Suleiman II of Córdoba

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Suleiman II or Sulaiman al-Mustain (Arabic: سليمان الثاني)‎ (d.1016) was the fifth Umayyad Caliph of Cordoba and ruled from 1009 to 1010, and from 1013 to 1016 in the Al-Andalus (Moorish Iberia). Suleiman, great-grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III, was installed as Caliph by the Berber soldiers after they had deposed Mohammed II al-Mahdi.

Because Mohammed had fled to Toledo, Suleiman tried to conquer this city, without success. Although the Berbers were able to hold out in Cordoba against the forces of Mohammed and his Catalan allies, Suleiman prematurely gave up the battle for lost, so the Cordoba was plundered by the Catalans.

After he had withdrawn to Algeciras, Suleiman managed to reconquer Cordoba in 1013 with Berber help and depose Hisham II, but he was unable to consolidate his rule, the Zirids of Granada forming an independent dynasty. In 1016 Suleiman was betrayed into the hands of the Hammudids and executed, and the Caliphate passed from the Umayyads to the Hammudids under Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir (1016-1018).


Suleiman II of Córdoba
Cadet branch of the Banu Quraish
Preceded by
Mohammed II
Caliph of Cordoba
1009 – 1010
Succeeded by
Hisham II
Preceded by
Hisham II
Caliph of Cordoba
1013 – 1016
Succeeded by
Abd-ar-Rahman IV