'Abd al-Rahman III: The First Cordoban Caliph

by Maribel Fierro

Overview

Abd al-Rahman III (891 - 961) was the greatest of the Umayyad rulers of Spain and the first to take the title of Caliph. During his reign, Islamic Spain became wealthy and prosperous. He founded the great Caliphate of Madinat al-Zahra at Cordova and did much in his lifetime to pacify his realm and stabilise the borders with Christian Spain. He died at the apex of his power on Oct. 15, 961.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780741871
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	12/01/2012
Series:	Makers of the Muslim World
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	886,879
File size:	415 KB

About the Author

Maribel Fierro is Investigador Cientifico at the Departmento de Estudios Arabes, CSIC, Spain.

Table of Contents

Foreword

1 THE FOURTEEN DAYS OF HAPPINESS OF ‘ABD AL-RAHMAN III (r. 912–61)



2 AL-ANDALUS BEFORE THE SECOND UMAYYAD CALIPHATE

What was al-Andalus?

Arabs and Berbers, the Muslim tribesmen who conquered al-Andalus

The conquered population and the process of conversion

The Umayyad emirs: centralization, law, and clientage

External enemies



3 THE COLLAPSE OF UMAYYAD POWER AND ITS RECOVERY BY ‘ABD AL-RAHMAN III (912–28)

Muslims against Muslims: the Umayyad confrontation with Arabs, Berbers, and Muwallads

Umayyads against Umayyads: the reign of emir ‘Abd Allah (r. 888–912)

A new beginning: ‘Abd al-Rahman III becomes emir (912)

Securing the central lands and the defeat of the Hafsunids (912–28)

The frontier regions



4 CALIPHATE AND CONSOLIDATION (929–61)

The adoption of the caliphal title and the minting of gold

Extending Umayyad power in the frontier regions: the fall of Toledo and Zaragoza

Betrayal: the battle of Simancas-Alhandega (939)

Relationships with the Christian polities

Conflict with the Fatimids and North African policies

5 THE CALIPH’S FAMILY AND HIS MEN

The caliph’s family

Men of the sword and men of the pen

Slaves and eunuchs

Hierarchies and egalitarianism among the Muslim population

Christians and Jews



6 BUILDING THE CALIPHATE: STICK, STONES, AND WORDS

The carrot and the stick

Cordoba and Madinat al-Zahra’

The writing of history

Scholars and men of letters

Religious policies and the Maliki identity

7 ‘ABD AL-RAHMAN III’S LEGACY

APPENDIX: How do we know what we know about ‘Abd al-Rahman III?



Bibliography

Index