Background
Ibn al-Abbar was born in Valencia, and began his official career as a secretary to the Muslim governor of the Emirate of Balansiya.
Ibn al-Abbar was born in Valencia, and began his official career as a secretary to the Muslim governor of the Emirate of Balansiya.
Well-known is the qasida which he wrote as ambassador of the Hafsid governor of Valencia to the Tunisian sultan asking for help against the forces of king James and the elegy he wrote after the fall of the city (September 1238). He then settled in Tunisia. Later he fell in disgrace and was burnt at the stake because of his writings.
He died in Béjaïa.