The book community usama ibn munqidh

Warriorpoet in the age of crusades oxford 2005, 63. A short, uptodate and accessible biography of usama. In the first, the franks simply lopped off a knights mildly infected leg with an axe. When the aged warrior poet, usama ibn munqidh of shaizar in syria, reflected on his life, he must have thought it an eventful one. 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. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh. Islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidhsurviving works of an 11th century syrian sound like reportage in casualsounding translation. The volume comprises lightly annotated translation of a key medieval arabic text that bears directly on the crusades and crusader society and the muslim. Hitti columbia university, new york, 2000, a pdf of 1929 edition. Usama ibn munqidh the book of contemplation islam and the. Visit distant, spectacular libraries from home at the. 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 10951188 was a syrian poet and warrior whose life coincided with some of the most dramatic moments in islamic history.

Ibn munqidh, usama author, cobb, paul m translator publisher. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by usama ibn munqidh 20080930 at. Steven tamari 115 a medieval muslim military honor code. Nov 14, 2016 get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage. Usama ibn munqidh article about usama ibn munqidh by the. Usama s last patron was the mighty sultan saladin, to whom he intended his most famous work, the book of. Usama ibnmunqidh arabsyrian warrior, author, and diplomat. 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 also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. Arab writer and military leader who fought against the crusaders. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a much. Usamah ibn munqidh traveled in syria, egypt, palestine, and.

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. The book of contemplation ebook by usama ibn munqidh. Read the book of contemplation islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidh available from rakuten kobo. 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. 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. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a. 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. 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. Ibn munqidh was born on 4 july 1095 at his familys castle at shayzar.

Munqidh fought as a chivalric mercenary for assorted masters, often under familial or feudal duress, and became famous for scholarship in. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Usama was a syrian poet, diplomat and physician from the 12th century. 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 islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious. Yet as a resident of the area around palestine, he also had a chance to befriend a number of.

Usama ibn munqidh july 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 was a medieval muslim poet. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was born in northern syria. 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. Help about wikipedia community portal recent changes contact page. 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. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by ibn munqidh, usama 2008 paperback paperback september 30, 2008 by usama ibn munqidh author 4. Usama ibn munqidh was a 12th century syrian noble b. 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 birthdaythursday, july 04, 1095 birthplaceshaizar diedthursday, november 17, 1188 occupation poet, courtier, soldier usamah ibn munqidh born june 4, 1095, in shayzar, northern syria. I was wondering if anyone else here has read his works, and if so what their musings on them might. This book contains the autobiographical works of usama ibn munqidh, a twelfthcentury arab aristocrat. Usamah ibnmunqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades.

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. An arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. An arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades reconsidered. This book contains the autobiographical works of usama ibn munqidh, a twelfth century arab aristocrat. Yet as a resident of the area around palestine, he also had a chance to befriend a number of them. Usama ibn munqidh the book of contemplation islam and. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, the arrival of the.

This book is marketed as a muslim perspective on the frankish invasions of. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by usamah ibn munqidh, paul m. A code of honor can be seen on an individual scale or a whole community where rules and principles of belief define what honorable. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties. Full of detail, wit and melancholy, usamas narrative. 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. Usamah ibn murshid ibn munqidh 10951188, also osama, usama, ussama, or usmah. Autobiography, excerpts on the franks usamah 10951188, was a muslim warrior and courtier, who fought against the crusaders with saladin. 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. Usama ibn munqidh birthdaythursday, july 04, 1095 birthplaceshaizar diedthursday, november 17, 1188 occupation poet, courtier, soldier usamah ibn munqidh born june 4, 1095, in. 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.

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. As we fought, we withdrew before them, and they did not renew their pursuit. He came from an aristocratic family from the small, independent shaizar emirate and was the nephew of its emir sultan ibn 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. Usamas last patron was the mighty sultan saladin, to whom he intended his most famous work, the book of. The volume comprises lightly annotated translation of a key medieval arabic text that bears directly on the crusades and crusader society. Although this book is thus intended for firsttime visitors to medieval islamic history. Usama ibn munqidh and crusader law in the twelfth century. Usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. His most remarkable work is the book of contemplation. Usamah ibn munqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. 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.