Abu l-Mutarraf 'Abd al-Rahman (Umayyad) bin Al-Hakam (792 - 852)

Born 0792 in Toledo, Al-Ándalus

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Sep 0852 at about age 60 in Córdoba, Al-Ándalus

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Biography

'Abd al-Rahman II o Abderramán II, ^[1] was the fourth Omeya Emir of Córdoba. He was born in Toledo, Al-Ándalus, in the present-day Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, and died in Córdoba, Al-Ándalus, in the present-day Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. He was born in November or December 0792 and died at the age of 60 on 22 Sep 0852. His full name was ‘Abd al-Rahman bin al-Hakam bin Hisam bin ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Mu'awiya bin Hisam bin Abd al-Malik bin Marwan bin Al-Hakam bin Abi al-'As bin Umayya.

His father was al-Hakam I, and his mother a slave named Halawa or Halawah. ^[2] Note that his father's full name was Abu l-‘Asī, al-Ḥakam bin Hisam bin ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Mu'awiya bin Hisam bin Abd al-Malik bin Marwan bin Al-Hakam bin Abi al-'As bin Umayya. ^[3]

When he succeeded his father as Emir of Córdoba in 822, he was 30, and already an experienced administrator and commander. His 30-year reign was shaped by many confrontations. He engaged in nearly continuous warfare against Alfonso II of Asturias, whose southward advance he halted (822–842), and in 837, he suppressed a revolt of Christians and Jews in Toledo. He issued a decree by which the Christians were forbidden to seek martyrdom, and he had a Christian synod held to forbid it. In 844, Abd al-Rahman repulsed an assault by Vikings who had disembarked in Cádiz, conquered Seville (with the exception of its citadel) and attacked Córdoba itself. Thereafter he constructed a fleet and naval arsenal at Seville to repel future raids. During his reign, a new kingdom began to take shape in the north of the peninsula, that of Navarre. The Banu Qasí de Tudela, related to noble families of Pamplona, felt the Emir had not adequately rewarded them for their services as governors of the area, and they proclaimed their independence, allying themselves with Basque leaders. The attempts of 'Abd al-Rahman to submit them were useless, giving rise to the birth of the independent kingdom of Navarre. He was a great statesman and known as a patron of science and the arts. He enlarged the Great Mosque of Córdoba and commissioned numerous public works. He reorganized the government by implementing the Abbasid system, delegating some of its functions to the viziers, although he retained supreme power. He coined currency with his name, being the true promoter of a monetary base economy, which gave rise to the intensification of trade to supply the cities. ^[1]

Arabs Hunting, Eugène Fromentin

He was not a dissolute ruler, but he enjoyed life and his position to the fullest and dedicated himself as much to pleasure as he did to government. He was an enthusiastic hunter, was often in the company of the poets, musicians and singers he surrounded himself with in court, and above all, he enjoyed being with his numerous wives and concubines. Sources say he was a tall man with black hair and black eyes, an aquiline nose and a full beard. ^[2] He died unexpectedly in 0852, leaving a consolidated Emirate recognized throughout the civilized world, as well as 45 sons and 42 daughters behind him ^[1] (he fathered 100). ^[2] He was buried in the gardens of the Alcázar de Córdoba, next to his predecessors. His son, Muhammad I, succeeded him in 0852. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} _ Website Historia del Condado de Castilla (www.condadodecastilla.es): Iglesia Aparicio, Javier, "‘Abd al-Rahman II o Abderramán II, emir omeya de Córdoba", 19 Jul 2012, accessed 12 Jul 2019 (blss)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} _ Real Academia de la Historia, Diccionario Biográfico electrónico (www.rah.es): Molina Martínez, Luís, "‘Abd Al-Raḥmān II", accessed 12 Jul 2019 (blss)
3. ↑ _ Real Academia de la Historia, Diccionario Biográfico electrónico (www.rah.es): Molina Martínez, Luís, "‘ Al-Hakam I", accessed 12 Jul 2019 (blss)

See also,

• [1] Website MCN Biografías (www.mcnbiografias.com): Herraiz García, Carlos, "Abd al-Rahman o Abderramán II, Emir de al-Andalus (792-852)."
• [2] Website Historia de España (www.nubeluz.es): "EL EMIR ABDERRAMÁN II"
• [3] WIKIPEDIA: "Abd al-Rahman II"