What is the biography of Al-Hafiz Ibn Asakir, author of "Tarikh Dimashq" (The History of Damascus), and what was his creed?

Ibn Asakir is Imam Hafiz Ali ibn Hibatullah. He was born in the 499th year of the Hijra and passed away in the 571st year of the Hijra, and was buried in Damascus. He was the Muhaddith (Hadith scholar) of Sham and the author of "Tarikh Dimashq" (History of Damascus). He was attributed to the Ash'aris, and there was a dispute between him and the Hanbali Maqdisis.