Abdur Rahman al-Nasir

Muslim Spain has added a golden chapter to the history of Saracens. The light of knowledge which illuminated Moorish Spain (Andalusia) was greatly instrumental in dispelling ignorance that had enveloped Mediaeval Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire.
"It was under the influence of Arabian and Moorish revival of culture", writes Robert Briffault, "and not in the 15th Century, that the real renaissance took place. Spain and not Italy, was the cradle of the rebirth of Europe".
Another well-known orientalist, Phillip K. Hitti, acknowledges that "Moslem Spain wrote one of the brightest chapters in the intellectual history of Mediaeval Europe. Between the middle of the 8th and the beginning of the 13th centuries, as we have noted before, the Arabic speaking people were the main bearers of the torch of culture and civilization throughout the world. Moreover, they were the medium through which ancient science and philosophy were recovered, supplemented and transmitted in such a way as to make possible the renaissance of Europe. In all this, Arabic Spain has a large share".


The ablest and the most gifted of all the rulers of Muslim Spain was Abdur-Rahman al-Nasir (755 - 788 A.H.) who established an era of unparalleled peace and prosperity in that country which led to the cultivation and development of sciences and arts, commerce and industry, education and culture on an unprecedented scale.

Abdur-Rahman, known as the 'Falcon of Andalus' succeeded his grandfather, Abdullah, at the age of 22. His father was sentenced to death for some capital offence under the orders of his grandfather, King Abdullah. Abdur-Rahman, then, was barely three years old. he was brought up most tenderly by his grandfather who wanted to make amends for the severity shown to his father.

   The accession of young Abdur-Rahman in 912 A.C. was hailed by his kith and kin as well as by the general public and was considered a happy augury for the state. They all perceived in him the signs of greatness and accepted him as the saviour of the distracted Empire of the Umayyads.


His was an uphill task of pacifying the strife-ridden county as well as dealing with the external enemies - the neighbouring Christian states who were always conspiring to strike at the rising Muslim power in Europe. Abdur-Rahman dealt with this twin danger with determination and foresight. he abandoned the tortuous and temporising policy of his grandfather and pursed against the rebels a course which was at once bold and straightforward. Disdaining the middle course, he warned the rebels that he wanted their complete surrender. If they submitted, they would be given a free pardon, otherwise they would be delt with severely. Most of the principal cities submitted spontaneously.

Abdur-Rahman's frank and chivalrous manners and his desire to share with his soldiers not only their glory but also their perils, evoked an exceptional enthusiasm in the army and enhanced its morale.


   In less than three months, the bandits who were harassing the country either submitted or were put to death, in less than a year, a major part of the country had been pacified. Even the Chirstian Spaniards, convinced of the generosity and firmness of the young ruler, began to lay down their arms. Dozy, a Christian historian says: "The government, be it said to its honour, conducted itself with the greatest justice towards the Christians who capitulated".


In 928 A.C. Bobastro was captured and Serrania was finally pacified. Abdur-Rahman next turned his attention to the Noth. Nadajoz and Toledo capitulated after a long-drawn seige and despite the Christian instignation. Thus, Abdur-Rahman became the undisputed monarch of the land of his ancestors.

   But he still had to face two formidable enemies, who cast their longing eyes on the fertile lands of Andalusia - the Christian tribes of the North and Fatimides of Africa. A terrible famine in Spain obliged the Arab settlers in the north to migrate to Africa. This provided a golden opportunity to the Galicians to rise in insurrection. They massacred a large number of Muslims and elected Alfonso as their RIler and King.

The Muslims had experienced the cruelty of the Christians in the previous century. "Fanatical, cruel and pitiless", says Dozy, "they rarely gave quarter; when they took a city they indulged in promiscuous slander, sparing neither age or sex". They were wholly unaware of the tolerance shown by the Muslims to the Christians. The young ruler was faced with saving not only his state, but also the glorious civilization existing there which was hated by the fanatical Christians.

The treacherous Christians of the North were a constant menace to Spain. Abdur-Rahman fully realised that lasting peace could not be established in his domains without permanently stamping out this evil. hence, he resolved to hold them down with a strong hand.


In 914 A.C., the Leonese, under their chief Ordono II, burst into the province of Merida, ravaged the country with fire and sword, and massacred a large number of Muslims. Abdur-Rahman who was engaged at this time with the Fatimides in Africa sent a punitive expedition. It failed to achieve the object.

In 918, he despatched another army under Hijab Badr, and in 920, he himself took the field in person. Ordono was beaten and was persued into the mountains. Osma, San Estevan, Clunia and several other important cities were captured. Abdur-Rahman next turned his attention to Naverre. Muhammad bin Lope, Governor of Tuleda, inflicted a humiliating defeat on Sancho, the Navarrean chief. He was pursued by the Muslims in the narrow Pyrenees defiles. The Christians hurled rocks on the pursuing Muslims from the mountain tops. Abdur-Rahman saw the danger and halted his troops in a small valley surrounded by mountains. "The Christians now committed a mistake", observed Dozy; "Instead of remaining on the mountains, they descended into the plains, and audaciously accepted the battle the Mussulmans offered. They paid for their temerity by a terrible defeat. the Mussalmans pursued them until they were concealed from sight by the darkness of night, and many of their chiefs fell into the hands of the victors, among them two bishops, who were fighting clad in mail". Navarre was overrun by Abdur-Rahman who razed to ground all their towers and fortifications. He returned triumphant to his Capital on September 24, 918.

In 921 A.C., Ordono and Sancho again rose in revolt and came down up to Viquera. The Christian chief put to sword a large number of Muslim families, including some of the most illustrious Arabs. Abdur-Rahman hastened to meet the insurgents and on Jusly 10 he entered Navarre. The enemy chief fled from this country on his approach, leaving behind his fortress undefended. Sancho tried to bar the way of Abdur-Rahman, but was badly beaten. He, thus entered Sancho's Capital, Pampeluna without any resistance.


The chiefs of Basques and Leon were completely subdued. In 925, a civil war broke out between the sons of Ordono. Abdur-Rahman applied himself more vigorously to crush the insurrections and by 929 A.C., complete order was restored in his vast country.



At this period, when the Abbasid Caliphate was declined to its lowest ebb, and could hardly keep its control over the Muslim world, especially on the Hold cities, Abdur-Rahman al-Nasir assumed the title of Ameer ul-Mu'mineen (Commander of the Faithful). In a large gathering of all the citizens, he was invested with the Caliphate under the title of "Al-Nasir il Din Illah".


In 933 A.C., Ramire II seized the chieftaincy of Leon and started raiding and ravaging the Muslim country. Abdur-Rahman once again marched against him when Ramire hesitated to give battle. The Caliph advanced towards the North and swept through Castile and Alva, razing through the towns and fortresses of the Galicians. Saragossa, in the extreme North, capitulated. Ramire who was severely beated in several engagements, at last retired to the hills. The who of Andalusia (Spain) now lay at the feet of Caliph Abdur-Rahman.


Abdur-Rahman, who disliked the Arabc aristocracy and their factions and turbulent spirit, formed a new corps called Slavs, comprising of European converts to Islam and appointed them into important positions. This aroused the Arab jealousy and alienated them from him.

In 939 A.C., when the Galicians and Basques again rose in revolt, the Caliph despatched a force under a Slav General named Najd. The Arabs refused to fight under a Slav General, which lead to the disaster of the Muslim force in the battle of Khandak. The Slavs fought with great determination, but were almost annihilated.

This did not dampen the Caliph's determination to put down the insurrection with a strong hand. He despatched another force which severely punished the Galicians and the Basques. In 940, his Governor of Badajoz inflicted a crushing defeat on Ramire and laid waste his country.

The chiefs of Navarre and Leon, at last sued for peace and agreed to pay annual tribute to the Caliph. The boundary of Muslim Spain was withdrawn to the River Ebro, which formed a natural barrier.


   After peace with ordono III, the Caliph paid his entire attention to Africa, where the Fatimides were creating trouble and were jeopardising his interest. But on the death of Ordono, the chieftaincy of Galicia and Leon fell upon Sancho, who refused to abide by the treaty concluded by his brother.
The Caliph was thus obliged to apply force and his able General Ahmad bin Ila, who was Governor of Toledo, won a memorable victory against the Galicians and Leonese. Sancho was expelled from his dominions and Leon, Castile and Galicia and Navarre practically became the dependencies of the Umayyad Caliphate.


The great Caliph could not enjoy his triumph for long and died on October 16, 961 A.C., at the age of 73 amidst universal mourning, after a glorious reign of over half a century. Abdur-Rahman al-Nasir was undoubtedly the greatest and ablest Ruler of Muslim Spain.
"He had found the kingdom", said Amir Ali, "in chaos, torn by factions, and parcelled amoung a number of feudal chieftians belonging to different races; a prey to anarchy and civil war, and exposed to continued raids on the parts of the Christian tribes of the north. In spite of the immovable difficulties he saved Andalusia, and made it greater and stronger than it ever was before".
Muslim Spain enjoyed an unprecedented peace and prosperity. order was restored throughout the Ampire and safety of the road was established as never before which led to the thriving of commerce and industry thoughout his vast dominions.

The prices of consumer goods considerably fell down and the people's living standards considerably enhanced which testified to their great prosperity. The splendid hydraylic works and the sceintific system of irrigation gave a wonderful impetus to agriculture and horticulture. The smiling fields and the luxuriant gardens spoke of the great agricultural development in the country. A large number of industries sprang up throughout Spain. Cordova, Seville and Akmeria were important industrial centres. All this greatly added to the wealth of the State and the prosperity of her people. The custom duties alone supplied considerable portion of State revenue and amounted to over 12 million dinars.


  Science and lierature, art and culture were cultivated with unabated zeal during this time. Muslim Spain became the greatest educational and cultural centre in the world, where students flocked from all parts of the world. Its great educational institutions became the training ground for the future leaders of European renaissance.


Al-Nasir posessed a formidable army and a strong navy which disputed the Fatimide supremacy over the Mediterranean. A well disciplined army, "perhaps the best in the world", says Dozy, "gave him a superiority over the Christian Chiefs of the North".

The greatest rulers of Europe, including the Byzantine Emperor of Constantinople and the Kings of Germany, France and Italy, sought his favour and exchanged their Ambassadors with him.
"But what excites the admiration and wonderment of the student of this glorious reign", observes Dozy, "is less the work than the workman". Even the minutest details could not escape his attention. "This sagacious man", continues Dozy, "who centralised, who founded the unity of the nation and that of the monarchical power, who by his alliances established a kind of political equilibrium who, in his large tolerance, called to his counsel men of every religion, is especially a King of modern times than a ruler of the middle ages".