Basil bar Shumna (died 1169/1171) was the Syriac Orthodox metropolitan archbishop of Edessa from 1143 until his death. He wrote a Syriac chronicle covering the years from 1118 until his death, which is now lost but was used as a source by Michael the Great and the anonymous author of the Chronicle of 1234. Life Basil was born probably early in the twelfth century, although he is described as an elderly man when he took over the diocese of Edessa. His brother Michael bar Shumna headed the administration of the city of Edessa under Count Joscelin II. In the early 1120s, Basil joined the retinue of the Byzantine emperor John II. He was an eyewitness to the defeat of the Pechenegs at the battle of Beroia in 1122. By 1129, Basil was an ordained priest and bishop of Qaysūn (Kʿesun). Patriarch John XI was living in Qaysūn at that time and considering making it his permanent residence. Growing disillusioned with ecclesiastical politics, Basil withdrew from Qaysūn to a monastery. In 1143, Joscelin transferred Basil to Edessa from the diocese of Qaysūn. He was accused of having obtained the vacant see illegitimately, since Joscelin II was a Catholic who had no authority to transfer Syriac bishops and who had acted without the knowledge of Patriarch Athanasius VII. Basil denied the accusation in a letter to the patriarch. Joscelin and the patriarch were later reconciled. At the start of the Siege of Edessa in November 1144, Basil joined with his Catholic and Armenian counterparts, Bishops Hugh and John, to organize the defence of the city. He persuaded Hugh to seek a truce, but the offer did not reach the besieging Turkish commander, Zengi. During the two days of looting and massacre that followed the breaching of the walls on 24 December, Basil had himself led about on a rope, naked and with his beard shaven. Zengi encountered him when he entered the city after the two days. In Zengi's tent, Basil impressed the commander with his humility, courage and fluency in Arabic. Zengi had him dressed and the two of them discussed the rebuilding of the city. According to Michael the Great, "as long as Zengi ruled in Edessa [...] this venerable bishop was very influential." Basil was responsible for repopulating the city. After the death of Zengi in 1146, Joscelin forced Basil to assist him in his effort to retake the