The handsome Kurdish governor of Salkhad (12th-century)

Ibn al-Qalanisi, the 12th century chronicler's biography of the Kurdish governor of Salkhad (southern Syria):

(12th January to 30th December, 1160)

The first day of this year was Tuesday [12th January]. On the eve of Friday, of Safar of this year died the amir Mujahid al-Din Buzān b. Māmīn, one of the principal amirs of the Kurds, and of high consideration in the kingdom (God's mercy upon him), reputed for bravery, gallantry and liberality, assiduous in expending gifts and alms, handsome of face, and of a cheerful countenance when accosted. He was borne from his house at the Gardens Gate to the mosque for the prayer, and thence to the College called by his name, where he was buried the same day. There was not one but wept for him and sorrowed at his loss, because of his generous actions and praiseworthy qualities.

Ibn Munqidh offers a humorous anecdote about Buzan. It provides a glimpse into some of the typical office chores:

§ The Blind Men of Damascus

I was present in Damascus when a dispute occurred between the blind men of the city and a man who used to administer their endowment, known as Ibn al-Ba'labakki. They had brought the matter before the lord of Damascus, Shihab al-Din Mahmud³¹ (may God have mercy upon him), numerous times, and so he said to the amir Mujahid al-Din Buzan ibn Mamin, 'Mujahid al-Din, by God, take these people off my hands. Call them together in your residence and summon their supervisor at the same time and settle this affair.'

'To hear is to obey,' he replied.

Mujahid al-Din then said to me, 'Please, attend with us.'

And so we gathered in a great hall in a residence, and the supervisor Ibn al-Ba'labakki was present as was the former supervisor, who was called Ibn al-Farrash, and also present were about three hundred blind men, carrying their leader. They entered the hall, each one of them with a staff in his hand at his side. Then the discussion began, some of them preferring to talk with the first supervisor, Ibn al-Farrash, some of them preferring Ibn al-Ba'labakki. They contended and strove with one another for a while without any progress, due to their noise and their great number. Then they turned violent, and close to three hundred staves were raised in the hall, all in the hands of blind men who did not know whom they were hitting. The uproar and the shouting became so loud that I regretted being there. But the two supervisors gave in on the matter, the dissent between them quietened down and we resolved the affair according to what the blind men wished. We could hardly believe it when the blind men finally left.