Abu Firas al-Hamdani

Abu Firas al-Hamdani
1963 Syrian postage stamp with a modern representation of Abu Firas
Born	Al-Harith ibn Abi'l-Ala Sai'd 932/933 probably Baghdad
Died	4 April 968 (age 35-36) Sadad (near Homs)
Occupation(s)	Governor, military leader and poet
Years active	948–968
Notable work	al-Rūmiyyāt

Al-Harith ibn Abi’l-ʿAlaʾ Saʿid ibn Hamdan al-Taghlibi (932–968), better known by his pen name Abu Firas al-Hamdani (Arabic: أبو فراس الحمداني), was an Arab prince and poet. He was a cousin of Sayf al-Dawla and a member of the Hamdanid dynasty, who were rulers in northern Syria and Upper Mesopotamia during the 10th century. He served Sayf al-Dawla as governor of Manbij as well as court poet, and was active in his cousin's wars against the Byzantine Empire. He was captured by the Byzantines in 959/962 and spent several years at their capital, Constantinople, where he composed his most famous work, the collection of poems titled al-Rūmiyyāt (الروميات). He was ransomed in 966, and was killed in 968, when he raised a revolt against his nephew Sa'd al-Dawla, Sayf al-Dawla's successor. He is considered among the greatest figures of classical Arabic poetry.