![]() ![]() When `Abd al-Rahman III adopted the title of caliph, he was also posing as defender of the Sunni community against the Shi`i Fatimids, a role that the weakened `Abbasid caliphate was no longer able to fulfill. This task accomplished, a new danger emerged-the Fatimid caliphate inNorth Africa. He struggled initially to reunite and restore peace to the country, which had been prey to various rebels during the reign of his grandfather and predecessor, `Abd Allah. ![]() Several reasons lay behind the decision of `Abd al-Rahman III to proclaim himself caliph. `Abd al-Rahman III ibn Muhammad, who had ruled as a prince for sixteen years, proclaimed himself caliph in 316/929 and took the honorific title al-Nasir li-din Allah. The Umayyad rulers in al-Andalus styled themselves as umard’ (“princes”) until 316/929, and although a number of rebels arose in the name of the `Abbasid caliphs, none presented any real threat, nor did the `Abbasid themselves ever attempt to restore al-Andalus to their sovereignty. ![]() The country thus achieved independence from the `Abbasid caliphate ofBaghdad, although the name of the `Abbasid caliph, al-Mansur, continued for a time to be mentioned in the Friday prayer when the name of the Umayyad leader was substituted, the `Abbasid caliph was cursed. In AH 138/756 CE, after the fall of the Umayyad dynasty inDamascus, `Abd al-Rahman I ibn Mu’awiyah, an Umayyad prince, established himself inCordobaas ruler of theIberian Peninsula(al-Andalus). ![]()
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