Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Umawi

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

Biography

Contemporary historians accused Abdullah of orchestrating the death of his elder brother, al-Mundhir, whereby he ascended to power. 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.^{[citation needed]}

Abdullah is described as an apathetic^{[clarification needed]} 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 Rayyo (including Bobastro), 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.

Abdullah married Onneca Fortúnez, daughter of Fortún Garcés, King of Pamplona and his wife Aurea (Orea), in ca 863. She was repudiated sometime before 880 and took her cousin Aznar Sánchez of Larraun as her second husband. Abdullah had several children:

• Muhammed ibn Abd Allah (867/8-3 Dec 895). Recorded to be a son of Onneca.^[1] He was murdered by his brother al-Mutarrif (with the approval of their father) on 3 Dec 895, aged 27.^[2] He married a Basque or Frankish woman named Muzna. They were the parents of Abd ar-Rahman III
• al-Mutarrif, He was murdered in 895 after being accused of conspiracy.
• Aban
• al-Asi He was executed in 921 after being accused of conspiracy.

References

1. ^ Lacarra, J. M. 'Textos navarros del Códice de Roda', Estudios de Edad Media de la Corona de Aragón Vol. I (Zaragoza, 1945) 3 and 5, pp. 230 and 231.
2. ^ Jaurgain, J. de (1898) La Vasconie, étude historique et critique, première partie (Pau), p. 173, citing Casiri, t. II, p. 200.

Sources

• Altamira, Rafael (1999). "Il califfato occidentale". Storia del mondo medievale. II. pp. 477–515. 

Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Umawi Banu Umayyah Cadet branch of the Banu Quraish
Preceded by al-Mundhir	Emir of Cordoba 888–912	Succeeded by Abd-ar-Rahman III

Persondata
Name	Abdallah ibn Muhammad
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	844
Place of birth
Date of death	912
Place of death