Recemundus, a Mozarabic cleric, is sent by the caliph on a diplomatic mission to the court of Otto I the Great of Germany, to normalize relations with the Holy Roman Emperor, the most powerful Christian ruler in western Europe. Recemundus later authors the Calendar of Córdoba, a valuable compendium of…
Royal City of Madinat al-Zahra Is Built
The royal city of Madinat al-Zahra is built on the outskirts of Córdoba. The caliph’s large household and numerous government ministries take up residence in the vast palace complex. Workshops produce fine luxury goods, such as silken robes, carved ivory boxes, and colorful ceramics for the upper classes, as well…
Abd al-Rahman III Declares Himself Caliph
Abd al-Rahman III declares himself caliph in Córdoba, openly challenging the Abbasids in Baghdad and countering the claim of the Shi’i Fatimids in North Africa. Al-Andalus flourishes, and Córdoba becomes a large, prosperous, and cosmopolitan capital city, according to such visitors as Hroswitha, a Benedictine nun from Germany.
Abd al-Rahman III Becomes Amir
Abd al-Rahman III becomes amir. Like his earlier namesakes, he is an effective ruler, centralizing authority across Al-Andalus and campaigning against Christian states in the north. At the Umayyad court, the brightest minds of the period gather, including Hasdai ibn Shaprut and Recemundus.