Sulayman ibn al-Hakam
Encyclopedia
Sulayman II ibn al-Hakam (or Sulayman al-Musta'in) (died 1016) was the fifth Umayyad
Caliph of Córdoba, ruling from 1009 to 1010, and from 1013 to 1016 in the Al-Andalus
(Moorish
medieval Iberia
).
had a led a revolution against caliph Hisham II al-Hakam and imprisoned him taking advantage of the fact the kingdom's strong man, Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo
, was fighting in León
against the Christian king Alfonso V
, Sulayman took command of an army of Berbers who had abandoned Muhammad; by an alliance with count Sancho García of Castile, he was able to defeat Muhammad on November 1 of that year, in the battle of Alcolea. While Muhammad took refuge in Toledo
, he entered Córdoba, which he allowed to be sacked by Berbers and Castillans; he freed and recognized caliph Hisham II, only to depose him after a few days. He was thus elected caliph by his Berber troops, assuming the title (laqab) of al-Musta'in bi-llah ("He Who Seeks for God's Help").
Sulayman was however unable to conquer Toledo. In May 1010 Muhammad, who had reorganized his troops of "slave" mercenaries from all over Europe and had allied with Count Ramon Borrell
of Barcelona, defeated Sulayman and conquered Córdoba, which was plundered by the Catalans. Muhammad was made again caliph, but his mercenearies assassinated him in July and restored Hisham II.
After he had withdrawn to Algeciras
, Sulayman managed to reconquer Cordoba in 1013 with Berber help and depose Hisham II
. His policy of concessions to Berbers, Arab and "slave" troops and leaders, effectively reduced the caliphate's authority to the sole Córdoba. In the meantime the Zirids of Granada
forming an independent dynasty
. In 1016 Córdoba was attacked by a large Berber army under the Hammudid governor of Ceuta
, Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir
, who conquered it on 1 July 1016. Sulayman was imprisoned and, shortly afterwards, beheaded.
Umayyad
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...
Caliph of Córdoba, ruling from 1009 to 1010, and from 1013 to 1016 in the Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
(Moorish
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
medieval Iberia
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
).
Biography
In 1009, after Muhammad II ibn HishamMuhammad II of Córdoba
Mohammed II al-Mahdi was the fourth Caliph of Cordoba, of the Umayyad dynasty in the Al-Andalus ....
had a led a revolution against caliph Hisham II al-Hakam and imprisoned him taking advantage of the fact the kingdom's strong man, Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo
Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo
Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo , born and died in Córdoba, was the son of Almanzor and chief minister of Hisham II, Caliph of Córdoba....
, was fighting in León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
against the Christian king Alfonso V
Alfonso V of León
Alfonso V , called the Noble, was King of León from 999 to 1028. He was the son of Bermudo II by his second wife Elvira García of Castile. The Abbot Oliva called him "Emperor of Spain"....
, Sulayman took command of an army of Berbers who had abandoned Muhammad; by an alliance with count Sancho García of Castile, he was able to defeat Muhammad on November 1 of that year, in the battle of Alcolea. While Muhammad took refuge in Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, he entered Córdoba, which he allowed to be sacked by Berbers and Castillans; he freed and recognized caliph Hisham II, only to depose him after a few days. He was thus elected caliph by his Berber troops, assuming the title (laqab) of al-Musta'in bi-llah ("He Who Seeks for God's Help").
Sulayman was however unable to conquer Toledo. In May 1010 Muhammad, who had reorganized his troops of "slave" mercenaries from all over Europe and had allied with Count Ramon Borrell
Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona
Raymond Borrel , was count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 992. Son of Borrell II of Barcelona and Letgarda de Rouergue. He was associated with his father from 988....
of Barcelona, defeated Sulayman and conquered Córdoba, which was plundered by the Catalans. Muhammad was made again caliph, but his mercenearies assassinated him in July and restored Hisham II.
After he had withdrawn to Algeciras
Algeciras
Algeciras is a port city in the south of Spain, and is the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar . Port of Algeciras is one of the largest ports in Europe and in the world in three categories: container,...
, Sulayman managed to reconquer Cordoba in 1013 with Berber help and depose Hisham II
Hisham II
Hisham II was the third Caliph of Cordoba, of the Umayyad dynasty. He ruled 976–1009, and 1010–1013 in the Al-Andalus ....
. His policy of concessions to Berbers, Arab and "slave" troops and leaders, effectively reduced the caliphate's authority to the sole Córdoba. In the meantime the Zirids of Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
forming an independent dynasty
Emirate of Granada
The Emirate of Granada , also known as the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada , was an emirate established in 1238 following the defeat of Muhammad an-Nasir of the Almohad dynasty by an alliance of Christian kingdoms at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212...
. In 1016 Córdoba was attacked by a large Berber army under the Hammudid governor of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
, Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir
Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir
Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir was the sixth Caliph of Córdoba from 1016 until his death. Of Berber origin, he was a member of the Hammudid dynasty of the Al-Andalus .-Biography:...
, who conquered it on 1 July 1016. Sulayman was imprisoned and, shortly afterwards, beheaded.