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. 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. The seljuk conquest of syria in 1085 and subsequent struggles with local muslim lords reduced the. Hitti columbia university, new york, 2000, a pdf of 1929 edition. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation. Usama ibn munqidh birthdaythursday, july 04, 1095 birthplaceshaizar diedthursday, november 17, 1188 occupation poet, courtier, soldier usamah ibn munqidh born june 4, 1095, in. 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. His most famous work, the book of contemplation, survives as a rare look into the holy land during the crusades from a muslim perspective. 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. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, the arrival of the first crusade, and the establishment of the crusader states. 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. Usamah ibnmunqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. As we fought, we withdrew before them, and they did not renew their pursuit. He wrote many poetry anthologies, such as the kitab alasa book of the staff.
Usamah ibn munqidh article about usamah ibn munqidh by the. He was the nephew of the emir of shaizar and probably expected to rule shaizar himself, but. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidhsurviving works of an 11th century syrian sound like reportage in casualsounding translation. Cobb an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades jun 5, 2000 by philip k. 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. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was a syrian poet and warrior whose life coincided with some of the most dramatic moments in islamic history. Munqidh meaning and origin of the name munqidh wikiname. Usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. 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.
Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. Memoirs of usamah ibnmunqidh kitab al itibar, trans philip k. He was the nephew and potential successor of the emir of shaizar, but was exiled. Of these, the most useful source is usama ibn munqidh, whose observations of. 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. Cobb, usama ibn munqidh, warrior poet of the age of the crusades, oxford. Get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage. Kitab alitibar the book of learning by example 1154 taken from. Usama ibn munqidh was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris knight, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. He had participated in his share of fighting, intrigue and hunting. 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. Usama ibn munqidh was a muslim faris or cavalier from northern syria who experienced and wrote a great deal during the crusades.
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. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, the arrival of the. Warriorpoet of the age of crusades makers of the muslim world ebook. When the aged warrior poet, usama ibn munqidh of shaizar in syria, reflected on his life, he must have thought it an eventful one. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was born in northern syria. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties. 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. Nov 14, 2016 get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage. The author has combed the works of contemporary arab chronicles of the crusades, eyewitnesses, and often participants. 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. Translated, with introduction and notes, by paul m. Islam and the crusades penguin classics sep 30, 2008 by usama ibn munqidh and paul m. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi 1 also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. 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.
A short, uptodate and accessible biography of usama. The banu munqidh had taken control of shaizar from the byzantine empire in 1080, and nasr became its first emir. A muslim view of the crusaders 1185 commentary by j. Usamah ibn munqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. 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. Hitti, an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades, bulletin of the school of oriental and african studies 6 1943, pp. The book of contemplation islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidh.
With an overdrive account, you can save your favorite. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. An arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. 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. The presentation of the franks in selected muslim sources. Ibn munqidh, usama author, cobb, paul m translator publisher. A favorite of scholars and students alike, usama ibn munqidh 10951188 is. 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. Ibn munqidh was born on 4 july 1095 at his familys castle at shayzar. He retells their story and offers insights into the historical forces that shape arab and islamic consciousness today. Usamah ibn munqidh project gutenberg selfpublishing. Back to table of contents4 to next page usama ibn munqidh. Murshid was his father, ali his grandfather, and munqidh his greatgrandfather.
A favorite of scholars and students alike, usama ibn munqidh 10951188 is probably the bestknown muslim source for the crusading period. Usamah ibn munqidh project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Usama was the son of murshid, and the nephew of nasr, emir of shaizar. Jul 03, 2008 usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. Usama ibn munqidh interesting stories about famous people. The book of contemplation by usama ibn munqidh overdrive. Usamah ibn munqidh 10951188 author of an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. 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. He saw the positive and negative aspects of the crusading enterprise, but his voice is a forgotten one. 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 munqidh article about usama ibn munqidh by the. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbimajd addin is an honorific title meaning glory of the faith. Usama ibn munqidh and crusader law in the twelfth century. Usama ibnmunqidh arabsyrian warrior, author, and diplomat.
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