Abulfeda

Abulfeda, ISMAIL-IBN-ALI, a Moslem prince, known as a writer of history, was born in 1273 at Damascus; and during his youth, distinguished himself in several campaigns against the Christian kingdom founded by the Crusaders. He ruled from 1310 over the principality of Hamat in Syria, as an independent ally of the sultan, was a generous patron of literature and science, and died in 1331. He left several important works in Arabic, among which are his Annals, one of the most valuable sources of history for the Saracen empire. It has been edited and translated into Latin (5 vols. 1789-94) by Reiske; the earlier part, Historia antislamica, by Fleischer (1831). His other great work is his famous Geography.