Caliphate of Córdoba: History, Power, and Legacy
Caliphate
Caliphate of Córdoba (929-1008)
When Abd al-Rahman III came to power, much of Al-Andalus remained in rebellion against the government of Córdoba. After several years of struggle, he conquered Bobastro, Mérida, Badajoz, Toledo, and finally, Zaragoza.
Then, in 937, began a series of campaigns against the king of León. Although he was defeated by the Christians in Simancas, during his reign the attacks took place, generally with success, and the Christians of the north had to stay within their borders. The domain of Abd al-Rahman was so clear that he even taxed Christian kings in exchange for giving way to the campaigns of looting. Also in 931, Umayyad troops conquered Ceuta and Melilla to secure the Straits.
In 929, Abd al-Rahman III proclaimed himself caliph. The decision was important: it meant the final affirmation of the sovereign and the Umayyad family as the ruler of al-Andalus, when the rebellions were at an end. Moreover, the king gave the Caliphate of Córdoba the aura of religious leader, not only political, about their subjects. Abd al-Rahman III surrounded himself with a strict protocol and acted like a true autocrat, covered with symbols of political and religious power with a strengthened management. The Caliph controlled the viziers and governors of cities, often changing their function, while enhancing the domination of the Arabs in all political and administrative offices. In the army, however, he chose to increase the quotas of Berbers and slaves, who were more militant than the old Arab tribes.
During his reign, it seems that the economic situation must have been quite good, as evidenced by the minting of large quantities of gold dinars and the splendid construction of the palace of Medina al-Zahra.
That prosperity continued also during the reign of his son al-Hakam II, who held the military control over the Christians and continued strengthening border areas. In addition, the cultural splendor of Córdoba reached its peak. The Caliph gathered a large library, and the city attracted the best writers and jurists of his time. Also, the most sumptuous extension of the Mosque of Córdoba corresponds to his reign.
Unlike his predecessors, Hixam II’s reign was dominated by the figure of his vizier, who took the name of Al-Mansur and personally led the politics of the Caliphate. We know little of their internal action. He had to quell several attempts to plot against his person, which shows the fragility of their position. It seems that he imposed a rigid surveillance in court and faced some of the conservative jurists who did not look kindly on the power of the vizier. He also strengthened the army, in which the weight of Slavs and Berbers was growing.
But his most impressive achievement was military. Over twenty years, al-Mansur completed no fewer than 55 expeditions against the Christians. Some were particularly devastating, such as the 985 expedition, which swept Barcelona, and, above all, the 997 expedition, when he arrived in Santiago and took as booty the door bells of the church, which were used in the plains of the roof of the Mosque of Córdoba. Other cities, like Zamora and Pamplona, also suffered attacks. Their incursions into Christian territory continued, more likely to maintain his prestige and get booty for his troops to dominate the northern kingdoms. But in any case, not before or after his time were the Muslims closer to ending the Christian kingdoms.
On the death of Al-Mansur in 1002, his son Abd-al Malik succeeded him as vizier, who continued the line of his father to maintain control over the old caliph and to continue the Christian border campaigns.