Bart Brown Strate HIS 120-02 3 October 2011 The Book of Contemplation / Islam and the Crusades From reading The Book of Contemplation I feel that the Franks are Inferior to the Muslims, in the eyes of Usama Ibn Munqidh. Throughout the literature when Usama refers to the Franks, a “may God curse them” usually follows. Usama rarely sheds a positive light on the Franks’ beliefs, actions, or practice of medicine. The first instance of Usama referencing the Franks was in the story “In the service of Nur Al-Din (Munqidh 43). In the story Usamas' family and possessions were being transported from Egypt to come to be with him.
For the journey they were granted “safe passage” from the King of the Franks. Upon arriving to Acre, from Damietta, the King of the Franks sent out a small boat to sink their ship. The King himself took as pillage everything that was in the ship (Munqidh 44). In the chapter “Thief Stories: The Bandit al-Zamarrakal Belittles his Wounds” a thief plans to steal horses from a group of Franks (Munqidh 53). When Usama and his cousin Layth al-Dawla approached the Thief and another man they learned of the Thief’s intentions.
After learning the intentions of the Thief, Usama and al-Dawla rode off and set up camp for the night. Upon awakening the next morning they rode out on their horses to wait for whatever the Franks were going to do. They then came across the Thief, whose leg and foot were covered with coagulated blood, who informed them of how he had stolen a horse, a shield, and a spear. The Franks had chased the Thief and wounded him with a spear to the thigh, which afterwards the Thief made light of his wounds as they had happened to someone else (Munqidh 54).
In the chapter “Jum’a al-Numayri Rescues his Son from the Franks,” Usama witnesses “the bravery of men and their courage in time of war…” (Munqidh 67). A group of ten Frankish horsemen had come to the gate of Shayzar, upon the gatekeeper telling the Franks where they were the Franks shot an arrow through the gap in the gate, and rode off. Usama and his Uncle realized they were heading towards an ambush. Upon arriving they saw “the entire army of Antioch” rush against the Franks, so they hurried to seize the advantage over them before the battle finished.
One of the horsemen with Usama, Mahmud, had fallen and when Usama’s group turned back to get him another had fallen and put in a choke hold by a Frankish knight, a few more spear thrusts were able to free him (Munqidh 68). In the story “Jum’a Accused of Cowardice” a few Frankish soldiers came upon a man grazing his animal (Munqidh 71). The Franks captured “the man and his beast,” afterwards Usama and his Uncle had 20 men ride off to rescue the man, shortly after the men turned back because they carried no spears.Jum’a rode off alone in pursuit and attacked the horsemen, chasing them back to their tents.
The lord of Antioch had watched what happened and sent his men to disarm the two soldiers, after which the lord of Antioch had chastised his men saying “ One Muslim horseman chases away two Frankish Knights! You aren’t men – you’re women! ” In the story “The Status of the Knight among the Franks” Usama plainly states a few of his criticizing views of the Franks. The first sentence of the story says, “The Franks (may God confound them) have none of the human virtues except for courage” (Munqidh 76). They have neither precedence nor high rank except that of the knights – it is they who are the masters of legal reasoning, judgment and sentencing” (Munqidh 76). In the story he relates a story about the Franks capturing some sheep belonging to the lord of Banias, in which the lord of Banias must pay compensation to the King, by order of the Frankish Knights, to pay for some of the sheep who had died after they were captured (Munqidh 76). In the story “Digression: A Bridal Surprise” Usama relates a story about a future wife of his uncles’ is kidnapped.
Usama’s uncle Sultan sent an old woman along with one of her followers to take a look at her. Once assured by the old woman, that the woman who had been described to Sultan at an earlier time, as being beautiful and intelligent. The Sultan engaged and married her. Once Sultan learned that the woman was a mute, he had ransomed her back for 500 dinars and delivered her to her family.
In the story “Examples of Ignorance: Playing with Fire,” Usama tells the story of a group of robbers who come across the Frankish army and intend on robbing them.The morning after seeing the Frankish army camped in a field of corn, during harvest season, the robbers went before the lord of Hama and told him of their intentions of burning up the army that night. The lord of Hama said I will cover you in honors if you do this. The robbers set out to start the fire and were spotted by the Franks, who in turn killed most of them (Munqidh 99). In the story “Speaking of Horses: Stout-Hearted Steeds,” in which Usama speaks of a horse that is sold to ‘Izz al-Dawla ‘Ali and then leased to a Frankish Knight from Kafartab.The horse being a strong steed surviving a few rough battles in which it was struck with a spear in the forehead, and another spear had been thrust into the neck and exited the other side.
After the Frankish Knight had possessed the horse for a year, the horse died. Afterwards the Knight sent a messenger demanding a price to be payed for the horse, with accusations that ‘Izz al-Dawla had poisoned the horse so it would die after a year.In the story “A Frank Converts to Islam, Temporarily,” Usama tells a story of a Frankish man who converts to Islam. A Frankish woman, accompanied by her son, Ra’ul and daughter were captured and passed into the household of Usama’s father. The son, upon growing up converted to Islam and was a good Muslim, judging from what was seen of his praying and fasting.
After he had stayed in the home of Usama’s father, he was granted permission to marry and Usama’s father paid for the wedding and a home for him and his wife. He and his wife had two boys.When the boys were six and seven, Ra’ul packed up his wife and sons and joined the Franks at Apamea. “There, he and his sons became Christian again after having been Muslim, despite all their praying and fasting” (Munqidh 143). “May God (may He be exalted) purify the world of these people! ” (Munqidh 143) In the story “The Wonders’ of the Frankish Race,” Usama speaks of the downfalls of the Franks. Usama writes “Indeed when a person relates matters concerning the Franks, he should give glory to God and sanctify Him!For he will see them to be mere beasts possessing no other virtues but courage and fighting, just as beasts have only the virtues of strength and ability to carry loads” (Munqidh 144).
In the story “The Franks’ Lack of Intelligence: An Invitation to Visit Europe,” Usama talks of the Franks and their simple mindedness. A Frankish Knight in the army of Fulk, son of Fulk, came to Usama’s country to go on pilgrimage and return home. After the Knight had grown to enjoy Usama’s company he had offered to take Usama’s son with him when he returns home.Usama refuses due to the Franks’ lack of intelligence, “And so there fell upon my ears words that would never come from a rational head! For even if my son were taken captive, his captivity would not be as long as any voyage he might take to the land of the Franks” (Munqidh 144).
Throughout the “Book of Contemplation” Usama Ibn Munqidh has referred to the Franks several times. Only a few of which have put a positive spin on the Franks. The Franks showed there cowardice as well as barbaric traits to Usama, which he relays throughout his writing.
