Ibn al-Abbar

Ibn al-Abbar, in full Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn al-Abbar (1199–1260) 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 was born in Valencia, and 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. He died in Béjaïa. 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.

Bibliography

• Ibn al-Abbar, politic i escriptor Arab valencia (1199–1260): Actes del Congres Internacional "Ibn Al-Abbar i el seu temps," Onda, 20-22 febrer, 1989 by Mikel Epalza, Jesus Huguet (review Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 112, No. 2 (Apr. - Jun., 1992), pp. 313–314)