FORWARD: AL-ANDALUS CHRONICLES: Millenia Edition
A depiction of Tariq ibn Ziyad, conqueror of Al-Andalus during the Umayyad conquest of 711
The history of Al-Andalus is a narrative of triumph and tragedy. Our history books are decorated with the names of great rulers, legendary warriors, great thinkers and innovaters, and pioneers of all kind. The culture of this nation has been one of the most influential in the shaping of the modern world, the culture being that which has been the synthesis of the many groups, ethnicities, and religions that have called Al-Andalus home.
Al-Andalus is as old as time itself, having been ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthagians, Romans and finally the Visigoths in the pre - Muslim history of Iberia. However, it is agreed upon that the beginnings of the cultural continuum of Al-Andalus stem from 711. In 711, on the invitation of the disgruntled Count Julian of Ceuta, an invasion by the Ummayad Caliphate, led by Freedman Tariq Ibn Ziyad, conquered the Iberian Peninsula. This had irreversible effects upon the future of Iberia, and the peninsula was never the same again, Al-Andalus had been born.
The notion of Al-Andalus was further developed in 756, when Abd-Ar-Rahman ibn Mu'uwyah, one of the sole progeny of the ousted Ummayad dynasty, declared himself independent Emir of Cordoba. Abd-Ar-Rahman I was a man who brushed shoulders with death many times in his life, travelled the perilous journey across the Islamic world chased by assassins, and defeated his many rivals once arriving in Al-Andalus. He established his rules by building infrastructure, developing roads and making the government system, defeating many coups, conspiracies and revolts. He was truly a legendary king, who's life and deeds have been documented and mythologised within our national conscience. Despite this, the Emirate (and later caliphate) he left behind could only at best be described as an "an order of chaos". No ruler could truly control the peninsula; revolts by semi-independent clients were regular, as well as wars with pestering Christian kingdoms.This can be examplified in the trouble with powerful revolters such as Umar ibn Hafsun, the leader of many alienated and angry alMuladi* and Mozarabs**, and united many anti-Ummayad factions, proving to be a great thorn in the side of both Emir Abdallah as well as Abd-Ar-Rahman III(although Umar ibn Hafsun was evntually vanquished upon losing the support of the Muladi when he converted to Catholicism). But despite all that, great rulers such as Abd Ar Rahman III (who founded the Caliphate) were able to create high culture in a time where it was unseen in Europe, control the sporadic rebellions, and challenge both the Europeans and threats from the Islamic world such as the Fatimids.
However, this is the Al-Andalus Chronicles: The Millenia Edition.This series will be detailing the 1000 history of the land known as the Falcons of Cordoba from the Declaration of Shura in 1018/409 to the present day, with contributions from many different historians, writers, political commentators and figures. The nation's intrinsically connected to our own history will also be heavily covered. This will be done through a mixture of semi-fictional narrative, contemporary analysis and historical documents.
*In the spirit of the 1000 year anniversary of the Shura -*
Glory is to God, Glory is to Andalus!
- Dr Hassan Al-Kitab
A depiction of Tariq ibn Ziyad, conqueror of Al-Andalus during the Umayyad conquest of 711
The history of Al-Andalus is a narrative of triumph and tragedy. Our history books are decorated with the names of great rulers, legendary warriors, great thinkers and innovaters, and pioneers of all kind. The culture of this nation has been one of the most influential in the shaping of the modern world, the culture being that which has been the synthesis of the many groups, ethnicities, and religions that have called Al-Andalus home.
Al-Andalus is as old as time itself, having been ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthagians, Romans and finally the Visigoths in the pre - Muslim history of Iberia. However, it is agreed upon that the beginnings of the cultural continuum of Al-Andalus stem from 711. In 711, on the invitation of the disgruntled Count Julian of Ceuta, an invasion by the Ummayad Caliphate, led by Freedman Tariq Ibn Ziyad, conquered the Iberian Peninsula. This had irreversible effects upon the future of Iberia, and the peninsula was never the same again, Al-Andalus had been born.
The notion of Al-Andalus was further developed in 756, when Abd-Ar-Rahman ibn Mu'uwyah, one of the sole progeny of the ousted Ummayad dynasty, declared himself independent Emir of Cordoba. Abd-Ar-Rahman I was a man who brushed shoulders with death many times in his life, travelled the perilous journey across the Islamic world chased by assassins, and defeated his many rivals once arriving in Al-Andalus. He established his rules by building infrastructure, developing roads and making the government system, defeating many coups, conspiracies and revolts. He was truly a legendary king, who's life and deeds have been documented and mythologised within our national conscience. Despite this, the Emirate (and later caliphate) he left behind could only at best be described as an "an order of chaos". No ruler could truly control the peninsula; revolts by semi-independent clients were regular, as well as wars with pestering Christian kingdoms.This can be examplified in the trouble with powerful revolters such as Umar ibn Hafsun, the leader of many alienated and angry alMuladi* and Mozarabs**, and united many anti-Ummayad factions, proving to be a great thorn in the side of both Emir Abdallah as well as Abd-Ar-Rahman III(although Umar ibn Hafsun was evntually vanquished upon losing the support of the Muladi when he converted to Catholicism). But despite all that, great rulers such as Abd Ar Rahman III (who founded the Caliphate) were able to create high culture in a time where it was unseen in Europe, control the sporadic rebellions, and challenge both the Europeans and threats from the Islamic world such as the Fatimids.
However, this is the Al-Andalus Chronicles: The Millenia Edition.This series will be detailing the 1000 history of the land known as the Falcons of Cordoba from the Declaration of Shura in 1018/409 to the present day, with contributions from many different historians, writers, political commentators and figures. The nation's intrinsically connected to our own history will also be heavily covered. This will be done through a mixture of semi-fictional narrative, contemporary analysis and historical documents.
*In the spirit of the 1000 year anniversary of the Shura -*
Glory is to God, Glory is to Andalus!
- Dr Hassan Al-Kitab
*Term for converts/descendants of converts to Islam amongst native Iberian, an Andalusian corruption of the Arabic term Muwalladun, meaning those of half-Arabic parentage. The term originally meant those who were of both Arabic and Iberian heritage within Al-Andalus, however due to the dilution of pure Arabic heritage in Al-Andalus, this meaning became defunct.
**An anachronistic term for Christians within Al-Andalus, who adopted many Arabic traditions and cultural aspects, especially in comparison to the Christian Iberian kingdoms of this era. An Andalusian corruption of the Arabic term for 'Those who adopt the ways of the Arab', not used by the Mozarabs of this era themselves, instead coming from a Catholic slur towards the Leonese, and then retroactively placed upon the Christian Andalusis of this period by later historians.
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