Usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a muchpraised diwan, but specialising in topical anthologies of poetry and prose like the book of the staff or kernels of refinement. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of. Introduction usama ibn munqidh, the author of our texts, was born at his familys castle at shayzar in northern syria on wednesday, 4 july 1095. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. Usamah ibn munqidh project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. He came from an aristocratic family from the small, independent shaizar emirate and was the nephew of its emir sultan ibn munqidh. Usama ibn munqidh was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris knight, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. A favorite of scholars and students alike, usama ibn munqidh 10951188 is probably the bestknown muslim source for the crusading period. Usama ibn munqidh was a muslim faris or cavalier from northern syria who experienced and wrote a great deal during the crusades.
July 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris knight, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. A short, uptodate and accessible biography of usama. With an overdrive account, you can save your favorite. As we fought, we withdrew before them, and they did not renew their pursuit. Author niall christie on what we can learn from the crusades. Hitti, an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades, bulletin of the school of oriental and african studies 6 1943, pp. Islam and the crusades penguin classics usama ibn munqidh the crusades as seen through the eyes of muslims a significant contribution to the understanding of the medieval holy wars between christians and muslims, this volume brings together the best and most complete eyewitness account of the crusades from the. Get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage.
Usama ibn munqidh birthdaythursday, july 04, 1095 birthplaceshaizar diedthursday, november 17, 1188 occupation poet, courtier, soldier usamah ibn munqidh born june 4, 1095, in. The seljuk conquest of syria in 1085 and subsequent struggles with local muslim lords reduced the munqidh emirate to shayzar and its environs. Usama ibn munqid, usama ibn munkiz, usama ibn munqidh, usama ibnmunkiz, usama ibn munqidh, usama ibn munqidh, usama ibn munqidh, usama ibn munkids, usamah ibnmunqidh, ousama ibn mounkidh. The book of contemplation islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidh. Hitti, memories of an arabsyrian gentleman in the crusades my arrival in cairo was on thursday, 2nd of jumada alakhira of the year 539 30th november 1144 a. The banu munqidh had taken control of shaizar from the byzantine empire in 1080, and nasr became its first emir. Usamah ibn murshid ibn munqidh 10951188, also osama, usama, ussama, or usmah. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. Usama ibn munqidh article about usama ibn munqidh by the. He had participated in his share of fighting, intrigue and hunting. Kitab alitibar arabic language, the book of learning by example is the autobiography of usama ibnmunqidh, an arab syrian diplomat, soldier of the 12th century, hunter, poet and nobleman. Cobb, usama ibn munqidh, warrior poet of the age of the crusades, oxford. If usamah ibn munqidh was the most famous arab memoirist writer about his life of his time, then the title of most famous historian must fall to the muslim scholar ibn alathir 11601233, whose full name was abu alhasan ali izz aldin ibn alathir.
Abu muzaffar usama ibn munqidh alkinani, a syrianarab emir and an ardent supporter of the fatimite dynasty of egypt, was invited to become the adviser of the vizier sali. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a muchpraised diwan, but specialising in topical anthologies of poetry and prose like the book of. Usamah ibn munqidh article about usamah ibn munqidh by the. The author has combed the works of contemporary arab chronicles of the crusades, eyewitnesses, and often participants. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, the arrival of the first crusade, and the establishment of the crusader states. Usama ibnmunqidh arabsyrian warrior, author, and diplomat. Usama ibn munqidh interesting stories about famous people. Of these, the most useful source is usama ibn munqidh, whose observations of. Usama was the son of murshid, and the nephew of nasr, emir of shaizar. Nov 14, 2016 get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage. He saw the positive and negative aspects of the crusading enterprise, but his voice is a forgotten one. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was born in northern syria. He was the nephew and potential successor of the emir of shaizar, but was exiled. Ibn munqidh, usama author, cobb, paul m translator publisher.
Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbimajd addin is an honorific title meaning glory of the faith. Usama ibn munqidh the book of contemplation, literally a book of learning by example is an autobiographical book written by usama ibn munqidh, an arab syrian scholar and soldier of the 12th century, a son of the munqidh, a noble bedouin family that. Islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidhsurviving works of an 11th century syrian sound like reportage in casualsounding translation. Christianitys wars in the middle east, 109582, from the islamic sources, explores the oftentimesignored friendly relations between muslims and nonmuslims during the crusades, and answers a few questions about his research. When i check this passage in the original account of usama ibn munqidh, there are at least two more examples of frankish medicinal practice directly following the my trust in the authors objectivity got a serious dent today after reading one of the sources he used. Cobb an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades jun 5, 2000 by philip k. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Usama ibn munqidh the book of contemplation, literally a book of learning by example is an autobiographical book written by usama ibn munqidh, an arab syrian scholar and soldier of the 12th century, a son of the munqidh, a noble bedouin family that controlled the fortress in shaizar in northern syria. Usama ibn murshid ibn ali, who was known to most of his contemporaries as usama ibn munqidh, was originally of bedouin origin, of the clan of munqidh. His most famous work, the book of contemplation, survives as a rare look into the holy land during the crusades from a muslim perspective. Murshid was his father, ali his grandfather, and munqidh his greatgrandfather. July 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 2 was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris professional warrior, and diplomat from the banu munqid h dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. Candle clock the book of knowledge of ingenious mechanical.
In the first, the franks simply lopped off a knights mildly infected leg with an. Kitab alitibar the book of learning by example 1154 taken from. He retells their story and offers insights into the historical forces that shape arab and islamic consciousness today. When the aged warrior poet, usama ibn munqidh of shaizar in syria, reflected on his life, he must have thought it an eventful one. The book of contemplation by usama ibn munqidh overdrive. Munqidh meaning and origin of the name munqidh wikiname. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, the arrival of the. Written more than eight hundred years ago and now translated into english, this is the firsthand account of a wise and scholarly spanish muslims pilgrimage to makkah and madinah, the holy cities of islam, and of his travel to baghdad, the city of the caliphs, to the first onslaught of saladin, and to the island of sicily at its most splendid normansaracen period under the dynasty of norse. Back to table of contents4 to next page usama ibn munqidh. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi also usamah, ousama, etc arabic language july 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris professional warrior, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. Usamah ibn munqidh 10951188 author of an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. Usamah ibn munqidh project gutenberg selfpublishing.
Islam and the crusades by usamah ibn munqidh book 62 editions published between 1886 and 2008 in 8 languages and held by 210 worldcat member libraries worldwide. The presentation of the franks in selected muslim sources. The monkeys candle clock and falcons the book of knowledge. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was a syrian poet and warrior whose life coincided with some of the most dramatic moments in islamic history. The book of instruction, an informative memoir by the syrian princeling usama ibn munqidh, who came to know the crusaders in battle and in repose, records two instances in which a local physicians sound advice was ignored in favor of christian methodologies. An arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades.
Usama ibn munqidh and crusader law in the twelfth century. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties. Memoirs of usamah ibnmunqidh kitab al itibar, trans philip k. Hitti columbia university, new york, 2000, a pdf of 1929 edition. He was the nephew of the emir of shaizar and probably expected to rule shaizar himself, but. He was born at their stronghold of shayzar on the 27th jumada ii 4884th july 1095,xv and lived there until about 52611, when he joined the entourage of imad aldin zangi i. A muslim view of the crusaders 1185 commentary by j. A more nuanced and potentially more authentic, collective memory of the middle eastern crusades does exist, symbolized in part by the memoirs of a twelfthcentury syrian emir, usamah ibn munqidh. Usamah ibnmunqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation.
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