Abu Firas al-Hamdani

Who was Abu Firas al-Hamdani?

Abu Firas al-Hamdani was an Arab poet. He was a cousin of Sayf al-Dawla and a member of the noble family of the Hamdanids, who were rulers in northern Syria and Upper Mesopotamia during the 10th century. He served Sayf al-Dawla as provincial governor as well as court poet, and was active in is cousin's wars against the Byzantine Empire. He was twice captured by the Byzantines and spent some time in their capital, Constantinople, where he composed his most famous work, the collection of poems titled al-Rûmiyât.