Ibn al-Abbar
Encyclopedia
Ibn al-Abbar, in full Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn al-Abbar (1199, Valencia - 1260, Béjaïa
) was a well-known poet, diplomat, theologian and scholar from al-Andalus
and perhaps the most famous man of letters produced by the city of Valencia during the Middle Ages.
Ibn al-Abbar began his official career as a secretary to the Muslim governor of the Emirate of Balansiya. Well-known is the qasida which he wrote as ambassador of the Hafsid governor of Valencia to the Tunisian sultan asking for help against the forces of king James and the elegy he wrote after the fall of the city (September 1238). He then settled in Tunisia
. Later he fell in disgrace and was burnt at the stake because of his writings. His works that remain (La Tunica recamada and Complemento al libro del regalo) are of great importance for the understanding of the history and the culture of his period.
Béjaïa
Béjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and Bougie...
) was a well-known poet, diplomat, theologian and scholar from al-Andalus
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
and perhaps the most famous man of letters produced by the city of Valencia during the Middle Ages.
Ibn al-Abbar began his official career as a secretary to the Muslim governor of the Emirate of Balansiya. Well-known is the qasida which he wrote as ambassador of the Hafsid governor of Valencia to the Tunisian sultan asking for help against the forces of king James and the elegy he wrote after the fall of the city (September 1238). He then settled in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Later he fell in disgrace and was burnt at the stake because of his writings. His works that remain (La Tunica recamada and Complemento al libro del regalo) are of great importance for the understanding of the history and the culture of his period.