Dynasty·Abbasid
Caliphate of Cordoba Proclaimed
- Date
- 16 January 929 CE316 AH1,097 years ago
- Place
- Cordoba, al-Andalus
- People
- Abd al-Rahman III
Abd al-Rahman III, the Umayyad emir of al-Andalus, proclaimed himself caliph in January 929 CE (316 AH). The move challenged both the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad and the Fatimids in North Africa. Cordoba grew into one of the largest and most advanced cities in Europe. The Great Mosque, the libraries and the palace city of Madinat al-Zahra were built during his rule. The caliphate ended in 1031.
Why it matters
The Umayyad caliphate of Cordoba became the leading Islamic state in the west and a major center of learning.