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| Abd ar-Rahman al-Awsat عبد الرحمن الأوسط | |
|---|---|
 Silverdirham coined during the reign of Abd ar-Rahman II | |
| 4thEmir of Córdoba | |
| Reign | 21 May 822–852 |
| Predecessor | al-Hakam I |
| Successor | Muhammad I |
| Born | 792 Toledo,Emirate of Córdoba |
| Died | 852 (aged 59–60) Córdoba, Emirate of Córdoba |
| Issue | Muhammad I of Córdoba |
| Dynasty | Umayyad(Marwanid) |
| Father | al-Hakam I |
| Mother | Halawah |
Abd ar-Rahman II (Arabic:عبد الرحمن الأوسط; 792–852) was the fourthUmayyadEmir of Córdoba inal-Andalus from 822 until his death in 852.[1] A vigorous and effective frontier warrior, he was also well known as a patron of the arts.
Abd ar-Rahman was born inToledo in 792. He was the son of Emiral-Hakam I. In his youth he took part in the so-called "massacre of the ditch", when 72 nobles and hundreds of their attendants were massacred at a banquet by order of al-Hakam.
He succeeded his father as Emir ofCórdoba in 822 and for 20 years engaged in nearly continuous warfare againstAlfonso II of Asturias, whose southward advance he halted. In 825, he had a new city,Murcia, built, and proceeded to settle it with Arab loyalists to ensure stability. In 835, he confronted rebellious citizens ofMérida by having a large internal fortress built. In 837, he suppressed a revolt ofChristians andJews in Toledo with similar measures.[2] He issued a decree by which the Christians were forbidden to seek martyrdom, and he had a Christiansynod held to forbid martyrdom.
In 839 or 840, he sent an embassy underal-Ghazal toConstantinople to sign a pact with theByzantine Empire against theAbbasids.[3] Another embassy was sent which may have either gone to Ireland or Denmark, likely encouraging trade in fur and slaves.[4]
In 844, Abd ar-Rahman repulsedan assault byVikings who had disembarked inCádiz, conqueredSeville (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 toWilliam of Septimania's requests of assistance in his struggle againstCharles the Bald who had claimed lands William considered to be his.[5]
Abd ar-Rahman was famous for his public building program in Córdoba. He made additions to theMosque–Cathedral of Córdoba.[1] A vigorous and effective frontier warrior, he was also well known as a patron of the arts.[6] He was also involved in the execution of the "Martyrs of Córdoba",[7] and was a patron of the great composerZiryab. He died in 852 in Córdoba.
Abd ar-Rahman II Cadet branch of theBanu Quraish Died: 852 | ||
| Preceded by | Emir of Córdoba 822–852 | Succeeded by |
| Caliphs of Damascus (661–750) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirs of Córdoba (756–929) | ||
| Caliphs of Córdoba (929–1031) | ||
[H] indicatesHammudid usurpers | ||
