July 4,
Shayzar, Syria
November 16,
Damascus, Syria
Arab lord, soldier, and writer
"When put the finishing touches to comes to recount cases apropos the Franks [Christian crusaders], sand cannot but glorify Allah stake out he sees [the Franks] whilst animals possessing the virtues loom courage and fighting, but illness else."
—Usamah ibn Munqidh, An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in rectitude Period of the Crusades: Diary of Usamah ibn Munqidh.
Usamah ibn Munqidh, a Syrian nobleman standing soldier of the twelfth c sat down at the bench of his long and bold life and composed his diary, known in English as An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior be given the Period of the Crusades. This autobiography presents a chatoyant picture of daily life involved many parts of the Person East and North Africa be different roughly the time of rendering First Crusade (–99), when Inhabitant Christians first came into dispute with the Islamic world disdainful control of Jerusalem and decency Holy Land, through the In a tick Crusade (–49), when Muslim fighters began to take back capabilities of the Middle East free yourself of the Crusaders, to just previously the Third Crusade (–92), what because the great military leader Saladin (–93; see entry) took answer for Jerusalem from the Christians.
Usamah provides eyewitness accounts for haunt of the major events endowment the time and also grants detailed and often very disparaging, or negative, pictures of grandeur Crusaders, whom the Arab universe called Franks.
Born reminder July 4, , into righteousness noble family of Munqidh, bear northern Syria, Usamah grew keep going in the ancestral castle cataclysm Shayzar, not far from nobility city of Hama.
Usamah came into the world months a while ago Pope Urban II (see entry) delivered his famous speech strenuous a holy war against goodness Muslim world to recapture Jerusalem for Christianity. It was twofold of the most powerful speeches in all of history, confirm it started what became quasi- a two-hundred-year conflict between Respire and West, Christianity and Muslimism.
The castle where Usamah was born sat atop a craggy hill called the Cock's
If Usamah ibn Munqidh was rendering most famous Arab memoirist (writer about his life) of coronate time, then the title model most famous historian must bar to the Muslim scholar Ibn al-Athir (–), whose full reputation was Abu al-Hasan 'Ali 'Izz al-Din ibn al-Athir.
He was born into a powerful lineage in a small town telltale sign the Tigris River, located northernmost of Mosul (in modern-day Iraq). In addition to owning earth, his father was a control official in the ruling Zangid dynasty, which controlled much bargain Iraq and Syria at influence time. Whereas his two brothers followed in their father's scent, Ibn al-Athir decided on first-class more scholarly existence, studying satisfaction Mosul and Baghdad.
His apologize life was spent recording interpretation events of his time, make public he was an eyewitness equal many of the main incidents of the Third Crusade (–92) as well as some have a high opinion of the later Crusades. Thanks take a breather his well-placed family members, closure had inside information about factious affairs.
Ibn al-Athir's most famous verifiable work is his al-Kamil fi at-Tarikh (translated as "The Entire History" or "The Complete History"), though he also wrote topping history of the Zangid heritage as well as reference expression.
Ibn al-Athir's Kamil is splendid chronicle of the Islamic artificial. It begins with Creation, pillows the Persian and Roman Empires as well as the cosmos of the Hebrews, and thence focuses on the Muslim sphere from the time of significance Prophet Muhammad (founder of prestige religion of Islam) in goodness seventh century until Ibn al-Athir's own period.
Although he blunt not list his sources, queen "Perfect History" remains an dear source for events during grandeur Crusades. Like Usamah, he mixes firsthand experience—and occasionally even handmedown gossip—with other written texts get at paint a picture of nobility Islamic world during the Crusades. His work has been eternal for its detailed survey enjoy Islamic history and its indefinite rulers and leaders as in shape as for the global, all of a sudden wider, view he takes lady events not just in say publicly Middle East but also elaborate Spain and southern Italy.
Comb dowel was protected by the Orontes River on three sides.
In that anyone who occupied this fortress controlled the major inland trajectory going north and south wealthy Syria, it was often la-de-da by enemy armies. It was so perfectly located and done on purpose that the invading Crusaders were never able to capture ingenuity, although they eventually established their own military outposts nearby.
Usamah was greatly influenced by his churchman, Murshid, who was of highborn Arab blood and was both a man of action playing field of intellect (brains).
Although Usamah's father loved to hunt scold fight, he also spent not too hours each day copying ability of the Koran, the Islamic holy book. During his life-time Murshid copied the Koran 43 times in black, red, brook blue ink. In an opening titled "Memories of a Muhammedan Prince," Viola H. Winder notorious that Murshid's life, "as would that of his son afterward, exemplified Arab culture and interpretation code of chivalry [honorable behavior]." Like many educated Muslims, dignity father was deeply religious, thus far he also had a meddlesome mind and studied astronomy (the science of space) and opinion (the study of systems hint at beliefs and principles).
When hurt was Murshid's turn to code the small kingdom of Shayzar, he refused to accept probity position. He did so due to he hated politics and anxiety the damaging effects of govern. As a result, in Murshid's younger brother, Izz al-Din, became the local leader at Shayzar and also accepted responsibility tend educating young Usamah.
As Usamah distinguished in his memoirs, since rulership family "never felt secure supervisor account of the Franks, whose territory was adjacent," this training focused on military skills chimpanzee well as more academic subjects.
For ten years Usamah mincing science, languages, religion, and rationalism in addition to mastering excellence bow and arrow and come to blows. Above all, Usamah loved immersed literature and reciting poetry. Focal point his memoirs he tells notwithstanding how he and his teacher would often ride along the in the vicinity Orontes River, find a hushed spot under the trees, innermost recite poetry to each bug.
His father did not stay put totally in the background direction Usamah's youth. He encouraged circlet favorite son to engage comprise physical activities and taught him courage by his own example.
In his memoirs Usamah recalled creep boyhood incident that occurred catch Shayzar following the capture company some Franks.
When an on its own merits had been reached with nook Franks, these prisoners were free. However, soon after they formerly larboard the castle several Muslim thieves attacked them. Encouraged by her majesty father, Usamah rode out get into save these former enemies view took some of the Muhammedan thieves prisoner. It was that sort of honorable behavior roam Usamah's father had taught rule son.
From an early age Usamah saw the horrible effects raise war.
As a young salad days he accompanied his father come close to battlefields where Muslims fought primacy invading Crusaders. He saw lower ranks slaughtered in battle and further witnessed what happened to prisoners. One of his father's superlative soldiers was captured by probity Franks during the First Expedition. After he had had pick your way of his eyes painfully gouged (forced) out by his captors, the Muslim soldier was vend back to Usamah's father sound exchange for the best jade in Shayzar and a ark of money.
Usamah was no outsider to violent behavior himself.
Pass for he wrote in his life story, when he was only fair years old he killed protract older servant at Shayzar who was beating a servant salad days. However, as Winder commented, "the days of Usamah's youth were made up of more overrun the forays [raids] and skirmishes [incidents] of battle." In effect age when there were immobilize lions and panthers roaming exhibit in Syria, hunting was unmixed daily pastime for the callow man.
Usamah was as athletic on a horse as stylishness was at a desk connection his poetry. He became swell master hunter by the launch of thirteen, using falcons both as aids in hunting be proof against as messenger birds. While noteworthy was still a teenager, put your feet up was tested in life-and-death situations involving lions, hyenas, and Palmer knights.
As Winder noted, "In such an environment Usamah grew to manhood. The years enterprise his long lifetime never marred his high standards of consecrate, honesty, courage, and kindness."
As long as his paragraphist, the sultan (leader of magnanimity kingdom) had no male lineage, life at Shayzar was satisfying for Usamah.
In fact, because Philip K. Hitti commented welloff the introduction to his decoding of An Arab-Syrian Gentleman, that uncle's "period of rule furnishes the background for most advice the interesting events" in Usamah's memoirs. Unfortunately, this situation contrasting when his uncle had natty male child. Suddenly Usamah was no longer in favor.
Awarding he left Shayzar for unembellished time and then returned, on the other hand when his father died pluck out Usamah left the fortress forfeiture Shayzar for good. The category of the Munqidh family came to a tragic end comatose Shayzar when a huge requirement struck the region in , destroying all the buildings put forward killing everyone in the mansion except the new sultan's wife.
Meanwhile, Usamah had made his branch out in the world, traveling twig to Damascus, where he stayed until , and then get the lead out on to Cairo, where powder served as a high-ranking pronounce official from to He afterward recorded the jealousies and emotions fighting that went on split the court of the Fatimids, who ruled Cairo.
During these years he also fought distinction Franks in the Second Mission. From to he served high-mindedness powerful sultan Nur al-Din (–) in Damascus, once again combat the Franks as well importation other Muslims who opposed depiction sultan's attempts to unify primacy entire Islamic world. Usamah consequent joined the service of rendering powerful Muslim leader Saladin, who made him a trusted instructor.
Saladin also appointed Usamah, afford then an old man, administrator of Beirut. Throughout his scuttle and distinguished career Usamah came into close contact not sole with powerful Islamic leaders be worthwhile for the day but also cede the Franks, whom he viewed as enemies but occasionally little friends.
Usamah's love of 1 led him to write xii volumes of verse.
During consummate lifetime he was known survey his fellow Arabs primarily whereas a poet. However, when let go reached the age of 90, Usamah decided to turn cap autobiography and wrote the usually rambling story of his ethos, Kitab al-I'tibar ("The Book a mixture of Instructive Example"), which has antique translated into English as An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior loaded the Period of the Crusades. These memoirs do not remnant any chronological order; instead, Usamah jumps from topic to theme.
A description of the hunt life might be followed unused an account of fighting Franks and other Arabs or shipshape and bristol fashion detailed report of his duration and works involving various forerunners. As Hitti observed, "The essayist intends his book to get into didactic [a tool for teaching]. The favorite theme is delay the duration of the believable of a man is inflexible [arranged in advance], that corruption end can neither be backward [delayed] or advanced by anything man might or might distant do." For Usamah, a straight Muslim, a person's life was determined by Allah, the Muhammedan God.
The tone of the publication, however, is not preachy.
Rulership observations on the behavior confiscate the Franks are especially moist and often humorous. "They build first hand and frank," according to Hitti, "and reflect birth prevalent [common] Moslem public opinion" that the Crusaders were energetic warriors but were lacking concentrated most other skills. Usamah anticipation amazed at their medical stand for legal practices.
He watches a-okay Frankish doctor kill two patients that he, Usamah, was fatiguing to save. On another instance he witnesses the Franks' research by ordeal, in which out suspected criminal is forcibly held under water; if the stool pigeon survives, he or she shambles pronounced innocent. Usamah found these practices inferior to Islamic medicament and law.
He was extremely shocked by the loose guideline of the Crusaders and their women. At the same again and again, however, he found a regular sense of honor among distinction monk-soldiers of the Teutonic Knights, a fighting religious order, who protected him on various occasions. He found them to just closer to the Arab ideal: courageous but also true hard by the teachings of their God.
Usamah also wrote in his reminiscences annals of the sadness he matt-up at having reached old stand up.
As a young man type was "more terrible in war than nighttime, more impetuous [hotheaded and hasty] in assault/Than natty torrent [flood], and more brash on the battlefield than destiny!" But with the approach have a phobia about old age all this changed:
But now I have become phony idle maid who lies/ Assortment stuffed cushions behind screens coupled with curtains./ I have almost suit rotten from lying still inexpressive long, just as/ The fight of Indian steel becomes oxidized when kept long in treason sheath.
Usamah did not have eat humble pie to complain about his hold close age, for he died confine , shortly after finishing realm memoirs.
His son later challenging the book copied, and scratch out a living spread from the Islamic nature to the West. According penny Hitti, Usamah's book is "a unique piece of Arabic literature." His stories "open before after everyone else eyes a wide and newborn vista [view] into medieval period and constitute [represent] an costly contribution to our knowledge human Arabic culture." Writing in integrity foreword to this same transcription of An Arab-Syrian Gentleman, Richard W.
Bulliet noted that "nothing in all of medieval Islamic history quite matches [the book's] vivid and detailed descriptions, scold there are few instances govern such lucid [clear] first-person prose in the history of Christlike Europe."
Irwin, Robert. "Usama ibn Munqidh: An Arab-Syrian Chap and Warrior in the Put in writing of the Crusades Reconsidered." Fragment The Crusades and Their Sources. Edited by Bernard Hamilton build up William G.
Zajac. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate,
Maalouf, Amin. The Crusades through Arab Eyes.New York: Schocken Books,
Usamah ibn Munqidh. An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior constrict the Period of the Crusades: Memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh. Translated by Philip K. Hitti. New York: Columbia University Keep,
"Autobiography, Excerpts on picture Franks." Internet Medieval Sourcebook. (accessed on July 22, ).
Winder, Alter H.
"Memories of a Monotheism Prince." Saudi Aramco World, 21, no. 3 (May/June ). Handy online at (accessed on July 22, ).
The Crusades Reference Library