UMMAYAD CALIPHATE OF CORDOBA
(929-1031 AD)
1. Ameer ul Momineen ABDUR REHMAN III BIN MUHAMMAD
(912-961 AD)
Abdur Rahman III ascended the throne at a very crucial time when Andalus lost its unity. At a very mature age he came to power and his superiority was accepted by Ummayads. Firstly he ordered all Amirs who proclaimed their kingship to surrender and accept his superiority, and cleverly defeated his rivals by showing justice and mercy over non Muslims. However in a very short time he united Andalus under his rule.
After taking control over Al Andalus he focused on African territories of Fatimids and conquered most of the area even till Mediterranean sea. After conquering south, he focused on Northern states and launched organized military campaigns against Galicia, Banbolona, Leon etc. In a series of hard fights he defeated the alliance of his enemies. In 929 AD After all these Victories he proclaimed himself as Caliph by breaking superiority of Abbasid caliphate and called as AMEER UL MOMINEEN And Took the title of AL NAASIR UL DEEN UL ALLAH.
His period was a time of high prosperity and seen as Golden Age of Al Andalus. His superiority accepted by Super powers of Europe Including Constantine of Constantinople, German, French and other rulers send their Ambassadors with huge gifts and extended their hand of Friendship to the new Caliph in Andalus. Cordaba was the highly developed city of that time in Europe with its well organized Agricultural system and Economic development. His period was famous for the co-operation among Muslims, Christians and Jews, they shared Abrahamic traditions and followed their own traditions freely. Students from across the globe reached Andalus to seek education in the universities of Andalus, its large libraries having valuable works on every branch of knowledge was famous for its uniqueness.
He built a palace called Madinatuz Zahra, it was not a palace but a small city with numerous small buildings and beautiful parks having 15000 doors of entrance.It was the pride of Andalus at that time. He took personal interest to built it and he wanted to present the greatness of his Caliphate through Madinatuz Zahra.
After successfully ruling Andalus for almost 50 years, at the age of 73 he died in the year 961 AD and left a unified Andalus for his successors.
2. HAKAM II BIN ABDUR REHMAN III
(961-976 AD)
Hakam ascended the throne after death of his father. He continued the progress and development of his state, and led his army to new Victories specially in Africa. His tenure marked a peak of Andalus in every aspect strong, rich and safe state. He established good relations with his neighbor Christian rulers and they were frequent guests of Caliph in Cordaba.
He was fond of knowledge, he invited great scholars to his court like Abu Ali Baghdadi, Sifr ul Baghdadi, Ismail bin Abdur Rahman etc. He himself was a master of Literature and Philosophy, his library was the largest library in the world he spent huge money and collected books of different authors from across the globe, at his time one can easily find any book in Andalus. Approximately there were 4 lakh books available in his library he also initiated publishing books in Andalus on every subject and branch of knowledge. He was very pious person. He spent his last days in divine service and died in the year 976 AD.
3. HISHAM II BIN HAKAM II
(961-1012 AD)
Caliph Hakam nominated his minor son Hisham as his legal heir for the throne and Caliphate of Andalus. As per the will of Late Caliph, Hisham ascended the throne at the age of 11 ONLY. It was a weird decision but it happened. A person called Mohammed bin Abi Amir (Al Mansoor) made regent of the minor Caliph, and he was the person who knowingly or unknowingly destroyed the Ummayad system in Andalus. He took control over all the affairs of the Caliphate and even he got his command on the Andlusian royal army. He made Caliph Hisham an internee in the Palace and run the whole State on his name.
Though he took control over the state illegally but he does whatever he can to spread the Caliphate. By seeing a minor on the throne of Cordoba neighbor kingdoms attacked on Andalus, Al Manoor came out with the Royal army and fought courageously against the enemies and defeated them. Then he marched towards their lands and successfully conquered key cities like Leon, Gyan, Albira, Basca, Todmir, and Valencia etc. He also got conquests in Africa. It was the time of Al Mansoor when Andalus reached its Zenith and expanded its ever larger territories. He earned huge wealth from the newly conquered territories specially after the victory of Santiago. By seeing all these great victories no one opposed him. It is said that he fought more than 50 battles and became victorious.
Like other rulers during his period there was also a development of literature and science. He was exceptionally talented commander and very able politician, but he has no relevant strategy, instead of all such glorious victories he creates conditions for immediate collapse of the state after his death in the year 1002 AD.
After his death his son Abdul Malik became Prime Minister and as usual Caliph gave all control to him he followed his father's path and invade Galicia. Soon he died and his brother Abdur Rahman came to power.
Fall of Ummayad Caliphate :
Whatever Al Mansoor did, but he presented himself as royal slave working under the Caliph. But Abdur Rahman bin Al Mansoor declared himself as Caliph and dethroned Caliph Hisham openly. Which sparked a revolt against him. When he was out of Cordoba for military campaigns, different Arab Amirs took control over Cordaba and made Mohammed bin Hisham a descent of Abdur Rahman III as Caliph.
After him there were numerous caliphs and rulers who ruled Andalus. Some were Ummayads and some non Umayyads. In between there were various civil wars between Ummayads, Berbers and Arabs which led to the collapse of Ummayad Caliphate in Spain. And as a result new Taifa(independent) kingdoms emerged. And Spain broke into different Small kingdoms led by various Arab and Berber Amirs.
And the amirs declared their independence, a great Islamic civilization came into end due to lack of weak central power. It give a lesson that don't hand over all power to one post or position, we read how much Tariq taken pain to won this place, now this is how downfall started....
To be continued...
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