Al-Akhtal al-Taghlibi
Al-Akhtal | |
---|---|
Born | 19/640 Sergiopolis |
Died | 92/708 |
Occupation | Poet |
Genre | Panegyric, Satire |
Notable works | Khaffat al-Qatīnu |
Children | Malik ibn al-Akhtal[1] |
Ghiyath ibn Ghawth ibn al-Salt ibn Tariqa al-Taghlibi (
Biography
Al-Akhtal al-Taghlibî was one of the great panegyrists of the Umayyad period. He became famous for his satires and panegyrics in a period when poetry was an important political instrument. Al-Akhtal was introduced to Yazid I by Ka'b ibn Ju'ayl and became a close friend of the heir apparent to Caliph Mu'awiya I (r. 661–680). Yazid, when he acceded to the throne, was generous to al-Akhtal. Despite his Christianity, he was favored by leading Umayyad caliphs. Throughout his life, al-Akhtal was a supporter of the ruling Umayyad dynasty. He was a friend of John of Damascus until the latter decided to give up his position at the Umayyad court and become a monk.
He lauded in his panegyrics Yazid, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan and al-Walid I and in his satires attacked all the opponents of the caliphs. Al-Akhtal became the official court poet of Abd al-Malik, to whom he dedicated a number of panegyrics. But he fell into disfavour under al-Walid. The pre-Islamic Bedouin tradition is always apparent in the poems of al-Akhtal and his panegyrics show the continued vitality of this tradition. The panegyrics of al-Akhtal acquired a classical status. His poetry was accepted by critics as source of pure Arabic.
Few details are known about al-Akhtal's personal life, save that he was married and divorced, and that he spent part of his time in
Works
The Poetry of al-Akhtal has been published at the Jesuit press in Beirūt, 1891. A full account of the poet and his times is given in H. Lammens’ Le chantre des Omiades (Paris, 1895) (a reprint from the Journal Asiatique for 1894).[3]
References
- ^ "Page 340 - Kitab Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn Asakir - Al-Safar ibn Ismail ibn Sahl ibn Bishr ibn Malik ibn al-Akhtal al-Taghlibi al-Shair - Al-Maktaba al-Shamela al-Haditha". al-maktaba.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ISBN 0949405108. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Thatcher 1911.
Bibliography
- public domain: Thatcher, Griffithes Wheeler (1911). "Akhtal". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 456. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
External links
- Posts about al-Akhtal - including poems and ancient accounts at Roger Pearse.