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Abd Al-Rahman III (912/929-961), was born in 891 was brought up by his mother, as his father was murdered, Muzra (slave of vascon origin)  and his grandmother Occa daughter of the education was given by his grandfather Abd Allah. In his spite of spanish origin he tried to solve the internal problems (the struggle Omar Ibn Hafsun) and his numerous victories against the christians.
These struggles - in despite the lost in Valdejunquera (920) and Simancas (939)-he was nicknamed the caliph with the name of An Nasir Li-Din Allah, that means the one that struggle under the names of Allah.
Making a profit of the internal difficulties in peninsular kingdoms, he was able to reinforce the army ant the politics beyond the borders.
Are known the bad relationships between the abassi caliphate of Bagdad and the fatimi in Egypt. For this reason he wanted to run a strong expansion politics abroad (in the North of Africa) he occupied Melilla (927) and Ceuta (932) and Tanger (951).
Besides he had good diplomatic relationship with the province, Italy, and with the german oton’s I kingdom, who sent an embassy in Córdoba in 936, and with Byzantine Kingdom.
When Abd al–Rahman III died, at the age of forty-six, his son al–Hakam II (961-976) became the new Caliph. Due to the premature death of his brother he was named caliph by his father, when he was 8. He was very keen on studying.
When he began running the government he had great experience this was useful to him. He was a very religious man, even more after suffering a disease in 1074.
His tendency to the literature turned him into the attraction of the culture. He possessed a wonderful library and it became richer during his caliphate. It is said that he received a lot of books, bought for him by Córdoba people. He got more than 400.000 books.
He was worried because he wanted to expand the Mosque. Al–Hakam was nicknamed as: al–Mutansir Bi–Llah (he one that looks for the victorious help of Allah), he was helped by numerous collaborators.
The first was Galibb, an ex-slave turned into leader of the army. The second was Chaffer al-Mushafi, leader of the central administration whose father was al-Hakam II’s preceptor, who provoked a great friendship with Royal Family. The third was a basque concubine shub that will be the mother of the third Caliph Hisham II.
Despite the nickname mentioned, Al-Hakam II only fought against the christian kingdom wheneve r he wanted. His actuation was centre, with success, in the arbitration of the internal struggles between the different kingdoms.
Even though, he got an important victory of San Esteban de Gormaz (975). His son Hisham II turned Al-Hakam II over (976-1013) but because of the age his power was leaded by Almanzor (976-1002) who instaured a personal dictatorship till his death, after continued by his sons.
Despite the military successes, Hisham II nicknamed as the “Christian’s slap” and Al-Mansur Bi-Llan (the winner of Allah).
After his death the caliphate began a decadency and after that a civil was began, which ended with political construction. Almanzor is known for being the precursor of the last enlargement of the Mosque. So after the military campaign against Santiago de Compostela, he took the gold cathedral bells away used for the enlargement afterwards. |
