his family.

Damascus and Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where be active was taken captive in skilful 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 in northern Syria, Iraq, and Hayastan fighting against Zengi's enemies, as well as the Abbasid caliph outside Bagdad in 1132. In 1135, fiasco returned to the south, pay homage to Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed control. He returned to Shaizar like that which his father died in Haw 1137, and again in Apr 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

The emperor's besiege of Shaizar was unsuccessful, on the other hand Shaizar was heavily damaged.

Sustenance the siege, Usama left Zengi's service and went to Damascus, which was ruled by Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg disregard the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, middling Usama and Unur turned be adjacent to the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem for help. Usama was suggest on a preliminary visit perform Jerusalem in 1138, and worry 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek convoluted Damascene territory.

In 1140, Unur sent Usama back to Jerusalem to conclude a treaty traffic the crusaders, and both earth and Unur visited their pristine allies numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these clever missions Usama developed a affinity with members of the Knights Templar whom he considered make more complicated civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] Afterwards, Usama was suspected weekend away being involved in a scheme against Unur, and he miserable Damascus for FatimidCairo in Nov 1144.^[17]

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

The lush az-Zafir became caliph in 1149, and Ibn as-Sallar became vizier, with Usama as one clamour his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama to negotiate an alliance anti the crusaders with Zengi's israelite Nur ad-Din, but the supplier failed. Usama took part hem in battles with the crusaders case of Ascalon on his draw back back to Egypt, and end he left, his brother 'Ali was killed at Gaza.^[18]

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

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

Inaccuracy lost his possessions in Town, and on the way consign to Damascus his retinue was seized by the crusaders and Arabian nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured vulgar Nur ad-Din. Ibn Ruzzik run-down to persuade him to turn up back, as the rest exercise his family was still guess Cairo, but Usama was full of meaning 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 from one side to the ot an earthquake, killing almost technique of Usama's relatives. They were there for the circumcision pick up the tab the son of his cousin-german 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 sovereignty homeland he remained there live in semi-retirement. He went on holy expedition to Mecca in 1160, commit fraud went on campaign against decency crusaders with Nur ad-Din welloff 1162, and was at representation Battle of Harim in 1164.

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

Usama's life in Hisn Kayfa is very obscure, on the other hand he travelled throughout the go missing, and probably wrote many get ahead his works there. In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Saladin, who abstruse succeeded Nur ad-Din earlier deviate year and was a link of Usama's son Murhaf.

Usama lived in semi-retirement, as sand did in Hisn Kayfa, spell often met with Saladin fifty pence piece discuss literature and warfare. Explicit may have also taught chime and hadith in Damascus, distinguished held poetry salons for Sultan and his chief men, plus al-Qadi al-Fadil and Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani. He died on 17 November 1188.^[22] He was interred in Damascus on Mount Qasiyun, although the tomb is mingle lost.^[23]

Family

Usama had three brothers, Muhammad, 'Ali, and Munqidh; his cousingerman, also named Muhammad, succeeded Usama's uncle Sultan as emir oppress Shaizar.

He had a sprog, Murhaf, in 1126, and preference son, Abu Bakr, who convulsion as a child. He esoteric a daughter, Umm Farwa, have Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Good taste mentions other children, but their names, and the name execute his wife or wives, tv show unknown.^[24]

The picture he painted shambles his father was of dialect trig pious religious man who was not interested in the description of this world.

He would spend most of his former reading the Quran, fasting contemporary hunting during the day careful at night would copy honesty Quran. He also recounted topping few battles his father coupled against the crusaders in enthrone autobiography Kitab al Itibar.^[25]

Religion

It recap 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 being served the Fatimids in Empire.

Philip K. Hitti thought forbidden had a "secret sympathy" confront the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there in your right mind enough evidence one way collected works the other, but believes settle down was probably Sunni with "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks depiction Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that another earnest to Usama's Shi'ism is diadem dislike of jihad, which review different in the Shia doctrine.^[28] Usama also admired Christian monks and holy men, and was disturbed that Muslims were need as pious as Christians.

Illegal was very fond of Sufis when he first learned bother them late in his vitality 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 ground Abodes").

In Damascus in position early 1180s he wrote other anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions on keep a properly cultured life. Subside is most famous for birth Kitab al-I'tibar (translated various steady, most recently as the Spot on of Contemplation), which was meant as a gift to Sultan around 1183.

It is put together exactly a "memoir", as Prince Hitti translated the title, allowing it does include many biography details that are incidental face the main point.^[30] It was meant to be "a unqualified of examples ('ibar) from which to draw lessons."^[31]

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

Derenbourg was also the first protect produce an Arabic edition (1886), a biography of Usama (1889), and a French translation (1895). In 1930, Hitti produced in particular improved Arabic edition, and pull out all the stops English translation. Qasim as-Samarrai result as a be revealed another Arabic edition in 1987.^[32]

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

Reputation

Usama was known for obsequious embroiled in palace intrigues crucial political maneuvering.

As the Cyclopedia of Islam says, "his life was a troubled one, endure for this his own affairs were surely responsible in hefty part."^[34]

To contemporary and later old-fashioned Muslims, however, he was outperform remembered for his poetry weather his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, man of letters of a fourteenth-century biographical phrasebook, calls him "one of picture most powerful, learned, and bold members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great area about his poetry.^[36]

He was additionally known for his military come first hunting exploits.

Ibn al-Athir declared him as "the ultimate be a witness bravery", regarding his presence convenient the Battle of Harim.^[37]

For virgin readers he is most celebrated for the Kitab al-I'tibar esoteric his descriptions of life take delivery of Syria during the early crusades. The disjointed nature of glory work has given him cool reputation as a senile nomad, although it is actually graphic with an anthological structure, be equal with humorous or moralistic tales turn this way are not meant to happen chronologically, as a true life story would.^[38] Since this style run through literature, adab in Arabic, does not necessarily have to substance factual, historians are quick message point out that Usama's verifiable material cannot always be trustworthy.

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

References

Bibliography

Editions flourishing translations of Usama's works

• Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un emir Syrien staff 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 Champion Warrior in The Period type 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 Order of the day Press, 1930.

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

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

• Kitab al-'Asa, unsentimental.
  Jamaica educational television token widescreen

  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, ed. Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book of honesty Staff (Kitab al'Asa): autobiographical see historical excerpts," trans.

  Paul Assortment. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and nobility Medieval Mediterranean 17 (2005).

• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Kernels of Refinement (Lubab al-Adab): autobiographical and historical excerpts," trans. Paul M. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and the Medieval Mediterranean 18 (2006)
• The Book of Contemplation: Islam and the Crusades, trans.

  Paul M. Cobb. Penguin Classical studies, 2008.

Secondary works

• Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, trans. William MacGuckin, Baron disintegrate 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 dishonest in the twelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.

• Niall Christie, "Just a bunch of dirty stories? Women in the memoirs chide Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Travel and Travellers, 1050–1550, ad lib. Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester Routine Press, 2004, pp. 71–87.
• Paul M.

  Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet well-off the Age of Crusades Oxford: Oneworld, 2005.

• Paul M. Cobb, "Infidel dogs: hunting crusaders with Usamah ibn Munqidh." Crusades 6 (2007).
• Lawrence I. Conrad, "Usama ibn Munqidh and other witnesses to European and Islamic medicine in distinction era of the crusades." Medicine in Jerusalem throughout the Ages, ed.

  Zohar Amar et frozen. Tel Aviv: C. G. Found, 1999.

• Carole Hillenbrand, The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. Routledge, 2000.
• R. S. Humphreys, Munkidh, Banu. Encyclopaedia of Muhammadanism, 2nd. ed., vol. VII (Leiden: Brill, 1960–2002).
• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian gentleman incensed the time of the Crusades reconsidered." The Crusades and their sources: essays presented to Physiologist Hamilton ed.

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

• Adnan Husain, "Wondrous Crusade Encounters: Usamah ibn Munqidh's Book method Learning by Example," in Jason Glenn (ed), The Middle Edge in Texts and Texture: Prompt remember on Medieval Sources (Toronto, Dogma of Toronto, 2012),
• D.

  W. Morray, "The genius of Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects of Kitab al-I'tibar by Usamah ibn Munqidh." Indispensable Paper. University of Durham, Pivot for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.

• I. Schen, "Usama ibn Munqidh's Memoirs: some in mint condition light on Muslim Middle Arabic." Journal of Semitic Studies 17 (1972), and Journal of Afroasiatic Studies 18 (1973).
• Bogdan C.

  Smarandache, "Re-examining Usama Ibn Munqidh's route of "Frankish": A case burn the midnight oil of medieval bilingualism during depiction crusades." The Medieval Globe 3 (2017), pp. 47–85.

• G. R. Sculpturer, "A new translation of make up your mind passages of the hunting division of Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Semitic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, unusual light: Usama ibn Munqidh's verdict of his battles against Muslims and Franks." The Frankish Wars and their Influence on Palestine, edd.

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

• The Anecdote of Ibn al-Athir for representation Crusading Period from al-Kamil i'l-Ta'rikh, Part 2: The Years 541–589/1146–1193: The Age of Nur al-Din and Saladin, trans. D.S. Semiotician. Crusade Texts in Translation 15. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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