İbnü’l-Ezrak

Ibn al-Azraq al-Fariqi (full name Ahmed b. Yusuf b. Ali) was a Muslim historian based in Meyyâfârikîn, who lived in the 12th century. He gained his main fame with his work titled Târihu Meyyâfârikîn ve Âmid, in which he narrated the history of his hometown and its surroundings.

Name and Death

In biographical records, the author's full name is given as Ahmed b. Yusuf b. Ali, and his work is referred to by the title Târihu Meyyâfârikîn ve Âmid (also Târihu'l-Fârikî) (Vol. 1, p. 216). Although his exact date of death is unknown, it is accepted that he died after the year 577/1181 (Vol. 1, p. 133).

Purpose of Writing the Work

Ibn al-Azraq himself explains the reason for compiling his work. His aim is to write about the foundation of Meyyâfârikîn, who first began to establish the city, and when this occurred. He wanted to record the events from the period when it was under Roman control, its passing into the hands of the Persians, its recapture by the Romans, and until its conquest by Muslims in the year 18 AH. Furthermore, he aimed to describe who administered the city during the reigns of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs, and after it separated from caliphal rule and became independent – up to the year 572 AH, which is the date he wrote – who governed it (Vol. 1, p. 133).

Importance in Marwanid History

The work holds central importance, especially for Marwanid history. Ibn al-Azraq provides assessments regarding the final period of the Marwanid State; he notes that under the rule of Nizâmeddîn, the region's prosperity reached its highest level, but during the reign of Nâsıruddevle Mansûr, who ascended the throne after him, with the destruction of the Marwanid State by the Seljuks, peace and prosperity in the region gradually declined (Vol. 1, p. 132).

An Eyewitness

Ibn al-Azraq is an author who personally witnessed events. During his journey to Tiflis in 548/1153, he also visited Ani and personally met with the Shaddadid Emir Fakhr al-Din Shaddad there (Vol. 1, p. 106).