‘Abd ar-Rahman III
‘Abd ar-Rahman III ('Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah) (January 11, 889 - October 15, 961). The eighth (and arguably the greatest) Umayyad emir of Spain. He ruled from 912 to 961. He ascended to the throne when he was twenty-two years of age and reigned for half a century as the most powerful prince of the Umayyad dynasty in Iberia.
Called al-Nasir, or the Defender (of the Faith), he was born at Cordoba, and was the son of Prince Muhammad. Succeeding to an emirate diminished by provincial governors who acted like independent rulers, ‘Abd ar-Rahman at once set out to assert Umayyad authority over all his territories. Initially, he had to suppress the dangerous revolt led by 'Umar ibn Hafsun. In 913, he attacked Seville, a city that had allied with Hafsun, conquering it on December 20. The following year, he campaigned in the Rayya mountains near Malaga, where his mild treatment gained him the surrender of most of the Christian castles. In 917, Hafsun died, but the struggle was continued by his son, who surrendered only after the fall of Malaga on January 21, 928.
Seville and Cremona submitted in 917, Bobastro was captured in 928 and Toledo, the last of the wayward cities, surrendered in 932. The emir checked the advance of the Christian prince Ordono II of Leon (d. 951) in 920.
Once having al-Andalus firmly under his rule, 'Abd ar-Rahman restarted his war against King Ordono II of Leon, who had taken advantage of the previous troublesome situation to capture some bondary areas and to menace the Umayyad territory. In 920, the emir's troops gained a first victory at Junquera (Valdejunquera). This was one of several defeats ‘Abd ar-Rahman inflicted on the Christian kingdoms of Leon and Navarre, checking their expansion.
In 924, Abd 'ar Rahman sacked the Basque capital of Pamplona of King Sancho I. An attempt by Ramiro, the son of Ordono II, to help Toledo was repulsed in 932.
During this time, ‘Abd ar-Rahman built up a navy unmatched anywhere in the world. With this navy, ‘Abd ar-Rahman proceeded to seize part of Morocco from the Fatimids. In 923, Ceuta was captured and the whole of the central Maghrib subdued, with the exception of the region of Tahert. This period also saw the formation of parties which were in the end to cause the greatest disorder: the Slav party and the Berber party. The Slavs were prisoners from eastern Europe, Italy and northern Spain and soon formed a large class in Cordoban society. The Berber party was to play a part in the early tenth century (of the Christian calendar).
By 929, ‘Abd ar-Rahman felt confident enough to assume the title of amir al-mu'minin (“Commander of the Believers”). On January 16, 929, he declared himself as the Caliph of Cordoba, effectively breaking all ties with the Fatimid and 'Abbasid caliphs, thereby restoring in Spain the Umayyad caliphate of Cordoba. His ancestors in Iberia had been content with the title of emir. The caliphate was thought only to belong to the prince who ruled over the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina. However, the force of this tradition had been so weakened that 'Abd ar-Rahman could proclaim himself caliph, and the assumption of the title gave him increased prestige with his subjects, both in Iberia and Africa. 'Abd ar-Rahman based his claim to the caliphate on his Ummayyad ancestry. The Umayyads had held undisputed control of the caliphate until they were overthrown by the 'Abbasids.
In 930, Ibn Marwan surrendered, and in 932, Toledo was captured. At this point all Arabs, Iberians and Berbers submitted to 'Abd ar-Rahman. In 931, in order to counter the increasing Fatimid power in North Africa, the caliph had helped Berbers to conquer Ceuta and other territories, which accepted his suzerainty. This was, however, lost a few years later.
In 934, after reassuring his supremacy over Pamplona and Alava, 'Abd ar-Rahman forced Ramiro, the son of Ordono of Leon, to retreat up to Burgos. In 937, he conquered some thirthy castles in Leon and then compelled again the Navarese queen, Toda, to submit to him as a vassal. Then came the time for Muhammad ibn Hashim at-Tugib, governor of Zaragoza, who had allied with Ramiro but was pardoned after the captured of his city.
Despite their early defeats, Ramiro II and Toda were able to crush the caliphate army in 939 at the Battle of Simancas, most likely due to treason from Arabic elements in the caliph's army. After this defeat, 'Abd ar-Rahman stopped taking part in person in the military campaigns. His cause was however helped by Fernan Gonzalez of Castile, one of the Christian leaders at Simancas, who declared war against Ramiro, only to be defeated after a while. Ramiro's victory at Simancas enabled the advance of the Leonine border from the Duero to the Tormes.
In 951, he signed a peace with the new king of Leon, Ordono III, in order to have free hand against the Fatimids in North Africa. He was, however, able only to launch an expedition against Ifriqiya, in the area of Tunis.
In 954, the Fatimids made a raid on the Spanish shore near Almeria. As a reprisal, ‘Abd ar-Rahman burned Marsa‘l-Kharaz on the North African coast. About 955, ‘Abd ar-Rahman’s help was invoked by King Sancho and Queen Tota of Navarre against Ordono IV, an event without precedent in the annals of Muslim Spain. Ordono III's son and successor, Sancho I, had been deposed by his cousin Ordono IV. Sancho, together with Toda of Navarre, sued for an alliance with Cordoba. In exchange for some castles, 'Abd ar-Rahman helped them to take back Zamora in 959 and Oviedo in 960 and to overthrow Ordono IV.
'Abd ar-Rahman spent the rest of his years in his new palace outside Cordoba. He died in October 961 and was succeeded by his son al-Hakam II.
‘Abd ar-Rahman constructed near Cordoba the town of Madinat al-Zahra’ (Medina Azahara) for his own residence. Ultimately, ‘Abd ar-Rahman’s greatest legacy was the transformation of Cordoba into the greatest cultural center in the Western world, a distinction Cordoba would hold for over two centuries. 'Abd ar-Rahman expanded the city's library, which would help make Cordoba the intellectual center of Western Europe.
By the end of ‘Abd ar-Rahman’s reign, the splendor of Cordoba rivaled that of Baghdad and Constantinople, the great cultural centers of the East. Under 'Abd ar-Rahman, Islamic Cordoba became a city of beauty and enlightenment.
Rahman, 'Abd ar- see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
'Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
Nasir, al- see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
Defender of the Faith see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
*****
Called al-Nasir, or the Defender (of the Faith), he was born at Cordoba, and was the son of Prince Muhammad. Succeeding to an emirate diminished by provincial governors who acted like independent rulers, ‘Abd ar-Rahman at once set out to assert Umayyad authority over all his territories. Initially, he had to suppress the dangerous revolt led by 'Umar ibn Hafsun. In 913, he attacked Seville, a city that had allied with Hafsun, conquering it on December 20. The following year, he campaigned in the Rayya mountains near Malaga, where his mild treatment gained him the surrender of most of the Christian castles. In 917, Hafsun died, but the struggle was continued by his son, who surrendered only after the fall of Malaga on January 21, 928.
Seville and Cremona submitted in 917, Bobastro was captured in 928 and Toledo, the last of the wayward cities, surrendered in 932. The emir checked the advance of the Christian prince Ordono II of Leon (d. 951) in 920.
Once having al-Andalus firmly under his rule, 'Abd ar-Rahman restarted his war against King Ordono II of Leon, who had taken advantage of the previous troublesome situation to capture some bondary areas and to menace the Umayyad territory. In 920, the emir's troops gained a first victory at Junquera (Valdejunquera). This was one of several defeats ‘Abd ar-Rahman inflicted on the Christian kingdoms of Leon and Navarre, checking their expansion.
In 924, Abd 'ar Rahman sacked the Basque capital of Pamplona of King Sancho I. An attempt by Ramiro, the son of Ordono II, to help Toledo was repulsed in 932.
During this time, ‘Abd ar-Rahman built up a navy unmatched anywhere in the world. With this navy, ‘Abd ar-Rahman proceeded to seize part of Morocco from the Fatimids. In 923, Ceuta was captured and the whole of the central Maghrib subdued, with the exception of the region of Tahert. This period also saw the formation of parties which were in the end to cause the greatest disorder: the Slav party and the Berber party. The Slavs were prisoners from eastern Europe, Italy and northern Spain and soon formed a large class in Cordoban society. The Berber party was to play a part in the early tenth century (of the Christian calendar).
By 929, ‘Abd ar-Rahman felt confident enough to assume the title of amir al-mu'minin (“Commander of the Believers”). On January 16, 929, he declared himself as the Caliph of Cordoba, effectively breaking all ties with the Fatimid and 'Abbasid caliphs, thereby restoring in Spain the Umayyad caliphate of Cordoba. His ancestors in Iberia had been content with the title of emir. The caliphate was thought only to belong to the prince who ruled over the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina. However, the force of this tradition had been so weakened that 'Abd ar-Rahman could proclaim himself caliph, and the assumption of the title gave him increased prestige with his subjects, both in Iberia and Africa. 'Abd ar-Rahman based his claim to the caliphate on his Ummayyad ancestry. The Umayyads had held undisputed control of the caliphate until they were overthrown by the 'Abbasids.
In 930, Ibn Marwan surrendered, and in 932, Toledo was captured. At this point all Arabs, Iberians and Berbers submitted to 'Abd ar-Rahman. In 931, in order to counter the increasing Fatimid power in North Africa, the caliph had helped Berbers to conquer Ceuta and other territories, which accepted his suzerainty. This was, however, lost a few years later.
In 934, after reassuring his supremacy over Pamplona and Alava, 'Abd ar-Rahman forced Ramiro, the son of Ordono of Leon, to retreat up to Burgos. In 937, he conquered some thirthy castles in Leon and then compelled again the Navarese queen, Toda, to submit to him as a vassal. Then came the time for Muhammad ibn Hashim at-Tugib, governor of Zaragoza, who had allied with Ramiro but was pardoned after the captured of his city.
Despite their early defeats, Ramiro II and Toda were able to crush the caliphate army in 939 at the Battle of Simancas, most likely due to treason from Arabic elements in the caliph's army. After this defeat, 'Abd ar-Rahman stopped taking part in person in the military campaigns. His cause was however helped by Fernan Gonzalez of Castile, one of the Christian leaders at Simancas, who declared war against Ramiro, only to be defeated after a while. Ramiro's victory at Simancas enabled the advance of the Leonine border from the Duero to the Tormes.
In 951, he signed a peace with the new king of Leon, Ordono III, in order to have free hand against the Fatimids in North Africa. He was, however, able only to launch an expedition against Ifriqiya, in the area of Tunis.
In 954, the Fatimids made a raid on the Spanish shore near Almeria. As a reprisal, ‘Abd ar-Rahman burned Marsa‘l-Kharaz on the North African coast. About 955, ‘Abd ar-Rahman’s help was invoked by King Sancho and Queen Tota of Navarre against Ordono IV, an event without precedent in the annals of Muslim Spain. Ordono III's son and successor, Sancho I, had been deposed by his cousin Ordono IV. Sancho, together with Toda of Navarre, sued for an alliance with Cordoba. In exchange for some castles, 'Abd ar-Rahman helped them to take back Zamora in 959 and Oviedo in 960 and to overthrow Ordono IV.
'Abd ar-Rahman spent the rest of his years in his new palace outside Cordoba. He died in October 961 and was succeeded by his son al-Hakam II.
‘Abd ar-Rahman constructed near Cordoba the town of Madinat al-Zahra’ (Medina Azahara) for his own residence. Ultimately, ‘Abd ar-Rahman’s greatest legacy was the transformation of Cordoba into the greatest cultural center in the Western world, a distinction Cordoba would hold for over two centuries. 'Abd ar-Rahman expanded the city's library, which would help make Cordoba the intellectual center of Western Europe.
By the end of ‘Abd ar-Rahman’s reign, the splendor of Cordoba rivaled that of Baghdad and Constantinople, the great cultural centers of the East. Under 'Abd ar-Rahman, Islamic Cordoba became a city of beauty and enlightenment.
Rahman, 'Abd ar- see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
'Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
Nasir, al- see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
Defender of the Faith see ‘Abd ar-Rahman III
*****
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