Abd-ar-Rahman III (Arabic: عبد الرحمن الثالث) was the Emir and Caliph of Cordoba (912-961), and a prince of the Ummayad dynasty in the Al-Andalus (Moorish Iberia). He ascended the throne when he was twenty-two years of age, and reigned for half a century as the most powerful prince of the Ummayad dynasty in Spain.[1] The blond-haired, blue-eyed ruler, called al-Nasir or the Defender (of the Faith), was born at Cordova on January 7, 891, the son of Prince Muhammad and a Frankish slave.[2] His life was so completely identified with the government of the state that he offers less material for biography than his ancestor Abd-ar-Rahman I.
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Background
Abd-ar-Rahman III was the grandson of his predecessor, Abdullah, one of the Andalusian Umayyads. Although under his rule, people of all creeds enjoyed tolerance and freedom of religion, he repelled the Fatimids, partly by supporting their enemies in Africa, and partly by claiming the title caliph (ruler of the Islamic world) for himself. On January 16, 929, Abd-ar-rahman III declared himself as the Caliph of Cordoba, effectively breaking all ties with the Fatimid and Abbasid caliphs.[3] 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. But the force of this tradition had been so far 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 Umayyad ancestry who held undisputed control of the caliphate until they were overthrown by the Abbasids. After declaring the caliphate, Abd-ar-Rahman built a massive palace complex known as the Medina Azahara. The Medina Azahara was modeled after the old Umayyad palace in Damascus and served as a symbolic tie between the new caliph and his ancestorss.
Related subjects
Unfortunately, while there is copious Spanish and Arabic literature on this period, little appears to have been translated into English. Coope, Scales and Woolf provide important social and historical overviews of Christian/Muslim relaations within the Caliphate of Cordoba during its history that may provide historical context for this subject.
- Banu Umayyad
- Banu Quraish
- Abdallah
- Umayyad Leader
- al-Hakam II
- Emir of Cordoba after 929 as Caliph 912–961
- al-Hakam II
Quotations
"I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace; beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to Fourteen: - O man! place not thy confidence in this present world!"
References
Bibliography
- Jessica Coope: Martyrs of Cordoba: Community and Family Conflict in an Age of Mass Conversion: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press: 1995: ISBN 0-8032-1471-5
- Maribel Fierro: Abd-al-Rahman III of Cordoba: London: Oneworld Publications: 2005: ISBN 1-85168-384-4
- Peter Scales: Fall of the Caliphate of Cordoba: New York: EJ Brill:1994: ISBN 90-04-09868-2
- Kenneth Wolf: Christian Martyrs in Muslim Spain: Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 1988: ISBN 0-521-34416-6
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Abd-ar-Rahman III
Cadet branch of the Banu Quraish
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| Preceded by Abdallah ibn Muhammad |
Emir of Cordoba 912 – 929 |
Became caliph |
| New title Caliphate of Cordoba
created |
Caliph of Cordoba 929 — 961 |
Succeeded by Al-Hakam II |
