This book is marketed as a muslim perspective on the frankish invasions of. An arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades reconsidered. Full of detail, wit and melancholy, usama s narrative anecdotes illustrate the inscrutability of gods will in life, as well as providing a memorable record of islams long encounter with the crusaders, known to usama only as the franks. Nov 14, 2016 get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage. 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. Yet as a resident of the area around palestine, he also had a chance to befriend a number of. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. Yet as a resident of the area around palestine, he also had a chance to befriend a number of them. 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. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, the arrival of the. Ibn munqidh was born on 4 july 1095 at his familys castle at shayzar. Usama ibnmunqidh arabsyrian warrior, author, and diplomat. Full of detail, wit and melancholy, usamas narrative anecdotes illustrate the inscrutability of gods will in life, as well as providing a memorable record of islams long encounter with the crusaders, known to usama only as the franks. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was a syrian poet and warrior whose life coincided with some of the most dramatic moments in islamic history. Nov 30, 2009 i am almost finished reading the memoirs of ibn munqidh, the 12th century arab nobleman from shayzar who wrote much about the character of the frankish crusaders and his experiences fighting them. A code of honor can be seen on an individual scale or a whole community where rules and principles of belief define what honorable. An arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by ibn munqidh, usama 2008 paperback paperback september 30, 2008 by usama ibn munqidh author 4. The book of contemplation ebook by usama ibn munqidh. Usama ibn munqidh birthdaythursday, july 04, 1095 birthplaceshaizar diedthursday, november 17, 1188 occupation poet, courtier, soldier usamah ibn munqidh born june 4, 1095, in. This book contains the autobiographical works of usama ibn munqidh, a twelfthcentury arab aristocrat. Of these, the most useful source is usama ibn munqidh, whose.
Although this book is thus intended for firsttime visitors to medieval islamic history. I was wondering if anyone else here has read his works, and if so what their musings on them might. Autobiography, excerpts on the franks usamah 10951188, was a muslim warrior and courtier, who fought against the crusaders with saladin. In this article, i will be focusing on usama ibn munqidhs memoir kitab alitibar the book of contemplation and his depiction of warfare in it based on his experiences. Usama was a syrian poet, diplomat and physician from the 12th century. 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. Usama ibn munqidh the book of contemplation islam and the. Warriorpoet in the age of crusades oxford 2005, 63. In usama ibn munqidh s book of contemplation usama ibn munqidh s detailed accounts surrounding his life revolve around the notion of honor amongst muslim warriors. 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.
Usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. Usamah ibnmunqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. Arab writer and military leader who fought against the crusaders. 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. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was born in northern syria.
Usamah ibn munqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. Usama ibn munqidh was a muslim faris or cavalier from northern syria who experienced and wrote a great deal during the crusades. He came from an aristocratic family from the small, independent shaizar emirate and was the nephew of its emir sultan ibn munqidh. Usamah ibn murshid ibn munqidh 10951188, also osama, usama, ussama, or usmah. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a much. Ibn munqidh, usama author, cobb, paul m translator publisher. When the aged warrior poet, usama ibn munqidh of shaizar in syria, reflected on his life, he must have thought it an eventful one. Full of detail, wit and melancholy, usamas narrative.
The volume comprises lightly annotated translation of a key medieval arabic text that bears directly on the crusades and crusader society. Munqidh fought as a chivalric mercenary for assorted masters, often under familial or feudal duress, and became famous for scholarship in. A short, uptodate and accessible biography of usama. 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. Islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidhsurviving works of an 11th century syrian sound like reportage in casualsounding translation. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by usamah ibn munqidh, paul m. Usama ibn munqidh july 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 was a medieval muslim poet. As we fought, we withdrew before them, and they did not renew their pursuit. Usama ibn munqidh article about usama ibn munqidh by the.
This book contains the autobiographical works of usama ibn munqidh, a twelfth century arab aristocrat. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by usama ibn munqidh 20080930 at. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties. Usamas last patron was the mighty sultan saladin, to whom he intended his most famous work, the book of.
Usamah ibn munqidh traveled in syria, egypt, palestine, and. His most remarkable work is the book of contemplation. Usama ibn munqidh was a 12th century syrian noble b. Usama ibn munqidh birthdaythursday, july 04, 1095 birthplaceshaizar diedthursday, november 17, 1188 occupation poet, courtier, soldier usamah ibn munqidh born june 4, 1095, in shayzar, 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. Usama ibn munqidh and crusader law in the twelfth century. Jul 03, 2008 usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. The volume comprises lightly annotated translation of a key medieval arabic text that bears directly on the crusades and. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh. Visit distant, spectacular libraries from home at the. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh s 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 i slamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. Usama s last patron was the mighty sultan saladin, to whom he intended his most famous work, the book of. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. He had participated in his share of fighting, intrigue and hunting.
Read the book of contemplation islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidh available from rakuten kobo. The presentation of the franks in selected muslim sources. His most famous work, the book of contemplation, survives as a rare look into the holy land during the crusades from a muslim perspective. Help about wikipedia community portal recent changes contact page. The volume comprises lightly annotated translation of a key medieval arabic text that bears directly on the crusades and crusader society and the muslim. Steven tamari 115 a medieval muslim military honor code. Hitti columbia university, new york, 2000, a pdf of 1929 edition. In the first, the franks simply lopped off a knights mildly infected leg with an axe.
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