The Siyar al-mulūk of ʿUmar b. Dāwūd al-Fārisī: A Quasi-Plagiaristic Translation of Kalīla and Dimna

Abstract In this article, we carry out an introductory study of a little-known text titled Siyar al-mulūk , written in the late seventh/thirteenth century by author named ʿUmar b. Dāwūd al-Fārisī, and dedicated to Ayyubid amīr Hama. There is only one known extant copy work, which belongs collection Topkapı Palace Library dates 727/1327. presents what he has written, confusingly, as “arabicization” ( taʿrīb ) classic book fables, Kalīla Dimna — most famous versions was already Arabic. fact, translation; but it derived from sixth/twelfth Persian rendition Naṣr Allāh Munshī. Analyzing how relates its sources made somewhat more difficult Dāwūd’s decision not name any them. Once connection work recognized, however, emerges case both evolution global textual tradition transmission literature scholarship Arab lands Mongol-Ayyubid-Mamluk period.