Abbas al-Azzawi
- Died
- 1391 AH
- Born in
- Iraq
Abbas al-Azzawi (1307–1391 AH / 1890–1971 CE; another report gives his birth in 1308 AH / 1891 CE) was an Iraqi historian, lawyer, and man of letters, best known for his multi-volume historical studies Tarikh al-Iraq bayn Ihtilalayn ("History of Iraq Between Two Occupations") and Asha'ir al-Iraq ("The Tribes of Iraq") .
Early Life and Lineage
His full lineage is Abbas ibn Muhammad ibn Thamir ibn Muhammad ibn Jadir al-Bayazid al-Azzawi, belonging to the al-Azza tribe, an Arab tribe traced to Zubayd al-Asghar . His mother was Karima bint Latif ibn Sa'dun ibn Muhammad ibn Darwish ibn Usaywid al-Tuwi . Al-Azzawi was born in the desert among the encampments of his tribe in Iraq . His father was killed while he was still a young child .
Career and Scholarly Activity
Al-Azzawi graduated from the Law School and practiced as a lawyer for forty years . In his earlier years, he was closely accompanied by his brother, the lawyer Ali Ghalib al-Azzawi, until his brother was murdered . In 1943, al-Azzawi was elected to the Arab Scientific Academy of Damascus .
Alongside his legal career, he dedicated himself to historical research and collecting rare books, manuscripts, and specimens of historic Arabic calligraphy, amassing an extensive personal library . His historiographical focus centered on the lesser-documented periods of Iraqi history, particularly the era stretching from the Mongol conquest of Baghdad to the British occupation in 1917 CE, as well as the genealogies, customs, and branches of nomadic and rural Iraqi tribes . He maintained a private social life, associating primarily with a select circle of literary figures and his son Fadil .
Death
Al-Azzawi died in Baghdad in 1391 AH / 1971 CE .
Answer updated
List of Works
Ashaer al-Iraq (The Tribes of Iraq) is a four-volume historical and genealogical reference work documenting the lineages, branches, geography, customs, and history of the nomadic, rural, and Kurdish tribes of Iraq.