Abd ar-Rahman II

Abd ar-Rahman II
Silver dirham coined during the reign of Abd ar-Rahman II.
4th Emir of Córdoba
Reign	21 May 822–852
Predecessor	al-Hakam I
Successor	Muhammad I
Born	792 Toledo
Died	852 (aged 62) Córdoba

Abd ar-Rahman II (Arabic: عبد الرحمن الثاني‎‎) (792–852) was the fourth Umayyad Emir of Córdoba in the Al-Andalus (Moorish Iberia) from 822 until his death.^[1]

Biography

Abd ar-Rahman II was born in Toledo, the son of Emir Al-Hakam I. In his youth he took part in the so-called "massacre of the ditch", when from 700 to 5,000 people come to pay homage to the princes who were killed by order of Al-Hakam.

He succeeded his father as Emir of Córdoba in 822 and engaged in nearly continuous warfare against Alfonso II of Asturias, whose southward advance he halted (822–842). 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 martyrdom.

In 844, Abd ar-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.

He responded to William of Septimania's requests of assistance in his struggle against Charles the Bald's nominations.

Abd ar-Rahman was famous for his public building program in Córdoba where he died in 852. He made additions to the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba.^[1] A vigorous and effective frontier warrior, he was also well known as a patron of the arts.^[2] He was also involved in the execution of the "Martyrs of Córdoba".^[3]

References

1. "'Abd ar-Rahman II". Encyclopædia Britannica. I: A-Ak - Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2010. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
2. Thorne, John (1984). Chambers biographical dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers. ISBN 0-550-18022-2.
3.  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Abd-ar-Rahman s.v. Abd-ar-Rahman II". Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 31.