Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Umawi

Abdullah ibn Muhammad (عبد الله بن محمد ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muḥammad; January 11, 844 – October 15, 912)^[1] of the Umayyad dynasty was the seventh Emir of Córdoba, reigning from 888 to 912 in Al-Andalus (Moorish Iberia).

Biography

Contemporary historians accused Abdullah of orchestrating the death of his elder brother, al-Mundhir, whereby he ascended to power.^[2] This is unlikely, as ibn Muhammad showed very little interest in governing, becoming a neurotic recluse who was only interested in hunting and his faith. Once in power, however, he showed no reluctance to dispose of those he viewed as a threat, even if they were family. Two of his own brothers were executed on his orders, and he commanded one of his sons (al-Mutarrif) to kill his own brother. Even this extreme display of loyalty was not enough to save al-Mutarrif, as he too was executed for treason a few years later.

Abdullah is described as an apathetic emir. His government was marked by continuous wars between Arabs, Berbers and Muladi. His power as emir was confined to the area of Córdoba, while the rest had been seized by rebel families that did not accept his authority.

The most formidable threat for the emir was Umar Ibn Hafsun, who had conquered the provinces of Rayya (including Bobastro),^[3] Elvira (including Granada) and Jaén, and had allied with the populations of Archidona, Baeza, Úbeda and Priego. In 891 Ibn Hafsun was defeated near the castle of Polei and lost several cities. After the victory, Abdullah massacred all the Christians, while the Muslims of the conquered cities were pardoned. However, by the following year Ibn Hafsun had already recovered, and conquered back all the lost territories.

In 901, the emir signed a peace agreement with Ibn Hafsun (who had allied with the Banu Qasi family, controlling the Ebro valley, and the Kingdom of Asturias). However, the war broke out again the following year, only to be halted by the death of Abdullah at Córdoba, who was improving his positions. The son he had designated as successor was killed by one of Abdullah's brothers. The latter was in turn executed by Abdullah's father, who named as successor Abd ar-Rahman III, son of the killed son of Abdullah.

Family

Abdullah was the son of Muhammad I and the younger brother of al-Mundhir.

Around 863, Abdullah married Onneca Fortúnez, daughter of Fortún Garcés,^[2] King of Pamplona and his wife Aurea (Orea). She was repudiated sometime before 880 and returned to the Kingdom of Pamplona, most probably with her father who returned that year,^[2] and took her cousin Aznar Sánchez of Larraun as her second husband with whom she had at least three children, including Queen Toda of Navarre who was, therefore, the aunt of Abd ar-Rahman III.^[2]

Abdullah had several children:

• Muhammed ibn Abd Allah (864 – 3 Dec 895). Recorded to be a son of Onneca.^[4][5][6] He was murdered by his brother al-Mutarrif (with the approval of their father) on 28 January 891^[7] He married a Basque or Frankish woman named Muzna. They were the parents of Abd ar-Rahman III^[4] who was born three weeks after his father's death.^[7]
• al-Mutarrif, murdered in 891 after being accused of conspiracy.^[7]
• Aban
• al-Asi, executed in 921 after being accused of conspiracy.

References

Sources

• Altamira, Rafael (1999). "Il califfato occidentale". Storia del mondo medievale II. pp. 477–515. 
• Lacarra y de Miguel, José María (1945). "Textos navarros del Códice de Roda" (PDF). Estudios de la Edad Media de la Corona de Aragón (in Spanish) (58-59) (Zaragoza). pp. 193–284. ISSN 0032-8472. OCLC 500338136. 
• Lévi-Provençal, Évariste (1953). "Du nouveau sur le royaume de Pampelune au IXe siècle". Bulletin Hispanique (in French) 55 (1) (Université de Bordeaux). pp. 5–22. ISSN 0007-4640. 

• Martínez Díez, Gonzalo (2005). El Condado de Castilla (711-1038): la historia frente a la leyenda (in Spanish). Valladolid. ISBN 84-9718-275-8.