Timeline Ibn Khaldun: Father of Historiography

Ibn Khaldun: Father of Historiography 16

• 1332 Ibn Khaldun is born in Tunis Born into an Andalusian family of scholars and officials Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun was born in Tunis under the Hafsid dynasty. His family had moved from Seville to North Africa in the 13th century.
• 1349 Ibn Khaldun loses his parents to the Black Death The plague sweeps through Tunis The Black Death killed both of Ibn Khaldun's parents and many of his teachers. He later described the plague as a catastrophe that changed the civilised world.
• 1354 Ibn Khaldun joins the Marinid court in Fez Enters the service of Sultan Abu Inan Ibn Khaldun moved to Fez and joined Sultan Abu Inan's circle of scholars. He went on to become a secretary at the Marinid court.
• 1357 – 1358 Ibn Khaldun is imprisoned by Sultan Abu Inan Jailed on suspicion of intrigue with a Hafsid prince Abu Inan suspected Ibn Khaldun of plotting with the deposed Hafsid emir of Bejaia and had him imprisoned. He was released in 1358, after the sultan died.
• 1362 Ibn Khaldun arrives at the Nasrid court of Granada Welcomed by Muhammad V and the vizier Ibn al-Khatib Ibn Khaldun left Morocco for Granada, where Sultan Muhammad V and his vizier Ibn al-Khatib received him warmly.
• 1364 Ibn Khaldun leads an embassy to Pedro the Cruel in Seville Negotiates a treaty between Granada and Castile As Granada's envoy, Ibn Khaldun visited King Pedro of Castile in Seville, the city his ancestors had come from. Pedro offered to restore the family's lands if he would stay, but Ibn Khaldun declined.
• 1365 Ibn Khaldun becomes chamberlain in Bejaia Serves as hajib to the Hafsid emir Abu Abdallah Ibn Khaldun became chamberlain, or hajib, to the emir of Bejaia, which was effectively the post of prime minister. He also preached and taught in the city.
• 1375 Ibn Khaldun retreats to Qal'at Ibn Salama Withdraws from politics to a fortress in the Algerian highlands Tired of court politics, Ibn Khaldun withdrew to a castle under the protection of the Awlad Arif tribe. He spent almost four years there researching and writing.
• 1377 Ibn Khaldun completes the first draft of the Muqaddimah An introduction to history that founds a science of society Ibn Khaldun finished the first draft of the Muqaddimah, the introduction to his universal history. In it he sets out his theory of asabiyya (group solidarity) and the cycle of dynasties.
• 1378 Ibn Khaldun returns to Tunis to continue his history Uses the libraries of Tunis for the Kitab al-Ibar Ibn Khaldun went back to Tunis under the Hafsid sultan Abu al-Abbas and kept working on his history using sources from the city's libraries. He also taught there, which made rival scholars jealous.
• 1382 Ibn Khaldun leaves Tunis for Egypt Sails for Alexandria, saying he is going on pilgrimage Ibn Khaldun left Tunis for good, giving the hajj as his reason. He settled in Mamluk Cairo, where he lectured and was soon admired as a scholar.
• 1384 Ibn Khaldun's family dies in a shipwreck off Alexandria His wife and children drown on their way to join him The ship bringing Ibn Khaldun's wife and children from Tunis sank near Alexandria, and they all died. He was left in deep grief.
• 1384 Ibn Khaldun is appointed Maliki chief qadi of Cairo Named chief judge by the Mamluk sultan Barquq Sultan Barquq appointed Ibn Khaldun chief judge of the Maliki school of law. His strict, anti-corruption approach made him enemies, and he was dismissed and reappointed several times.
• 1387 Ibn Khaldun performs the hajj to Mecca Completes the pilgrimage after leaving the judgeship Ibn Khaldun travelled to Mecca for the pilgrimage and then returned to Cairo to teach and write.
• 1401 Ibn Khaldun meets Timur outside besieged Damascus The historian's audiences with the Central Asian conqueror While Timur was besieging Damascus, Ibn Khaldun was let down from the city walls to meet him and spent several weeks in his camp. He later wrote an account of their conversations, including a description of the Maghreb that he wrote for Timur.
• 1406 Ibn Khaldun dies in Cairo Dies weeks after his sixth appointment as chief qadi Ibn Khaldun died in Cairo at the age of 73, shortly after being appointed Maliki chief judge for the sixth time. He was buried in the Sufi cemetery outside the Bab al-Nasr gate.