The major work of Ibn Wasil that addresses the crusades is translated as The Dissipator of Anxieties Concerning the History of the Ayyubids. He especially focuses on the career and deeds of Saladin during the Third Crusade, for which there are many surviving Muslim and Christian sources. Yet, unlike many of the Muslim sources for the Third Crusade who witnessed the events they wrote about, Ibn Wasil's account is less valuable as he wrote nearly a century later. There are fewer Muslim accounts of the crusades of the thirteenth-century, especially those of St. Louis IX, which makes Ibn Wasil's near contemporary account valuable for scholars. His history covers the period from the Zangids until 1282.
Ibn Wasil had a varied career under both the Ayyubids and the Mamluks. He served as an ambassador under the Sultan Baybars and had various interactions with Christians. For example, as an ambassdor he led a delegation to the Emperor Manfred, about who Ibn Wasil recorded very favorable observations. He reportedly wrote a treatise on logic as a gift for the Emperor titled Al Risala al Anbarurla. He ended his lengthy and distinguished career as Grand Al Qadi of his home city of Hama(t).
Third Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Saladin- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Fifth Crusade-Crusades-Encyclopedia
Manfred- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Baybars- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Sixth Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Seventh Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia
St. Louis IX- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Eighth Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Ayyubids- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Mamluks- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Primary Sources of the Crusades- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Crusades Chroniclers and Authors of Primary Source Texts- Crusades-Encyclopedia
(c) Andrew Holt, June 2005- Permission is granted for electronic copying and distribution in print for educational and personal use. No permission is granted for commercial use.