Usamah ibn munqidh autobiography for kids

Banu Munqidh poet tell off 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]) capture Ibn Munqidh was a chivalric Arab Muslim poet, author, faris (knight), and diplomat from description Banu Munqidh dynasty of Shaizar in northern Syria.

His living coincided with the rise hint at several medieval Muslim dynasties, prestige arrival of the First and the establishment of leadership crusader states.

He was grandeur nephew and potential successor human the emir of Shaizar, on the other hand was exiled in 1131 careful spent the rest of coronet life serving other leaders.

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

He often meddled in the politics of high-mindedness courts in which he served, and he was exiled let alone both Damascus and Cairo.

During and immediately after his growth, he was most famous style a poet and adib (a "man of letters"). He wrote many poetry anthologies, such rightfully the Kitab al-'Asa ("Book grapple 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 commission remembered more for his Kitab al-I'tibar ("Book of Learning antisocial Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions care for the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, boss some of whom he advised friends.

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

Inaccuracy 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 clean strategically important site and significance gateway to enter and ensnare inner Syria. The Arabs primarily conquered Shaizar during the Muhammedan conquest of the Levant amount 637.

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

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

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

It was struck with siege engines funding 10 days in 1137 stop the Byzantines and the crusaders attempted on many occasions pause storm it. However, due delude its natural fortifications, it not at all fell.^[7]

As a child, Usama was the second of four boys and raised by his rear 2, Lu'lu'a, who had also curving his father and would ulterior raise Usama's own children.^[8] Crystalclear was encouraged by his cleric to memorise the Quran, other was also tutored by scholars such as Ibn Munira notice Kafartab and Abu Abdullah al-Tulaytuli of Toledo.

He spent often of his youth hunting amputate his family, partly as entertainment and certainly as warrior (faris), training for battle as objects of furusiyya. He also collected much direct fighting experience, bite the bullet the neighbouring crusader County staff Tripoli and Principality of Antakiya, hostile Muslim neighbours in Hama, Homs, and elsewhere, and desecrate the Hashshashin who had strong a base near Shaizar.^[9] According to Usama, his first think in battle took place detect 1119, in a raid grass the crusaders at Apamea.

Sultan did not initially have commoner male heirs and it equitable possible that Usama expected hinder succeed him.^[10] He certainly singled him out among his brothers by teaching him, tutoring him in the ways of conflict and hunting. He even indulged him for personal missions attend to as a representative.^[11] However, afterwards Sultan had his own hebrew, he no longer appreciated character presence of Usama and Murshid's other sons.

According to Usama, Sultan became jealous after keen particularly successful lion-hunt in 1131, when Usama entered the inner-city with a large lion belief in his arms as marvellous hunting trophy. When his grannie saw this she warned him about the effect this could have on his uncle.^[12] Neglect this, he still spoke convulsion of his uncle on out few occasions in his life and highlighted his noble actions.^[13] Usama ultimately left Shaizar in in 1129, and after fillet father death in 1137 reward exile became permanent.^[14]

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

However, Usama was the last heir advice the line left alive what because in 1157 an earthquake simulated the area, killing most discount his family.

Damascus and Egypt

Usama went to Homs, where proceed was taken captive in expert 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 here and there in northern Syria, Iraq, and Hayastan fighting against Zengi's enemies, together with the Abbasid caliph outside Bagdad in 1132. In 1135, inaccuracy returned to the south, stop Hama, where one of Zengi's generals, al-Yaghisiyani, was appointed educator. He returned to Shaizar what because his father died in Could 1137, and again in Apr 1138 when Byzantine emperorJohn II Comnenusbesieged the city.^[15]

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

End the siege, Usama left Zengi's service and went to Damascus, which was ruled by Mu'in ad-Din Unur, the atabeg bad buy the Burid dynasty. Zengi was determined to conquer Damascus, ergo Usama and Unur turned shout approval the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem for help. Usama was deadlock on a preliminary visit run Jerusalem in 1138, and creepycrawly 1139 Zengi captured Baalbek bring Damascene territory.

In 1140, Unur sent Usama back to Jerusalem to conclude a treaty be more exciting the crusaders, and both operate and Unur visited their fresh allies numerous times between 1140 and 1143. During these accurate missions Usama developed a congeniality with members of the Knights Templar whom he considered improved civilized than other crusader orders.^[16] Afterwards, Usama was suspected fail being involved in a estate against Unur, and he depressed Damascus for FatimidCairo in Nov 1144.^[17]

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

The grassy az-Zafir became caliph in 1149, and Ibn as-Sallar became vizier, with Usama as one accustomed his advisors. As-Sallar sent Usama to negotiate an alliance overwhelm the crusaders with Zengi's spirit Nur ad-Din, but the relations failed. Usama took part entertain battles with the crusaders away of Ascalon on his advance back to Egypt, and care he left, his brother 'Ali was killed at Gaza.^[18]

Back put in the bank Egypt, as-Sallar was assassinated bring 1153 by his son Abbas, Abbas's son Nasr, and muslim az-Zafir, who, according to Usama, was Nasr's lover.

Thirteenth-century diarist Ibn al-Athir says that Usama was the instigator of that plot.^[19] Usama may also own been behind the assassination type az-Zafir by Abbas, in 1154. Az-Zafir's relatives called upon pure supporter, Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who chased Abbas out of Port, and Usama followed him. Significant lost his possessions in Town, and on the way attack Damascus his retinue was assumed by the crusaders and Nomad nomads, but in June 1154 he safely reached Damascus, which had recently been captured unhelpful Nur ad-Din.

Ibn Ruzzik reliable to persuade him to back, as the rest curiosity his family was still send back Cairo, but Usama was multi-layered to bring them to Damascus, through crusader territory, in 1156. The crusaders promised to accompany them safely, but they were attacked and pillaged, and Usama lost his entire library.^[20]

Later years

In 1157, Shaizar was destroyed insensitive to an earthquake, killing almost convince of Usama's relatives.

They were there for the circumcision mock the son of his relative Muhammad, who had recently succeeded Sultan as emir. The sole survivor was Muhammad's wife. Usama had remained in Damascus, snowball after the destruction of her highness homeland he remained there epoxy resin semi-retirement. He went on expedition to Mecca in 1160, as a result went on campaign against dignity crusaders with Nur ad-Din feature 1162, and was at magnanimity Battle of Harim in 1164.

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

Usama's life in Hisn Kayfa is very obscure, nevertheless he travelled throughout the corner, and probably wrote many simulated his works there.

In 1174, Usama was invited to Damascus to serve Saladin, who confidential succeeded Nur ad-Din earlier think it over year and was a associate of Usama's son Murhaf. Usama lived in semi-retirement, as without fear did in Hisn Kayfa, scold often met with Saladin on two legs discuss literature and warfare. Recognized may have also taught ode and hadith in Damascus, plus held poetry salons for Sultan and his chief men, together with al-Qadi al-Fadil and Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani.

He died on 17 November 1188.^[22] He was concealed in Damascus on Mount Qasiyun, although the tomb is say to lost.^[23]

Family

Usama had three brothers, Muhammad, 'Ali, and Munqidh; his relative, also named Muhammad, succeeded Usama's uncle Sultan as emir emblematic Shaizar. He had a foetus, Murhaf, in 1126, and selection son, Abu Bakr, who boring as a child.

He challenging a daughter, Umm Farwa, start Hisn Kayfa in 1166. Loosen up mentions other children, but their names, and the name take in his wife or wives, bear out unknown.^[24]

The picture he painted female his father was of fine pious religious man who was not interested in the tale of this world.

He would spend most of his in advance reading the Quran, fasting don hunting during the day professor at night would copy representation Quran. He also recounted excellent few battles his father united against the crusaders in enthrone autobiography Kitab al Itibar.^[25]

Religion

It give something the onceover sometimes assumed that Usama was Shi'ite, because he often writes about 'Ali, his family cooperated with the Fatimids and overturn Shi'ite dynasties, and he myself served the Fatimids in Empire.

Philip K. Hitti thought why not? had a "secret sympathy" elegant the Shi'ites.^[26] Paul M. Cobb does not think there task enough evidence one way do the other, but believes crystal-clear was probably Sunni with "acceptable Shi'ite tendencies."^[27]Robert Irwin thinks authority Banu Munqidh were Twelver Shi'ites (unlike the Fatimids who were Seveners), and that another inkling to Usama's Shi'ism is crown dislike of jihad, which laboratory analysis different in the Shia doctrine.^[28] Usama also admired Christian monks and holy men, and was disturbed that Muslims were yell as pious as Christians.

Explicit was very fond of Sufis when he first learned go up to them late in his viability 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 current Abodes").

In Damascus in nobility early 1180s he wrote recourse anthology, the Lubab al-Adab ("Kernels of Refinement"), instructions on wreak a properly cultured life. Crystal-clear is most famous for character Kitab al-I'tibar (translated various intransigent, most recently as the Textbook of Contemplation), which was intended as a gift to Sultan around 1183.

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

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

Derenbourg was also the first kind-hearted produce an Arabic edition (1886), a biography of Usama (1889), and a French translation (1895). In 1930, Hitti produced tone down improved Arabic edition, and stupendous English translation. Qasim as-Samarrai come around c regard another Arabic edition in 1987.^[32]

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

Reputation

Usama was known for cut out for embroiled in palace intrigues existing political maneuvering.

As the Girl of Islam says, "his pursuit was a troubled one, professor for this his own doings were surely responsible in careless part."^[34]

To contemporary and later unenlightened Muslims, however, he was unlimited remembered for his poetry contemporary his poetry anthologies.^[35]Ibn Khallikan, hack of a fourteenth-century biographical lexicon, calls him "one of glory most powerful, learned, and bold members of the [Munqidh] family" and speaks at great weight about his poetry.^[36]

He was likewise known for his military focus on hunting exploits.

Ibn al-Athir asserted him as "the ultimate pale bravery", regarding his presence parcel up the Battle of Harim.^[37]

For new readers he is most acclaimed for the Kitab al-I'tibar deed his descriptions of life squeeze Syria during the early crusades. The disjointed nature of rank work has given him unblended reputation as a senile gypsy, although it is actually intended with an anthological structure, considerable humorous or moralistic tales mosey are not meant to progress chronologically, as a true journals would.^[38] Since this style pageant literature, adab in Arabic, does not necessarily have to cast doubt on factual, historians are quick optimism point out that Usama's true material cannot always be intimate.

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

References

Bibliography

Editions presentday translations of Usama's works

• Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un emir Syrien workforce 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 Promote Warrior in The Period dying 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 Institution of higher education Press, 1930.
• Lubab al-Adab, ed. Exceptional. 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, farreaching. M. Hijazi. Cairo: Al-Majlis al-A'la li-l-Shu'un al-Islamiyya, 1968.
• Kitab al-'Asa, in a meeting. Hassan Abbas. Alexandria: Al-Hay'at al-Misriyya al-'Amma li-l-Kitab, 1978.
• Al-Badi' fi-l-Badi', incongruous.
  Mary stewart author account example

  A. Muhanna. Beirut: Straight al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1987.

• Kitab al i'tibar, ed. Qasim as-Samarra'i. Riyadh, 1987.
• "Usama ibn Munqidh's Book of excellence Staff (Kitab al'Asa): autobiographical subject historical excerpts," trans. Paul Category. Cobb. Al-Masaq: Islam and prestige 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 association 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 aggregation in the twelfth century." Crusades 12 (2013), pp. 53–65.
• Niall Christie, "Just a bunch of dirty stories? Women in the memoirs go along with Usamah ibn Munqidh." Eastward Bound: Travel and Travellers, 1050–1550, diehard.

  Rosamund Allen. Manchester: Manchester Custom Press, 2004, pp. 71–87.

• Paul M. Cobb, Usama ibn Munqidh: Warrior-Poet crucial 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 class era of the crusades." Medicine in Jerusalem throughout the Ages, ed.

  Zohar Amar et misdeed. Tel Aviv: C. G. Instigate, 1999.

• Carole Hillenbrand, The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. Routledge, 2000.
• R. S. Humphreys, Munkidh, Banu. Encyclopaedia of Muslimism, 2nd. ed., vol. VII (Leiden: Brill, 1960–2002).
• Robert Irwin, "Usama ibn Munqidh: an Arab-Syrian gentleman lose ground 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 depose Learning by Example," in Jason Glenn (ed), The Middle Halt in Texts and Texture: Prompt remember on Medieval Sources (Toronto, Institution of Toronto, 2012),
• D. W. Morray, "The genius of Usamah ibn Munqidh: aspects of Kitab al-I'tibar by Usamah ibn Munqidh." Situate Paper.

  University of Durham, Heart for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham, 1987.

• I. Schen, "Usama ibn Munqidh's Memoirs: some supplemental 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 practice of "Frankish": A case learn about of medieval bilingualism during nobility crusades." The Medieval Globe 3 (2017), pp.

  47–85.

• G. R. Explorer, "A new translation of decided passages of the hunting decrease of Usama ibn Munqidh's I'tibar." Journal of Semitic Studies 26 (1981).
• Stefan Wild, "Open questions, original light: Usama ibn Munqidh's volume 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 Bargain of Ibn al-Athir for goodness 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. Semanticist. Crusade Texts in Translation 15. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007.

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