Historical Figure
Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari
Mamluk
Shihab al-Din Abu al-Abbas Ahmad Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari, commonly known as Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari or Ibn Faḍl Allāh al-‘Umārī was an Arab historian born in Damascus. His major works include at-Taʾrīf bi-al-muṣṭalaḥ ash-sharīf, on the subject of the Mamluk administration, and Masālik al-abṣār fī mamālik al-amṣār, an encyclopedic collection of related information. The latter was translated into French by Maurice Gaudefroy-Demombynes in 1927.
Connection to Damascus
Born and died in Damascus; worked as a secretary in the Mamluk administration there.
Known for
Encyclopedic work on Mamluk administration; important source for medieval geography.
Lifespan
1301-06-12 – 1349-03-01
Biography
Shihab al-Din Abu al-Abbas Ahmad Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari, commonly known as Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari or Ibn Faḍl Allāh al-‘Umārī was an Arab historian born in Damascus. His major works include at-Taʾrīf bi-al-muṣṭalaḥ ash-sharīf, on the subject of the Mamluk administration, and Masālik al-abṣār fī mamālik al-amṣār, an encyclopedic collection of related information. The latter was translated into French by Maurice Gaudefroy-Demombynes in 1927.